Trip to Uzbekistan October 2012

2. Uzbekistan is one of two
double-landlocked countries
in the world

3. Around the 14th century, the land occupied a
critical place on the Silk Road. Samarkand,
Bukhara, and Khiva were world famous for trade.

4. Although today the Aral Sea is disappearing due to the insatiable thirst of cotton.

5. Khiva today has an old town that may not
look much different from 500 years ago.

6. Minarets dominate the skyline

7. While hundreds of columns dominate the interiors of long ago built mosques

8. The men are not naturally friendly

9. Although
the
women
can be
welcoming

10. …and the children playful.

11. Nan bread baked in tandoor ovens was invented here, and
later brought to India

12. We ate a lot of bread…

13. …and fresh fruits and vegetables…

14. …sold by enterprising women.

15. Farewell Khiva, as we drive through the Qyzyl Kum (Red
Sand) Desert along the Amu Darya (Oxus) River bordering
Turkmenistan to…

16. Bukhara!

17. WHERE ANCIENT MADRASSA
Where ancient madrassa…

18. Featuring mythical birds, men in the moon and pigs…

19. …and amazing design work…

20. …stand next to Jewish temples hundreds of years
old once supporting thousands of families.

21. Small houses lead to…

22. …perfectly symmetrical mausoleums…

23. …and picture perfect mosques.

24. Market sellers love to give us a taste of everything…

25. …and we
attract
everyone’s
attention.

26. …especially when it is time to eat.

27. We ate a bit ourselves, and chose our food from the thoughtfully
designed menus

28. Timurlane, conqueror of most of Asia and
responsible for 17 million deaths in the
14th century is now being rehabilitated
into a folk hero. In his birthplace his
statue replaced Lenin’s, and now stands
guard next to wedding parties and ferris
wheels.

29. A local market
provides a stop
along the road to…

30. Samarkand

33. …whose beauty cannot be captured in a photo

34. …but lunch can…

36. …along with the faces of children.

37. Beautiful vistas are everywhere.

38. The Synagogue is difficult to find…

39. …but the beauty of the country stays forever.

41. The End