Tashkent TV Tower

Do you own a tower with a public observation deck for tourists? Have you measured its height and included distinguishable characteristics such as King Kong traipsing around its pointy top, have elevator speeds that even Aerosmith wouldn't be able to keep up with, or hydrate with a 32 dollar G&T? If you can say yes to these questions, you too can apply to join the World Federation of Great Towers, all for a small fee of 2,000-3,500 dollars/year! (Most of the towers on this list cost millions, even billions of dollars to construct, so three grand is a drop in the bucket...)

The Tashkent TV Tower happens to be an exclusive, elite member of the WFGT, with 50 other proud members. Over 1,200 feet tall, the tower is responsible for broadcasting radio and tv throughout the province and a wee bit of Kazakhstan. There's even a hydro-meteorologic monitoring device perched on top. If the day is clear (which it usually isn't) the blue, white, and green stripes of the Uzbek flag are seen on the exterior of the observation decks/restaurants. At night, the tower lights up, shining more brilliantly than the entirety of Rod Roddy's suit collection. 

After walking through security checks, handing my Swiss army knife and surgical scissors over for safekeeping, and paying a 4 dollar entry fee, we enjoyed looking at mini tower replicas, post-Soviet decoration, and 360 degree views of the hazy city before sitting down for a snack in the rotating restaurant, 8 floors high above the world. Steve Winwood covers played while we waited 45 minutes for beers and defrosted pizza, and we practiced fixing our gazes upon non-moving objects to stave off nausea as we drifted around. We made it three quarters of the way around before the restaurant started back in reverse, making that our cue to exit. 

7th floor

 Museum and Monument of the Oppressed 

Ladies Trip!

Elevator anteroom

Fancyish restaurant with not-so-fancy food
on the 8th floor.