Unwinding in Uzbekistan

• A cheerful market trader in Tashkent, boasting nearly a full complement... A cheerful market trader in Tashkent, boasting nearly a full complement...
• Traditional handiwork and modern mosques Traditional handiwork and modern mosques
• Heaps of spices, everywhere Heaps of spices, everywhere
• The largest denomination Uzbek note - worth 40 pence The largest denomination Uzbek note - worth 40 pence
• No diesel in Tashkent - luckily we have a 'Plan B' No diesel in Tashkent - luckily we have a 'Plan B'
• Reading up in the shade of Gur-I-Amir, Samarkand Reading up in the shade of Gur-I-Amir, Samarkand
• Locals chatting outside Gur-I-Amir, Tamurlane's mausoleum Locals chatting outside Gur-I-Amir, Tamurlane's mausoleum
• Amazing arches and domes for which Samarkand is famous Amazing arches and domes for which Samarkand is famous
• Incredible decoration inside Timur's mausoleum Incredible decoration inside Timur's mausoleum
• Evening sun on Gur-I-Amur... Evening sun on Gur-I-Amur...
• ...and by night ...and by night
• Sunsrise over Samarkand's Registan... Sunsrise over Samarkand's Registan...
• ...arguably the most beautiful buildings in Central Asia ...arguably the most beautiful buildings in Central Asia
• Inside the Ulug Beg madrassa (Islamic school) in the Registan Inside the Ulug Beg madrassa (Islamic school) in the Registan
• Attention to detail in the cloisters... Attention to detail in the cloisters...
• ...and on the pillars ...and on the pillars
• Inside the Tillya Kari madrassa, the Registan Inside the Tillya Kari madrassa, the Registan
• How this was all created in the 14th century is mindblowing How this was all created in the 14th century is mindblowing
• Local Uzbek ladies, as colourful as their surrounds Local Uzbek ladies, as colourful as their surrounds
• Samarkand is highly manicured these days Samarkand is highly manicured these days
• A mausoleum facade at Shah-I-Zinda, Samarkand A mausoleum facade at Shah-I-Zinda, Samarkand
• A rare example of fragile, unrestored majolica A rare example of fragile, unrestored majolica
• Taking shade from the midday heat Taking shade from the midday heat
• In the courtyard of our guesthouse, swatting up over breakfast In the courtyard of our guesthouse, swatting up over breakfast
• Whole swathes of Samarkand's old streets have been flattened in a recent beautification process Whole swathes of Samarkand's old streets have been flattened in a recent beautification process
• Swanky cafes outside the Shah-I-Zinda mosque Swanky cafes outside the Shah-I-Zinda mosque
• A reminder of Tsarist influence, Samarkand's orthodox church A reminder of Tsarist influence, Samarkand's orthodox church
• Ishrakhana - a rare, unrestored Timurid relic Ishrakhana - a rare, unrestored Timurid relic
• Cotton fields on the road to Bukhara dominate the landscape Cotton fields on the road to Bukhara dominate the landscape
• We can't work out how all these cities are in the same direction... We can't work out how all these cities are in the same direction...
• Statue of the 'wizened fool', Bukhara Statue of the 'wizened fool', Bukhara
• One of Bukhara's many minarets One of Bukhara's many minarets
• Bukhara schoolchildren, already well versed in posing Bukhara schoolchildren, already well versed in posing
• Ubiquitous local handicrafts Ubiquitous local handicrafts
• Bukhara's elders enjoying chi around Lyab-I-Hauz Bukhara's elders enjoying chi around Lyab-I-Hauz
• The old, and marginally newer The old, and marginally newer
• Student rooms (cells) in a Bukhara madrassa Student rooms (cells) in a Bukhara madrassa
• More typically, souvenir stalls in a former madrassa More typically, souvenir stalls in a former madrassa
• Old Russian memorabilia, still popular with the tourists Old Russian memorabilia, still popular with the tourists
• The Kalon Minaret The Kalon Minaret
• Local porcelain Local porcelain
• In front of Bukhara's Ark, scene of Stoddart & Connolly's infamous execution 160 years ago In front of Bukhara's Ark, scene of Stoddart & Connolly's infamous execution 160 years ago
• The Ark's still intact and imposing walls The Ark's still intact and imposing walls
• Bukhara's notorious 'bug pit' prison - accessible only by rope Bukhara's notorious 'bug pit' prison - accessible only by rope
• Shaking out the endless dust Shaking out the endless dust
• Locals playing chess Locals playing chess
• Market scene, Khiva Market scene, Khiva
• Inside the walled city, Khiva Inside the walled city, Khiva
• Local bazaar trader Local bazaar trader
• Getting stuck into chi and plov in a chaikhana, Khiva Getting stuck into chi and plov in a chaikhana, Khiva
• Locals posing for a photoshoot, Khiva Locals posing for a photoshoot, Khiva
• One of Khiva's numerous immaculately preserved palaces One of Khiva's numerous immaculately preserved palaces
• Khiva's Ark, with the Kalta Minor minaret background Khiva's Ark, with the Kalta Minor minaret background
• Outside Khiva's Ark Outside Khiva's Ark
• The Kalta Minor minaret, surely would have been the world's tallest building if it had been completed The Kalta Minor minaret, surely would have been the world's tallest building if it had been completed
• Despite the tourists, it still feels like a lived in city Despite the tourists, it still feels like a lived in city
• Local going to work, Khiva Local going to work, Khiva
• Young stall holder, Khiva Young stall holder, Khiva
• Freshly dyed silk, ready for spinning Freshly dyed silk, ready for spinning
• Embroiderers at work, Khiva Embroiderers at work, Khiva
• Devotees in the Pakhlavan Mahmud Mausoleum, Khiva Devotees in the Pakhlavan Mahmud Mausoleum, Khiva
• Another incredible domed ceiling - the Pakhlavan Mahmud Mausoleum, Khiva Another incredible domed ceiling - the Pakhlavan Mahmud Mausoleum, Khiva
• Khivan woman outside the Mausoleum Khivan woman outside the Mausoleum
• Enjoying some R&R in a chaikhana Enjoying some R&R in a chaikhana
• Inside the Tash Hauli (Stone) Palace, Khiva Inside the Tash Hauli (Stone) Palace, Khiva
• Stone and wooden pillars inside the Tash Hauli Palace Stone and wooden pillars inside the Tash Hauli Palace
• View from Khiva's Ark into the walled city View from Khiva's Ark into the walled city
• Rooftops in Khiva's old city Rooftops in Khiva's old city
• City walls, Khiva City walls, Khiva
• Not a shade of grey here Not a shade of grey here
• The Islam Khoja minaret The Islam Khoja minaret
• Inside the Juma mosque, Khiva... Inside the Juma mosque, Khiva...
• ...213 wooden pillars ...213 wooden pillars
• It's all fresh and tasty here It's all fresh and tasty here
• The Ark's kitsch night lighting The Ark's kitsch night lighting
• Khiva's backstreets by night Khiva's backstreets by night
• Oh dear - and it's only 9pm Oh dear - and it's only 9pm
• The mighty Amyu Darya (Oxus) - vast and fast flowing here... The mighty Amyu Darya (Oxus) - vast and fast flowing here...
• ...but it hardly reaches the Aral Sea, only 450km away ...but it hardly reaches the Aral Sea, only 450km away
• Rural Uzbekistan - if it's not irrigated, it looks like this Rural Uzbekistan - if it's not irrigated, it looks like this
• Khalon Mosque, Bukhara at midday Khalon Mosque, Bukhara at midday
• Chor Minor (4 minarets), Bukhara Chor Minor (4 minarets), Bukhara
• Kalon Mosque, Bukhara Kalon Mosque, Bukhara
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