We moved on this morning to the Uzbek-Tajik Jarteppa border point.
It only took an hour to drive to the border, and also only one hour to cross. It wasn’t very busy (9 am). We met up with our new local guide for our time in Tajikistan, and our two Mercedes mini buses (for today). We travelled a scenic route through green countryside where grapes (for wine) are plentiful, this area is well known for peaches also. We are in the foothills of the Fann Mountains. Five minutes after the border, we visited the ancient city of Sarazm, another UNESCO site and the oldest city in Central Asia (likely established around 3500 BC, 1000 years be for the Pyramids). Again, there is some guesswork regarding what these ruined buildings would have looked like. The on-site museum had reproductions of the frescoes found here. Also ceramics, daggers, axes, jewelry - which were traded and found in other places further afield. Another interesting find was the ‘Lady of Sarazm’, a skeleton buried in 4BC who was covered with colourful lapis beads and seashell bracelets. She was also in the museum.
About fifteen minutes later we reached the town of Penjikent, where we stay the night. First stop was a local restaurant for an early lunch. Next up was the Historical and Cultural Museum, another UNESCO site. Then the Rudaki Museum of History and Regional Study.
After that everyone had done enough museums for the day and we checked into the hotel about 3 p.m. I suspect everyone chose to rest before meeting for dinner at 6:15.
An interesting day, the first day with rural scenery that wasn’t desert so that made a change, the cooler mountain air is good too. Tajikistan is the smallest of the countries we visit.
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