Tashkent

Soviet cosmonaut monument. Notice a bottle green uniformed cop lurking in the background. Police are omnipresent in Uzbekistan but nowhere more than Tashkent the capital city where their claustrophobic and intimidating presence keeps the population in check

Hospitality at the gritty B & B Ali Tour - a welcome change from the daily servings of greasy plov, the much favoured Uzbek national dish

Ali Ali give us a wave!

Navoi Park and the stunningly ugly Peoples' Friendship Palace built in the 1950's. I wonder if the planners of Kilmarnock Town Centre had a junket here in the '70's

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More wonderful Soviet showcasing at Navoi Park - A Khrushchev era utilitariun conrete hulk - The Wedding Palace is a gem!

Socialist utopia!!! Row after row of apartment blocks fronted with wide boulevards and bleak vacuous open spaces

Controlling the masses - housing above, state run shops below!

The old, the new and the Lada! This shiny new bank is symbolic of a changing Tashkent - more than likely its ATMs were empty like every other bank! The dollar is king - most places on the street (illegally) will willingly palm off a thick wad of thier inflation ridden monopoly currency in exchange

Its not a fair cop!!!!! - Entrance to Mustaqillik Maydoni Metro Station. The metro was where I found a new hobby -continually showing my passport and visa to police! Police are meant to solve problems. In the former Soviet Union they create problems!

Independance Monument - celebrating independance from the Soviet yoke in 1991

Government buildings at Independance Square - here the police presence was becoming more than wearing - at every twist and turn one was never far from my shoulder. Blue uniformed female work cadres is indicative of Karimov's oppressive neo communist / nationalist state which tolerates no dissent

One blade out of place and its off to the Gulag! Karimov's totalitarian regime has thousands of political prisoners

The Crying Mother Monument - in honour of Uzbek soldiers who died whilst serving in The Red Army in the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War 2.

Paying homage to those that fell - all 400 000 Uzbek soldiers are named

The Eternal Flame

Memorial to the Tashkent Earthquake 1966 . . . . .

Celebration of Soviet might - the rescue of earthquake victims . . . . .

Emir Timur plans a new conquest! For me it was off to the airport for a final shakedown with police at immigration!