Uzbekistan

Day 11 May 23, 2023 Samarkand Uzbekistan

Breakfast was on the roof top of the hotel. A nice breeze was blowing through and it actually felt cool. Pleasant change. The sky is partly cloudy with an expected high of 88 degrees Fahrenheit.

Bus departure was at 9 am. We are headed for the ancient observatory. Our guide told the story on the way but we only understood parts of it. He talks very fast and pronounces some words differently. This astronomer was before Islam came to Uzbekistan. They were incredibly advanced for the time. Too bad all that knowledge was lost. We passed a large Jewish cemetery on the way. A very large statue of the astronomer is just off the parking lot. Connie stayed below. Just too many steps. Lots of school children come and go. Two cleaning ladies are working very hard to make the place beautiful. One lady spent at least 30 minutes cleaning one side of the base of the statue. The other lady was dead heading the marigolds.

Then it was off to a small museum showcasing ancient frescos. Amazing that any part of these survived for so long. Pots, coins and other artifacts were also on display. One display contained coffins with complete skeletons. A man was in the parking lot selling t-shirts for about $7.50 each. We bought two. I wonder how much they will shrink.

Next stop is another mausoleum sitting way up on a hillside. Connie opted to stay below and watch people. Some observations: babies are carried in arms not in back packs. Only saw two strollers and those strollers remained at the entrance. Not all Uzbeks are slender. The women like bling on their clothing. Several retired military guys came in. Their uniforms were covered in metals. A man recites from the Koran at set intervals. A special forces person stands guard most of the time. The patch even says special forces. Two live chickens were carried in but they most likely became someone’s lunch.

From here we went to lunch. For once it was a lighter lunch. Naturally since we are on our own for dinner. The restaurant was across from the Russian Orthodox Church.

We returned to the hotel for a siesta before heading out in the late afternoon. We are headed to a special wine tasting of local wines in a predominantly Muslin country. We had at least nine different drinks. Some were very good and some not to our liking. They also served various cheeses, apples, nuts, and crackers. They were not pushy about selling their products.

Then we went to a complex featuring various crafts and building styles from all over the country. We could have just come here and saved some travel time. Our guide got fresh bread right out of the tandoori. That is really good. A crowd has gathered around people doing some kind of game and dancing. They are have a terrific time.

The lights are coming on so that called for a last stop at one of the squares to see the city lights. Back to the hotel to pack up because tomorrow is going to be a very long day. By the way our hotel is on both sides of the road. Rob saw the first and only beggar of the trip.