Leaving my camera batteries charging I wanted to go and look for some food and see if I could find the Russian Orthodox Church we had driven past. I always feel like an animal coming out of its hole whenever I'm on these trips and go searching for food.

I was quite impressed by the architecture and European feel to this modern district. This wasn't built in Soviet times but is more recent and modern.

I saw signs outside two museums so was going to ask my guide about these tomorrow. I also came to a hammam (bath house). We'd seen a historic one in Bukhara but I didnt know they had them in Samarkand too.

There wasnt much to see inside and when I asked about it later I was told that its just a public bathing house with shower stalls and not a traditional arabian style sauna.

I thought I should turn around as I didnt see the Orthodox Church, any food, and it was getting dark. I noticed there was no street lighting which seemed a bit disappointing for such a modern looking town.

Back at the hotel it looked totally dark from the outside. Maybe the windows were tinted but when I went in they were under a blackout. It seems the entire city district had no power.

I made it to my room and managed to get my door open. Interestingly the room had some power in the lamp which I couldnt figure out how to turn on before. Its actually a backup lamp that switches on when the power goes out.

Shortly the power came back on. Later I was told this was for construction work so they can make connections and temporarily shut the power off for short periods.

I tried to find something to watch on TV and ended up watching Russian Big Brother for a while.