Bukhara lies on the same latitude (40° N) as Beijing, Yerevan, Ankara, and Madrid (Vienna = 48° N). At the end of October, it’s warm, but the sun can still be intense, and it’s somewhat cool at night. In Beijing, it was colder during the day than here at night (of course, it all depends on the specific weather).
Uzbekistan is one of the world’s largest cotton producers and thus bears partial responsibility for the desiccation of the Aral Sea. Today, the lake contains only 10% of its original water level compared to the 1960s, yet it is saltier than any ocean. Cotton is also primarily responsible for the toxic pollutants in the Aral Sea, which winds now carry across the globe. These pollutants account for 5% of global pollution and are found in penguins, polar bears, and, of course, in humans, regardless of whether they wear cotton clothing or not.
In Bukhara (and perhaps elsewhere), drivers use their hazard lights to signal to pedestrians that they will stop for them. When I was waiting for a car to pass, the driver thanked me with a gesture (right hand on heart), even while still rounding the bend.
So, now for my tour today… First, I found the place where Wayne and I were supposed to meet for lunch. He had sent me directions, so it was easy to find. (Just the address/location wouldn’t have been enough.)
Then I acted like a typical tourist and ticked off one attraction after another on my list.
Wayne and I met up, chatted for a while about traveling, and discovered some similarities (and of course, differences). Afterwards, we had a late lunch; he continued his rounds as a tourist, and I returned to the hotel.
The manager had found a driver for tomorrow for only 100,000 Sum. That’s far too cheap for me—€7.20 for 90 km. Yesterday, the cheapest price he quoted on Yandex was 230,000 Sum (€16.50), which would have been cheap enough. Today, I negotiated with a driver who initially asked for far too much, then 400,000 Sum, and finally 350,000 Sum (€25.20).
but people are aware of the famous Name bearer and boxer (aka Cassius Clay)
I most likely did laundry for the last time on this trip, as I should have enough by the time I get back to Vienna.
