As a newly minted millionaire, I&#8217;m now crossing the border into Uzbekistan. Since recently, Swiss citizens no longer need a visa to enter the country. That&#8217;s very practical and good for the wallet. In this Central Asian state, which has been independent of the Soviet Union since 1991, tourists are still monitored somewhat, i.e. they have to register within the first 72 hours of arrival. A corresponding proof of the respective places of accommodation must then be presented when leaving the country.
Along my route through the Fergana Province to Kokand, silk production has a long tradition and there are numerous silk factories. There are also many cotton fields. The closer to Tashkent it gets, the busier it becomes and the traffic is dense. I rate the Uzbeks as incredibly good drivers. I could never get that close to a cyclist without hitting him. I think there would hardly be a hair&#8217;s breadth between the car and me, but these SPEEDERS manage it at a horrendous speed. My breath is taken away &#8230;
My second stage ends in the capital Tashkent. Now I have one more day to see the most important sights and to visit the famous Chorsu Bazaar. Under seven huge domes, there are pavilions where fresh, tasty products are on sale. There is a wild hustle and bustle and market clamour. I am particularly interested in the spices such as cumin, caraway, cinnamon, nutmeg, saffron, cardamom, cloves, coriander, turmeric and dried ground tomatoes. In addition, there are delicious dishes of Uzbek cuisine and finally I also find numerous vendors with the national dish PLOV (rice dish).
Since XI&#8217;AN, I now have a good 5000 km of cycling behind me. I see the fascination of the Silk Road in its intercultural significance. In the trading cities, peoples of the most diverse cultures and religions met and exchanged not only goods but also ideas, opinions, philosophies and traditions. Happy to have made it to the heart of Central Asia in good health, I am already hoping to continue on the Silk Road in September 2020 with stage 3.

As a newly minted millionaire, I&#8217;m now crossing the border into Uzbekistan. Since recently, Swiss citizens no longer need a visa to enter the country. Tha

Osh – Andijon – Kokand – Tashkent

32 Photos