The day of departure on another epic voyage from Dushanbe, Tajikistan, started with the usual going away panics and list of things to do. Set up on line shopping after frustrating attempts at 2am, another visit from the plumber, explained how to make porridge to the carer for Martin, unblocked the sewer, avoided the traffic holdups caused by an accident, arrived at Heathrow, met Jenny, and walked straight into the gents loo. Several astonished faces turned around. By then it was time for a cup of tea and chill out.
The flight to Moscow was peaceful with only one hysterical child, but a good book promoted sleep and the much needed solitude and space to unwind.
Moscow. Grey, wet, cold. Rain water dropping like crystal pear drops onto the hot street lamps at the airport resulting in a surreal outdoor steam bath effect. At the transit gate for the flight to Dushanbe, officialdom corralled Jenny and I to seats where me met a chap who had bee. Waiting for four hours to be allowed to get his connecting flight. Our passports disappeared with the uniform, and we were taken by foot, then by bus to the departure gate. Passports safely back in our hands, we were surrounded by a crowd of Tajiks returning on the red eye flight to Dushanbe. Everyone pushing, waiving boarding boarding passes and shouting with frustration at the delay in boarding. Forget having a seat number. A free for all left Jenny and I at the back of the plane with a persistent sniffer, a shouter and tiny cramped seats. Supper arrived looking like a plastic torpedo with putty cheese and ham. More sleep and views out into the dark night with gems of light from various towns and villages marking our progress to Central Asia.
Immigration officers were helpful, polite and speedy. Luggage too was efficiently retrieved except for Jenny’s rucksack which eventually arrived over an hour later on the next inbound flight from Moscow. How lucky we were that the Yeti Hostel taxi driver had waited for us. In no time we were passing the familiar site of the water fountains and park with library and palace that we had seen on our last visit in 2012, and on arrival at a rather dubious looking building, we’re cranked up 6 flights to a warm welcome and two desperately needed beds.
Sleep left us refreshed, dehydrated and hungry, so off we set crossing a busy main road In search of ATMs and money exchangers. Job done. Excellent food was obtained in a cool and pleasant restaurant where two ladies and a nice waitress smiled benignly at our incomprehension of how to order chicken and water!
A delicious meal and an afternoon sat in the hostel lounge trying to stay awake, catching up on a blog and photos is helping us to relax and adjust into the road trip mindset. The main group arrive sometime tomorrow. The 5th
Corinna Travels 