Recently a friend of mine shared the image of Hotel Uzbekistan; he took it while travelling in Tashkent. This very shot inspired me to write about one of the oldest hotels in the capital.

Once I reach the heart of Tashkent, I sit on the bench to observe a huge concrete building. It reminds me of a big open book in front of the blue sky. It is quite strange to see a truly Soviet-style building among modern constructions. The hotel expresses Soviet modernism. Its seventeen stories hold the memories of old, Soviet Tashkent.

So far, my imagination, which is far from the art of design, prompts as if the hotel is covered with ornate concrete bars. The Soviet architecture’s idea to “imprison” the façade adds a distinct diversity to the hotel view.

When looking at the hotel, my thoughts fly back to Soviet times. What the hotel was like inside half a century ago; who stayed there, what was the kitchen and service like? A sudden chime of bells on the old clock tower returns me to reality. The teleportation was short, but made me ponder.

Another advantage of the spot is the nice area right in front of the hotel. Wooden benches spread around the square; in the center, there is the prominent monument of Amir Temur.

I got closer and took shots of the hotel. However, I will use my friend’s image; maybe one day it will inspire the reader to stay at Hotel Uzbekistan.