Turkmenistan - Ashgabat - Palace Square

The Palace Square named in honour of Sapamyrat Turkmenbashy the Great. The tall structure is calle the Neautrality Arch.

Sent by Sonya and Travis who visited Ashgabat.

This is from Lonely Planet : Trips to the top of the Arch of Neutrality give commanding views of the enormous Independence Square, on which sits the golden-domed Palace of Turkmenbashi, the Ministry of Fairness, the Ministry of Defence and the Ruhyyet Palace, all of which were built by the French corporation Bouygues Construction, the court builder to Niyazov. Behind this is the Majlis (parliament).

Turkmenistan - Ashgabat - "President" Hotel

"President" Hotel in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.

Sent by Sonya and Travis who visited Turkmenistan.

This is from Wikipedia : Prezident Myhmanhansy - or the «President Hotel» is a five star hotel located in the Ashgabat, Turkmenistan along the Archabil Freeway on 18 km far from Ashgabat Airport and 12 km far from Ashgabat Railway Station.  Ultra modern «President Hotel» was built in 2004 in the south part of the capital, 10 km from the center of the city. Hotel is located in the beautiful park zone. The building of the Hotel is buried in verdure. There are two cascades of the fountains around Hotel, pool with the beach, two tennis courts and guarded parking.
«President Hotel» is meant first of all for native and foreign delegations, but is always ready to accept Turkmenistan residents and foreign guests, traveling by themselves.

Hotel offers 152 rooms equipped with furniture from the best Europe trade houses. Prices include breakfast.

Hotel offers also conference halls for 120 places, banquet hall for 250 places, lobby-bar, fitness-club, pool, sauna, VIP-restaurant for 102 places.