Explore TURKMENBASHI with Pamela MacNaughtan as she embarks on the epic 10,000-mile MONGOL RALLY!
The name of this city on the Caspian Sea not only refers to the city itself, but also to the people of Turkmenistan, and to self-proclaimed title of the country’s former eccentric president, the deceased Saparmurat Niyazov. Niyazov was infamous for the gold statues of himself he placed on buildings, his self-penned “Book of the Soul” that was required reading in schools, and his decision to change the names of the months to honours his family—and himself. While the city of Turkmenbashi (also spelled Türkmenbaşy) may share Niyazov’s legacy in name, the coincidence ends there. Turkmenbashi is a relaxed seaside city, with beaches and cafés and a pleasant atmosphere that is more mellow than bold.
- WebsiteTurkmenbashi
