TURKMENASAURUS REX
The 'Great Leader, Father of All Turkmen' may have died but his spirit (and billboard-sized portraits) well and truly remain. We were 'escorted' by police throughout our catch-up bus journey to Ashgabat yesterday and it seems this trend will continue throughout our stay.
Ashgabat is a parody of a great capital - all marble domes and pillars surrounded by exotic fountains and golden mosques. It would be funny if it wasn't for the fact people actually have to live here! Still, we are in a swanky hotel and the swimming pool for once has water in it!!
We are back on schedule now, too, and tomorrow we will be mounting our bikes and ready to roll (today's highest temperature was 52* C, though, so perhaps the rolling will be a little on the slow side!)
PS: please forgive your nearest and dearest if you have not heard from them for a while but the only Internet provider in Turkmenistan is dial-up and the whole country has less than a half dozen Internet cafes. Big Brother is definitely watching us!
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Posted August 27, 2008 by Paul Wilson
Turkmenistan |
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