Explain this Black Market

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The currency in Uzbekistan is the “Sum”. There are officially 1700 to US$1. but on the black market you can up to 2400. Here’s how it works. You trot along to the National bank and exchange your US$ travellers’ cheques for US$s. Or you put your debit card into an ATM and find that it will only dispense US$s. Then your take your US$ bills round to hotel reception, are taken into the left luggage room, or somewhere similar, a shoe box full 1000 Sum notes is produced and you get the best deal you can. It is always a lot better than the official rate. We actually paid for a number of items with a combination of US Dollars, Pounds Sterling and Euros.

The biggest note is for 1000 sum, about 35p. Paying for all but an ice cream requires a lot of bill counting. Presumably you take a wheel barrow to work on pay day.

Samarkand is an amazing city. Here are some photos.

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