Today we have a walking tour of Bukhara so we start by walking through the bazaar and we are treated to a tea tasting, which is very spicy and delicious. The tea merchant is typical of so many Uzbekistan people who have many gold teeth, giving them golden smiles.
We pass local craftsmen painting, making knives and metal dishes.
We walk to the Poi-Kalyan complex that we visited yesterday and see it in the morning light. We are able to go inside the Mosque this morning that we couldn’t do last night because it was prayer time. Inside the Mosque there is an octagon shaped structure that was built as a monument to all the children who lost their lives when Genghis Khan destroyed the city and killed hundreds of children by trampling them with the horse’s hooves. The Iman says special prayers here for the children.
Next we walk to the Ark Fortress that was built between the 4th & 3rd centuries BC and was the residence of the Governor of Bukhara up until 1920. We explore the remaining section of the fortress that includes the main entrance & gate, the palace mosque, courtyard of Kushbegi, a throne hall, the courtyard of greetings and the stable courtyard.
Next we visit a beautiful old Synagogue with a gorgeous blue domed roof and an impressive chandelier.
We walk through a park and visit the Ismoil Samoniy memorial that dates back to the 9th – 10th century.
This afternoon after a rest in the air conditioning, the girls head out to do a bit of shopping in 2 of the local bazaars. It was a very successful shopping trip ending with a beer in the garden at the Lyabi Hauz complex.
Tonight Zaheed takes us to a house in the Jewish quarter for dinner that is owned by a friend of his. The house was renovated with all the original features left in place and an upstairs extension done for the bedrooms. There is a large courtyard in the middle of the house surrounded by the kitchen, bathroom and a long dining room. The courtyard has a traditional mud oven that is wood fired where the Pov (traditional rice dish with grated carrot, sultanas & meat) is being cooked for us. We all sit at a long dining table & have a wonderful traditional meal.
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