More desert

I shall be demented by the end of this week. Every day for the past four days we have travelled more than 500 km through the desert. We start at 0830 and get in at between 8 and 9 that evening. We are expected to eat a large meal at this point, go to bed and get up next day to leave again at 0830 am.

Today we made a detour to visit some ancient ruins - acres of totally barren desert with a few lumps which were the remnants of a once great city. We were taken to a fort where the guide knew so little that some excavated rooms with ovens and fireplaces were never mentioned. I found them myself. A total waste of time. And we have another two or three days of this. I might say that mostly we do not stop even for worthless ruins. Fortunately I have a kindle in my iPad so am happily rereading Glynn Maxwell 'On Poetry'.

The planning of this trip in China has been awful beyond belief. As to textiles or indeed anything worth viewing, forget it and the Silk Route is just not mentioned. If there was an airport within striking distance, I would leave. Never again! Turkey, Georgia and Uzbekistan I would return to - particularly the last two. I have forgone dinner tonight because I am likely to snarl at everyone.