SAMARKAND ETC

The internet hook up in these parts is horrendous so sorry for the long silence. Samarkand was lovely as we had a day off to sight see and shop. Yes Emma I bought the Suzanai’s 3 in fact so you can all choose. We had a great day and then left at 4:30am for the border to enter Turkmenistan! Breakfast at that hour is not pleasant. The temperature rose as we arrived at the border, 37 degrees and many people were suffering from Travellers tummy, it was pretty awful. We were lucky and were allotted one of the better hotels last night but our room was like a furnace and we were so tired. Today WE DROVE ANOTHER 630KMS to Ashgabad and tomorrow we dress appropriately and cross into Iran. Turkmenistan is mainly desert, hot and dry with very little vegetation, Uzbekistan on the other hand was quite cultivated the main yield seemed to be cotton. Cars are still going from place to place by truck, even if the roads have improved. Lloyd described these last few days as driving vast distances on poor roads in extreme heat nursing along an old car! I hope to be able to connect in Iran.