The Neighbors

Most of the time when the boys and I went out, we went out on foot (and stroller).  Because we were out so much we got quite connected to the regulars on our street.  Andre lived two doors down with his grandmother.  He is 10 and has both cerebral palsy and a joyful smile.  After the freezing cold first month or so, we saw him almost daily sitting outside of his home.  We had limited conversation with his grandmother due to my elementary Russian, but he grinned as we all went over to greet him.  Craig usually stopped by after work, and Andre knew Craig's truck and would get excited when he drove by.  Seth picked out two of his toys to give Andre, and he went over the day before we left and delivered them. 

Two doors in the other direction was an official building that required guards.  The same policemen guarded it each time it was open.  The four men always spoke to me and the boys, and helped us whenever we needed anything. 

The Sunday before we flew we spent time saying these goodbyes and taking the policemen ice cream for the last time. 

Goodbyes

Goodbye is something we have had a bit too much of in the last couple of years.  Though we were only in Tashkent four months, we loved it, and terribly miss both people and places.  The boys and I moved back to Germany June 13th, and then Craig on June 17th.  These photos are from the farewell party we had a couple of days before we left. 

Saying goodbye to Miss Sofia



This is the guy taking the office permanently after Craig (and our good friend).  This is the third time they have handed off jobs in the Army -- pretty amazing -- and the fourth time they have had the same exact job.

Side note:  the gal to the left of Craig was a flight attendant on my flight with the boys.  She was so kind and so helpful to us.  Other than Vic using all the diapers I packed, it was fortunately an uneventful flight. 




As a going away present, the boys and I got traditional outfits from Miss Sofia.  Now we have the family set.  Snazzy! 



Samarkand -- Day Four

We were up early, long before the breakfast at a b&b (thank you, kiddos), so we walked to Amir Timur's mausoleum nearby, built in 1404.  It wasn't open yet, but for a small fee the guy working was more than happy to let us in.  After our yummy breakfast we went back out to see more of the dead at Shah-i-Zinda, a collection of religious buildings and mausoleums.  Our taxi driver, our new friend, offered to watch the boys while we explored.  Though a kind sentiment, we really need to know someone longer than 10 minutes before we leave the boys.  After enough monuments and killer heat, we gave up and went to our train.  I'll spare the details, but I'm certain it was one of the hottest, longest train rides possible!

Gur-e Amir

The entry way to our B&B in the middle of a typical neighborhood

Our taxi driver in his Lada

An entry way in Shah-i-Zinda



This will just have to do until McDonalds makes it to Uzbekistan.