Wednesday October 1st

 

We began our day with a delicious breakfast at our boutique hotel. Home made yoghurt, fresh fruit and pancakes filled with plums set us up for a full day of sightseeing.

 

 

 

The first stop was the Samanids mausoleum which is one of the most ancient buildings in Central Asia made from burnt bricks. They are laid in intricate geometrical pattern to form a cube shaped building. The cube represents steadiness, symbol of the earth, the dome has semblance to the sky and their combination is the unity of the universe.

 

 

 

 

Leaving the mausoleum we came across a couple carrying this traditional cot. The two pipes in the dish are to attach to the baby (one for a girl, one for a boy) whilst they are sleeping and the pee goes down the tubes into the pot. The baby is tied in place!

 





The Bolo Hauz Complex is the only monument in Bukhara which consists of the reservoir, Friday mosque and a minaret.

 

The mosque has been recently and beautifully restored in the traditional blue (for water and therefore life) and green (the colour of Islam).

 

 

The Ark Citadel stands in the Registrant Square, and in the middle ages was an entire city with the Emir's palace, mint, mosques, government institutes, storehouses, shops, prison and a square for meetings.

 

 

 

The prison, infamous as the bug pit where Conolly and Stoddard were imprisoned, stands just outside tadel.

 

 

The Mir Arab Madrasahs is the site of an Islamic seminary, and is well known for its symmetrical design.

 

 

 

We then visited a carpet workshop where young women and girls were weaving the intricate silk carpets for which  Bukhara is famous. We were told that the very close work meant that the eyesight suffered after about ten years.

 

As the day wore on we began to call it the day of the 4Ms, mosques, mausoleums , minarets and madrasahs, so many beautiful buildings to see!

Finally dinner was taken as was lunch, on a roof top restaurant before returning to my room.