We are going to Tashkent…..but first

Today we head for the last city on the Silk Road we will be visiting but first we will see a few more important sites in Samarkand. Amir Timur is revered as a wonderful leader in Central Asia and he certainly influenced a huge area through either trade or conquering the population.

It extended to India,Africa, Turkey and even into Europe.He is buried in Samarkand and being prepared even had built his own mausoleum. He had built another but this was the most convenient one at the time. 7 members of his family and his teacher are all buried together.

Cemeteries are always interesting but perhaps not as ornate as the Shohi-Zinfandel Necropolis. This is located on the Afrosiab mountain. This was the original site of the old Samarkand city. In some places the old city wall can be seen. The area dates back to XI,XIV and XIX centuries AD. Some of the tile work on the mausoleums are amazing especially when you think vegetable dyes with ash would have been used to colour many of them.

Mirzo  Ulugbek was Timur’s grandson but was more interested in science, education and sorting out a workable financial system for his people than conquering areas.  Apart from the schools he set up that taught maths,science and religion, he set up an observatory. With this, he proved the sun was the centre of our solar system. Not bad for 1400’sAD.

Let’s have a quick look at his museum.Unfortunately, when Ulugbek wanted to share his studies, he was killed by his son as his ideas were considered inflammatory.

Rest time. We are driving to Tashkent.The land is fairly flat with different types of agriculture depending on availability of irrigation. The road is just like those around us….a bit rough with a few pot holes. It is interesting to see farmers still using carts pulled by donkeys.Sorry I wasn’t quick enough to take a snapshot of the donkeys or camels we saw. Did you get some?

Finally we are here. It has been a long day. Dinner  and bed so you are all ready tomorrow.