Khiva

While driving towards Bokhara by bus we noticed the white salt over everything, eroding away the cement walls, and covering the ground like snow.

After 8 hours driving through the desert along the canals coming from the Aral Sea – we arrived into Bohara – a wonderful vibrant city on the Silk Road from China – historic castles, mosques, madrassas (schools) and a somewhat European flair to it. Warm and inviting.  We spent a couple of days around the city, en route to Samarkand.

 

Lunch around one of the mosque pools

Samarkand turned out to be my favourite city in Uzbekistan, however, the mountains towering some distance away from the headquarters of the famous conqueror, Tamerlane, kept us shivering and the pocket books of the elderly sales ladies of knitted camel hair shawls fattened. For 10Euro we purchased gossamer thin lacey shawls that kept us from freezing.

The city is a mix of European architecture with Tajik, Chinese, Jewish, and Muslim influences – Catholic churches, synagogues – two story buildings, and Unesco World Heritage sites. Remarkable city in a fairy tale setting. Impressive.  From here one could do a day trip into neighbouring Tajikstan only 40-60 kms away to the border.
 

We went through a magnificient museum of textiles with exceptional embroidered wall hangings, etc.

Back to Tashkent and home again – One can not cover an eight day trip and do it justice within a page, so let me tell you all about it!

For more information on planning your trip to Uzbekistan, please contact Mona Hubinette and let her fill you in on all the insider information.