In this episode of Explore, we take a train journey through Uzbekistan's iconic Silk Road cities.
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00:00I'm in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, and I'm about to start a train journey to
00:09explore the two iconic ancient Silk Road centers, Samarkand and Bukhara.
00:14There is lots I want to see, and I can't wait for the journey to begin.
00:20Early in the morning, I board the modern high-speed Afrosyab train, a symbol of the
00:30country's technological progress, traveling at a speed of 250 kilometers per hour.
00:37It used to take a caravan about a week to travel from Tashkent to Samarkand.
00:45I'll be there much quicker than that, but it is speed which still lets me appreciate
00:51the changing landscapes.
00:56Samarkand is one of the most beautiful and ancient Silk Road cities in Uzbekistan.
01:05I decided to explore the origins of the high-speed train's name.
01:09Afrosyab was the name of an ancient city that thrived here in the past.
01:14Today it stands as one of the most significant archaeological sites in Central Asia.
01:44Archaeologists have uncovered treasures from ancient civilizations at this site.
02:15I decided to go off the beaten path to explore modern winemaking traditions.
02:23Those are Bagizagan vineyards, and here everything is ready for this year's harvest.
02:45The vineyards of Bagizagan play a crucial role in Uzbekistan's wine industry.
02:51They are not only an economic asset, but also an integral part of the cultural heritage.
03:15I am back on the Afrosyab train.
03:21My final destination is another magnificent Silk Road city, Bukhara.
03:27Its historic center is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
03:33Bukhara, with its numerous madrasas, has long been a hub of learning Islamic knowledge and culture.
03:39The madrasa of Abdulaziz Khan is among the most beautiful in the city.
03:55The final goal of my journey is to savor the flavors of the past.
04:01Bukhara is renowned for its distinctive plov.
04:05Abdulaziz Khan inherited the ancient recipe from his great-grandfather, the personal cook of the last emir of Bukhara.
04:11It is believed that the plov was created by the father of modern medicine, Avicenna,
04:16who ensured that it was not only delicious, but also beneficial for health.
04:36The delightful taste of this plov is a treasured memory I will take home with me.
04:42My train journey across Uzbekistan is coming to an end,
04:46and already all I want is to return to this never-ending Silk Road fairytale,
04:52as there is still so much left to discover.