My first covid-era trip abroad … to Tashkent 

Six months ago I was under Lockdown 2, confined to the local area, where everything except essential food shops were shut (I didn’t visit a cafe or clothes shop between late December and April). So even though I used to travel a lot pre-pandemic, my culture shock was extreme when I jetted off on a work trip to Tashkent.

After months in a small town on the Scottish West Coast, I’d go so far as to describe circling over Moscow, where I transited, as mind-blowing. Even more so was attending an international conference in the Uzbek capital alongside thousands of delegates from dozens of countries. 

Getting ready 

I had to get a covid test no less than 48 hours before departing, which required a rushed trip to a testing centre in Glasgow then an extremely tense 24 hour wait for the results to come through. 

Luckily for me — I know some people’s trips have been cancelled as their results didn’t come through — the result came back negative and in plenty of time. In fact it arrived when I was on the train down to London the day before the flight. 

At the airport 

I’m used to wearing a face mask in shops and cafes, but I’ve never worn one non-stop for 16 hours or more before. However, that’s what I did in both directions (except when I was eating or drinking). 

I had all my covid documentation printed up, but it was still stressful at check in, worrying that I’d missed something or the rules might have changed. Fortunately everything was in oder and I made it though with no problems — not everyone was so lucky though; I saw some people sent out of the queue to get tested and presumably rebook their flights.

Heathrow airport was quieter than usual, and Amsterdam Schiphol (on the way back) seemed really quiet with only a few of the cafes and restaurants open. 

However, Moscow was absolutely packed with travellers and it wasn’t easy to social distance. I’d avoided flying though Istanbul as Turkey is on the UK red list but I couldn’t avoid mingling with travellers from Turkey as many of the flights listed at Sheremetyevo were to or from Turkey. 

Safety in Tashkent 

There were some differences in the rules — including an 8pm curfew — but overall the level of restrictions in Uzbekistan was about the same as in the UK. 

I wore a mask at the conference venue, in offices, cafes and taxis, but most of the shops and cafes were open. 

This being a work trip with a very intense schedule, I didn’t see much of Tashkent except from various taxi windows. 

However, together with the lady assigned to look after me, I did get to stroll about the central pedestrianised area and visit some of the shops there to buy a present for my daughter … before heading to what I can only describe as the blingiest restaurant ever. 

Walls, chairs, tables, bars were ornately decorated and anything that can be encrusted with gems was. It was simply spectacular. 

The morning I left I also got up early (sleep didn’t feature much during the trip) for some fresh air and sightseeing in the area around my hotel, the City Palace.

Confusing rules 

The UK’s travel rules have changed a fair bit recently, and it was extra confusing as I live in Scotland but what you read on the government site sometimes applies only to England and sometimes to the whole of the UK. 

I didn’t know at the time the flights were booked whether I could land at one of the London airpots then stay at a hotel overnight on my way back to Scotland (the flights get in too late to do it one on day). Later guidance showed that would have been possible. 

However, I was already booked onto Tashkent — Moscow — Amsterdam — Glasgow flights for the return journey.

I ended up making an expensive mistake when I booked my test on returning home from a private provider, only to find out that for Scotland you have to book through the official government site (sigh). 

Still, once the correct test was booked I had no problems getting the documents with QR code onto my phone to present at the airports.

10 day quarantine 

I really did savour every minute of the trip because I knew very well that once I got home I’d be confined to the house and garden for the next 10 days. 

To sum up the trip, I did: 3 days travelling, 2 days in Tashkent, 10 days self isolating post-trip.