Form the border city Saraks between Iran and Turkmenistan we continued to Mary. A city with big boulevards, marble palaces, golden mosques and huge government buildings. Behind the facade bazars and daily life like we have seen in it in Iran. On many of the big buildings the president was pictured. Always smiling.
On the roads we meet a lot of police. The same for the intersections in the cities. Control. Another group of people in the streets were the “maintenance” workers. Cleaning the streets or polishing the curbs!
The Turkmenistan people were not very friendly. Could not speak English. Only interested in our US$. We met a lot of Russian tourists who came to inexpensive Turkmenistan to drink vodka and have fun. Not pleasant at all.
On our way to the border city Farap between Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan we visited Merv a 20 ha big area which has been an important stop on the Silk Road. The City can be dated back to 600 BC. Not much is left, but very authentic.
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