4 and 5 June – Bukhara (Uzbekistan)

It was like a scene from a Spaghetti Western, they walked into a bar, everyone looked round and all talking stopped! They had entered a male domain! They were women entering an all men's bar in Bukhara! I had to step in and ask if they were allowed in the bar, which they were, and then they were peeved as they sat with their beer (and one smoking cigarettes) and all the men ignored them as if they did not exist. And who were they - Suzanne and Anita of course. They do not half get me into strange situations at times!

On the way to Bukhara we crossed and followed the Oxus River which is in part the border between Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.

The Oxus River

Bukhara, or the Pillar of Islam, is central Asia’s holiest city having been in existence since the 5th century. We arrived at the Lyabi Hotel about 5pm then all went out to dinner only to have to wait more than an hour and a quarter the food. I sent mine back because it was cold and the replacement was not much better. In the morning we went on a walking tour of the town which lasted about seven hours and seeing students parading through the town in preparation for the Silk and spice Festival which was to take place in the following three days. I am reducing the number of mosque and madrasah photographs in the blogs as they are becoming a bit repetitive and also the quality of wifi is deteriorating that I am not able to send a long blog.

Mosque and now a madrasah (School)

Mosque and now a madrasah (School)

Mosque and now a madrasah (School)

Mosque decoration

A street looking towards a trade dome, one that has no decoration at all. A trade dome is where two streets cross and where merchants set up shop.

School children out for the day

Tea or carpet shop, both were bought.

Unadorned brick construction

A courtyard in a madrasah 

Ulugbex Madrasah

A water wheel

Breakfast on the hotel terrace

Breakfast buffet laid out

This, and the two photos below are of the Palace or harem

The first electric light in the country

Gold wall decoration

The Kahn's lookout

In the town itself it was very green with plenty of open spaces, mulberry and cherry trees which must have been planted many years ago. There was usually some shade to hide from the sun.

A baker selling bread

A new bride in traditional dress

A new bride in European dress