Travel, Wine & Shoes

The Five Stans Adventure exploring Turkmenistan 🇹🇲 Uzbekistan 🇺🇿 Tajikistan 🇹🇯 Kazakhstan 🇰🇿 and Kyrgyzstan 🇰🇬

This morning, head to Shak-i-Zinda – a necropolis featuring a series of blue-tiled mausoleums. This sacred site has monuments from the 14th to the 19th century, reflecting the development of the monumental art and architecture of the Timurid dynasty. Then, visit the enormous Bibi Khanum Mosque and explore the ancient bazaar right behind it, maybe sampling some Khalva (local sweets made of sunflower seeds or peanuts) and get a glass of squeezed pomegranate juice (depending on the season). After, see the world-renouned Registan, which features three of the most famous madrassahs in Uzbekistan. The rest of the afternoon is free. Maybe inspect the remains of the medieval observatory developed by Ulug Beg – an astronomer and grandson of nomadic conqueror and Timurid emperor Tamerlane (Amir Timur). Tonight, you’ll visit a local family to learn the secrets of plov cuisine during a cooking demonstration, which you’ll then tuck into for dinner.

~ Intrepid Travel ~ Five Stans Day 9

Our itinerary changed a bit ~ we’re seeing Shak-i-Zinda tomorrow and visiting a local family to learn about plov in Tajikistan instead.

Gur-Amir Mausoleum

Built in 1404, this mausoleum is of the Turkic conqueror Timur.

The Soviet anthropologist Mikhail Gerasimov opened the crypts in 1941 and confirmed that the remains were Timur based on battle injuries.  An anecdote is he found on Timur’s grave an inscription saying “Whoever opens this will be defeated by an enemy more fearsome than I.”  The next day, Hitler attacked the Soviet Union.

At night …

Registan Square

Registan Square is surrounded by three madrassahs (Ulugbek Madrassah, Sher Dor Madrassah and the Tilla-Kari Madrassah).  The square was used to gather people to announce Khan’s orders and to hold celebrations and public executions.

The square is definitely one of those “Wow” places you see!

Our group of like minded travellers!

This musician demonstrated a number of Uzbek instruments for us.

Bibi Khanum Mosque

Bibi Khanum is a congregational mosque and the largest of its kind in Central Asia, able to hold about 10,000 worshippers.  Construction started in 1399 and Bibi Khanum Mosque is considered a masterpiece of the Timurid Renaissance with intricate blue and purple tiling creating geometric shapes and Arabic words.

The Ulugh Beg Observatory

The Ulugh Beg Observatory was built in the 1420s by the Timurid astronomer Ulugh Beg who was very skilled in mathematics and astronomy.  The Ulug Beg Observatory Museum was built in 1970 to commemorate Ulugh.  The observatory is only ruins now.  Ulugh Beg is a fascinating figure.

Afrosiab Museum of Samarkand

The Afrosiab Museum of Samarkand is dedicated to the history of the city and it’s exhibits illustrate the history of Samarkand’s development from the time of Alexander the Great conquest.  It is located at the historical site of Afrasiyab, the ancient city that was destroyed by the Mongols in the early 13th century.

Out & About

My 55th Birthday

Today was my 55th birthday ~ I’m a senior in Canada and can get 20% off at Shopper’s Drug Mart on Thursdays.

A big thank you to my group leader & Jodie for the wonderful birthday gifts!

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Happy Travels!

The Five Stans

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