Fast Train to Samarkand
Tashkent to Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on Monday, October 20, 2014.
A police officer stares out the window as the Afrosiyub high-speed train travels from Tashkent to Samarkand.
Tashkent may be #Uzbekistan’s modern capital city full of the government and commercial buildings of today, but in the old days of the Silk Road, that glory belonged to the city of Samarkand in the south. Today, the most convenient way to get to this ancient Silk Road hub is by ultra-modern high-speed train, the Afrosiyub.
“Hey, it’s you guys from the square,” I said to two familiar faces as I arrived at the first security checkpoint at Tashkent Railway Station.
“I hope you deleted the photo of that horrendous building,” joked the middle-aged Australian. He really hated the Hotel Uzbekistan.
His guide reached out his hand to me. “Mohammed.”
“Erik. And you?”
“Richard.”
And suddenly I had some travel company, at least for the train ride. Coincidentally, Mohammed’s seat was just in front of mine.
Speeding at 120 mph, we traveled through the countryside in modern comfort. Even in economy, there was TV to watch, headphones, and a snack service as everyone sat or napped in cushioned seats. The two-hour ride was smooth and relaxing and I felt that it put Amtrak to shame.
“Welcome to Samarkand,” Mohammed said to me when we arrived. I reckoned he’d been many times.
“I guess I’ll see you at the next site,” I told Richard on the platform. We got our respective taxis and departed.
Next stop: glorious Samarkand.
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