Day 57. Buchara.
A leisurly breakfast under the grapevines in the courtyard of our guesthouse.
We then had a wander around the old town area. Lovely Madrasas and squares. This is tourist central except there aren’t too many as the sensible people come in August and September when it is cooler.
The place is spotless and well kept, the stall holders are not pushy, locals are friendly.
They have their tourism act together. Most of the buildings are restored but all in a way that salutes the past.
This was used as a bath in ancient times - but the water wasn't changed and people caught diseases - so they stopped it being a bath.
We toughed it out until 1:30 and have now retreated to our room for admin and planning.
Later in the day we took a taxi to the summer palace of the last Tzar ,then back into town to visit the Bukhara Fort.
The summer palace is quite small but nice. It has not been restored and also the gardens which were once obviously very ornate. I guess as tourism picks up the funds will come to restore it.
The Bukhara fort has been completely rebuilt and is very impressive, the site of much trading as well as the obvious fortification of it. It is now a museum with many exhibits from excavations in the old town. A large and impressive coronation square complete with throne.
It is slowly dawning on us just how important and influential the silk road was. From trade in many goods previously unheard of to the mixing of cultures through emigration and arranged marriages of the noble class it shaped the cultures in this part of the world and probably beyond. The opportunities for employment and to better oneself through trade must have been immense. Unfortunately it also provided a conduit for marauding armies eager to plunder and pillage and to decimate entire communities.
There are myriad stall holders selling many many items of interest to tourists. What has impressed us is the handcrafts are still being carried out in little workshops behind the stalls. Men carving wood and metal, women doing beautiful needlework, hand painted porcelains to name just a few.
Tonight our hosts have offered us their version of Plov for dinner. We have enthusiastically accepted.
We then had a wander around the old town area. Lovely Madrasas and squares. This is tourist central except there aren’t too many as the sensible people come in August and September when it is cooler.
The place is spotless and well kept, the stall holders are not pushy, locals are friendly.
They have their tourism act together. Most of the buildings are restored but all in a way that salutes the past.
We toughed it out until 1:30 and have now retreated to our room for admin and planning.
Later in the day we took a taxi to the summer palace of the last Tzar ,then back into town to visit the Bukhara Fort.
The summer palace is quite small but nice. It has not been restored and also the gardens which were once obviously very ornate. I guess as tourism picks up the funds will come to restore it.
This was beside a massive pool - empty and full of dirt now, but you could imagine the Tzar sitting up there in all his finery.
The Bukhara fort has been completely rebuilt and is very impressive, the site of much trading as well as the obvious fortification of it. It is now a museum with many exhibits from excavations in the old town. A large and impressive coronation square complete with throne.
It is slowly dawning on us just how important and influential the silk road was. From trade in many goods previously unheard of to the mixing of cultures through emigration and arranged marriages of the noble class it shaped the cultures in this part of the world and probably beyond. The opportunities for employment and to better oneself through trade must have been immense. Unfortunately it also provided a conduit for marauding armies eager to plunder and pillage and to decimate entire communities.
There are myriad stall holders selling many many items of interest to tourists. What has impressed us is the handcrafts are still being carried out in little workshops behind the stalls. Men carving wood and metal, women doing beautiful needlework, hand painted porcelains to name just a few.
Tonight our hosts have offered us their version of Plov for dinner. We have enthusiastically accepted.
Great photos guys!
ReplyDeleteI didn't get to the Palace but all other photos recognised. Thanks it's like reliving my trip
ReplyDelete