' TOMBE LA NEIGE'

WAS PLAYED IN ' BELLA ITALIA' A GRAND RESTAURANT IN THE SHOPPING CENTER. BRINGS BACK MEMORIES OF ALAMO'S COMNCERTS IN BUCURESTI, OF VOTKA LIMON PLAYED IN NEW YORK LINCOLN CENTER CINEMA, OF DRIVING WITH DAN OVER THE BROOKLYN BRIGE WITH A POT OF SARMALE FOR LEE AND NOW - BUKHARA, THE HEART OF CENTRAL ASIA.

WE ARRIVED HERE THIS MORNING BY TRAIN - 'THE SHARK', SECOND CLASS , WHERE TEA WAS SERVED FROM A LARGE THERMOS CARRIED AROUND, IN NICE GLASS CUPS PLUS A LITTLE PLATE WITH A MELANGE OF CABBAGE AND SOME UNKNOWN MEAT - I PASSED ON THAT. THEY EAT HORSE MEAT HERE, BUT NO DOG MEAT - LIKE IN CHINA OR VIETNAM.

WE REACHED BUKHARA IN 3 HOURS, AND TRANSFERED TO OUR INN EMIR HOUSE. NEGOCIATED A TAX FEE BEFORE WE BOARDED, ABOUT 4 DOLLARS PER CAR, AND THEN PROCEEDEDTHROUGH TEH RAIN WITH A RUSSIAN CASETTE BLASTING IN THE FRONT AND AMY IN THE BACK SEAT WONDERING WHAT WAS HAPPENING. THE TAXI DRIVER WORE A PURPLE 'HALAT'/ ROBE , IN VELOUR AND PAPUCI / SLIPPERS. THE ROOMS AT THE INN ARE QUITE LOVELY, VERY WARM ,NICE LOCAL DECORATIONS AND WELCOMED US WITH A POT OF GREEN TEA 'ZAHAR'/SUGAR.A DISH OF DATES,AND A BOWL OF SWISS CHOCOLATES.

AMY IS HAVING A MASSAGE NOW, 20 PER HOUR WITH A REAL DOCTOR ON SERVICE 24 HOURS A DAY - I WONDER, AND I AM USING THE INTERNET FOR 1 DOLLAR/HOUR. EVERYWHERE ELSE WAS 4 DOLLARS PER HOUR..I'VE NOTICED IF I SPAEK ROMANIAN I GO MUCH FYRTHER THAN WITH ENGLISH. SO I AM USING IT MORE AND MORE OFTEN PLUS THE BIT OF RUSSIAN THATIS COMING BACK TO ME. MOST TOURISTS IN BHKHARA ARE FRENCH ..NO AMERICANS REALLY. WHEN I'VE ASKED AMY WHY, SHE REPLIED THAT MOST TRAVELLERS WOULD BE ANXIOUS TO COMETO UZBEKISTAN THAT SHARES A BORDER WITH AFGANISTAN , VIA TURKEY THAT IS SO CLOSE TO IRAQ - SO SORRY BUT THAT THOUGHT HAS NEVER CROSSED MY MIND.

BUKHARA IS THE LAND OF 1001 ARABIAN NIGHTS. FOR US THIS IS THE FIRST. TOMORROW WE HAVE THE GUIDE COMING WITH HIS OWN CAR, FOR A DAY OF TOURING - 50 DOLLARS PER DAY - THE GDP PER PER CAPITA HERE IS 900 DOLLARS , SO WE CONTRIBUTE HEAVILY TO THEIR ECONOMY.
AMY SAYS THAT IT FEELS LIKE PROVINCETOWN IN WINTER - EVERYTHING IS PRETTY BUT YOU KNOW THE FUN COMES ONLY IN SUMMWE. I LIKE IT BETTER THIS WAY, THOUGH.

I WILL KEEP YOU POSTED FROM THE LAND OF ALEXANDER THE GREAT,TIMURLANE,GHINGIS HAN AND THE REST...
BRIAN, I THINK 'ISKANDER'MEANS ALEXANDER ?! TRUE ..
THEY DO NOT BELIEVE THAT MY NAME IS ROXANA, ALEXANDER'S WIFE BORN IN SAMARKAND....
CU DRAG.

--
10 Great Gift Ideas- Take a Look!
http://mail.shopping.com/?linkin_id=8033174