In 1983, as a recent graduate in Russian studies, I worked for an American company that organized continuing-education junkets in the former Soviet Union. Frequently, the job brought me to Uzbekistan. The train from Moscow to the capital city of Tashkent took almost three days. Usually, I flew Aeroflot, the national airline then known for its decrepit aircraft, only some of whose seats had seat belts.
Today, Uzbekistan Airways has a fleet of new Boeing Dreamliners that fly direct from New York. The country is not as remote as it may seem, and as a destination, it delivers in multiples. It’s ideal for those who crave the original and the sublime in their explorations, and who prefer adventure served alongside exquisite hotels, rare historical sites, and bolts of vivid silk ikat fabric from the bazaars.
