A former Soviet republic, Uzbekistan is home to the ancient Silk Road cities of Bukhara, Samarkand and Khiva, some of the most interesting and picturesque tourist destinations in Central Asia.
The country is run by a totalitarian, xenophobic government. The regime is exploiting the small - but growing - Islamic terrorist threat of militant groups from Afghanistan and Tajikistan to increase its political influence in the region. Irrigation required to support Uzbekistan's main cash crop, cotton, has all but drained the Aral Sea. The drop in the level of the Aral has changed local weather patterns, generated large amounts of toxic runoff, and lowered water tables to dangerous levels.
Uzbekistan's weather and climate is continental, and two-thirds of the country is desert. Expect extremely hot, long summers with temperatures up to 50 C (122 F). Also expect mild winters, and considerable variation between day and night temperatures. There are occasional destructive earthquakes in the Ferghana Valley.
The inhabitants of Uzbekistan are about 80 percent ethnic Uzbek and about 5 percent Russian with a smattering of other ethnic groups. The main language is Uzbek; Russian is a viable second language in the larger cities. Uzbekistanis are about 88 percent Sunni Muslim, 9 percent Russian Orthodox. Minority practices also include Shi'a and Judaism.
Air travel to Tashkent is the best way to get into Uzbekistan; flights are available from several European capitals (there are no direct flights from the U.S.) on Uzbekistan Airlines, Turkish Airways, Aeroflot, Transaero and a few others. The road network is extensive, but in poor condition outside the larger cities. Uzbekistan has a good, inexpensive rail network, but rail travel is rather dirty, slow and crowded.
Phone service is unreliable at best. ATMs are nowhere to be found in Uzbekistan; traveler's checks and credit cards are only accepted at the most upscale hotels, restaurants and shops in larger cities. Cash remains the most useful currency in Uzbekistan.
Visitors to Uzbekistan will always be objects of attention. Petty crimes such as pickpocketing and theft are common in areas frequented by travelers (shopping centers, bazaars, and in and around hotels). Pickpocketing and bag cutting are common on public transportation and at transportation hubs, especially at night.
Food in Uzbekistan is, for the most part, safe and appetizing (but take standard food safety precautions). An Uzbek traditional food rumored to have originated as a result of Alexander the Great's campaigns in the country is a plov (pilaf), rice cooked with lamb and sometimes raisins or apricots, seasoned with shredded carrot.
Upscale hotel and restaurant prices, especially in Tashkent, can be almost as expensive as in the West, but for those willing to stray off the beaten path, significant bargains can be found, especially in the bazaars.
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