“The great city of Dushanbe”
Dushanbe
Since there was about 25 people on my flight, get my luggage was easy and the airport was small so maneuvering our way through was also easy. I went to Dushanbe to meet a very dear friend and by the end of our time together, I asked her to marry me. She said yes. More later…
With my friends help, I had a two bedroom fully furnished flat for only $30 per night. So if you are looking to travel to Dushanbe, please look around, there are a lot of inexpensive places to stay.
After arriving, with the assistance of her friend and his vehicle, I unpacked and we went and got a quick bite and then I went to bed.
On Saturday morning, well every morning, we ate at the Merve Cafe. It was a Turkish cafe and the food was pretty good and the portions were big. However, I did not like the grape juice. The other juices were fine.
We went to the Victory Park, located in the hills north east of the City. The park recognized the men defending their country of WWII. The park was very green and surprisingly clean. Parks in the states are not even this clean. For a poor country, they took great care in keeping the park clean (actually, the whole city was clean). After walking around the park, seeing the car lift and the memorial, we stopped at the Zafar restaurant, meaning Victory, and I have the greatest meal of my life.
We ordered a Georgian bottle of red wine and a platter of skewered meats with a plate of fresh vegetables. Along with the company, this was the most memorable meal I have ever had.
Later that afternoon, we went to the Behzod museum. There were many artifacts of Tajik history; stones, clay pots, clothes, paintings and many sculptures. They even had a hand-held radio type recorder explaining everything in English. You only needed to enter the number associated with the artifact you were looking at. Cost was less then $1.
On Sunday morning, after a brief walk on Liberty Street, my friend’s boss was kind enough to drive us up to the foothills of the mountains to the Prime Café. This was the coolest place I have ever seen. All the work was in stone with a large stream flowing through the middle of it. There were tables (called tapchan), about 4m x 4m raised off the ground about 1/2m where you sat and eat or talk.
There was a hot tub and pool located on the opposite side on the entry point, along with a three story brick building that housed an outside bar, sheltered dining rooms and the 3rd floor was sleeping room, if you wished to spend the night. All made for the stones and bricks of the surrounding area. Just breathe taking.
We ordered something to drink, a mayonnaise salad and a dumpling soup; all very delicious. After about a 60 minute nap, our main course arrived; Herbal grilled chicken. Very good but I was already full from the 1st and 2nd courses. Everything came to 210 som, or about $15. We were there for about 4 hours, 5 hours with the drive.
That night, we went to the Moscow Cafe for grilled trout. I am not a big fan for trout because of the bones; however, this was very tasty. Drinks, 1st and 2nd dish and the entrée was about $5. Very affordable.
Late Monday morning we went to another museum so that I could see the statue for the Sleeping Buddha. It was amazing, about 20 meters long and about 5 meters high. Larges Buddha statue in SW Asia. It was easy to get through since there was arrows on the floor guiding you through. The cost was 30 som (30 som for foreigners), or about $6.
After the museum, we stopped at the Caffe Molinari. The latte and pie were excellent; however the lady running the store was the best part. Not only she was pretty, she had the coolest fingernails I have ever seen. It’s worth a visit just to meet her.
On Monday evening, my friend took me to her favorite restaurant, the Niagara. The reason she likes it so is because a handsome young man dances to her favorite song. I did not know this until the end of the evening.
We sat at a table near the stage. We had drinks, 1st and 2nd dish and the entrée. Again, the food was very good. The 1st and 2nd dishes all had caviar and the flavor was strong yet not overwhelming. The cost of the meal was about $10.
The show consisted of a violinist, a singer and the violinist and three dancers. The dancers always performed individually. Not knowing a reason she liked the restaurant was because of the song and the dancer, I questioned her and she told me. I forced her to ask for her wishes now since the song was last on the night list.
The dancer was very good; his moves were will choreographed. Shortly after beginning his routine, another female audience member got up and danced with him. My friend looked discouraged because she was hoping to dance and did not want to hurt my feelings by doing so.
Later this evening, after arriving back at my flat, I asked her to marry me. It was the best, most memorable weekend of my life.
Tuesday was Dushanbe’s “Last Bell,” or the last day of school. Kids where everywhere celebrating their new freedom. For me, it was very exciting for I got to meet my friend’s son and her mother. My friend, her son and I went to the Merve’s for pizza. Dushanbe was wonderful tasting food.
As for the City of Dushanbe; It is very clean, many many large trees lining the streets, some over 1m in diameter, the people were friendly and the restaurants were some of the best I have been in. And for you single men; yes, the ladies are tall with long black hair, and very pretty.
I want to thank my friend for showing me a wonderful time and for saying yes. I also want to thank her peers at her work with helping find me a place to stay and driving her and I around town, and the City of Dushanbe – Thank you.
I plan on returning again in October. More again then.
With my friends help, I had a two bedroom fully furnished flat for only $30 per night. So if you are looking to travel to Dushanbe, please look around, there are a lot of inexpensive places to stay.
After arriving, with the assistance of her friend and his vehicle, I unpacked and we went and got a quick bite and then I went to bed.
On Saturday morning, well every morning, we ate at the Merve Cafe. It was a Turkish cafe and the food was pretty good and the portions were big. However, I did not like the grape juice. The other juices were fine.
We went to the Victory Park, located in the hills north east of the City. The park recognized the men defending their country of WWII. The park was very green and surprisingly clean. Parks in the states are not even this clean. For a poor country, they took great care in keeping the park clean (actually, the whole city was clean). After walking around the park, seeing the car lift and the memorial, we stopped at the Zafar restaurant, meaning Victory, and I have the greatest meal of my life.
We ordered a Georgian bottle of red wine and a platter of skewered meats with a plate of fresh vegetables. Along with the company, this was the most memorable meal I have ever had.
Later that afternoon, we went to the Behzod museum. There were many artifacts of Tajik history; stones, clay pots, clothes, paintings and many sculptures. They even had a hand-held radio type recorder explaining everything in English. You only needed to enter the number associated with the artifact you were looking at. Cost was less then $1.
On Sunday morning, after a brief walk on Liberty Street, my friend’s boss was kind enough to drive us up to the foothills of the mountains to the Prime Café. This was the coolest place I have ever seen. All the work was in stone with a large stream flowing through the middle of it. There were tables (called tapchan), about 4m x 4m raised off the ground about 1/2m where you sat and eat or talk.
There was a hot tub and pool located on the opposite side on the entry point, along with a three story brick building that housed an outside bar, sheltered dining rooms and the 3rd floor was sleeping room, if you wished to spend the night. All made for the stones and bricks of the surrounding area. Just breathe taking.
We ordered something to drink, a mayonnaise salad and a dumpling soup; all very delicious. After about a 60 minute nap, our main course arrived; Herbal grilled chicken. Very good but I was already full from the 1st and 2nd courses. Everything came to 210 som, or about $15. We were there for about 4 hours, 5 hours with the drive.
That night, we went to the Moscow Cafe for grilled trout. I am not a big fan for trout because of the bones; however, this was very tasty. Drinks, 1st and 2nd dish and the entrée was about $5. Very affordable.
Late Monday morning we went to another museum so that I could see the statue for the Sleeping Buddha. It was amazing, about 20 meters long and about 5 meters high. Larges Buddha statue in SW Asia. It was easy to get through since there was arrows on the floor guiding you through. The cost was 30 som (30 som for foreigners), or about $6.
After the museum, we stopped at the Caffe Molinari. The latte and pie were excellent; however the lady running the store was the best part. Not only she was pretty, she had the coolest fingernails I have ever seen. It’s worth a visit just to meet her.
On Monday evening, my friend took me to her favorite restaurant, the Niagara. The reason she likes it so is because a handsome young man dances to her favorite song. I did not know this until the end of the evening.
We sat at a table near the stage. We had drinks, 1st and 2nd dish and the entrée. Again, the food was very good. The 1st and 2nd dishes all had caviar and the flavor was strong yet not overwhelming. The cost of the meal was about $10.
The show consisted of a violinist, a singer and the violinist and three dancers. The dancers always performed individually. Not knowing a reason she liked the restaurant was because of the song and the dancer, I questioned her and she told me. I forced her to ask for her wishes now since the song was last on the night list.
The dancer was very good; his moves were will choreographed. Shortly after beginning his routine, another female audience member got up and danced with him. My friend looked discouraged because she was hoping to dance and did not want to hurt my feelings by doing so.
Later this evening, after arriving back at my flat, I asked her to marry me. It was the best, most memorable weekend of my life.
Tuesday was Dushanbe’s “Last Bell,” or the last day of school. Kids where everywhere celebrating their new freedom. For me, it was very exciting for I got to meet my friend’s son and her mother. My friend, her son and I went to the Merve’s for pizza. Dushanbe was wonderful tasting food.
As for the City of Dushanbe; It is very clean, many many large trees lining the streets, some over 1m in diameter, the people were friendly and the restaurants were some of the best I have been in. And for you single men; yes, the ladies are tall with long black hair, and very pretty.
I want to thank my friend for showing me a wonderful time and for saying yes. I also want to thank her peers at her work with helping find me a place to stay and driving her and I around town, and the City of Dushanbe – Thank you.
I plan on returning again in October. More again then.
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