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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