It is expected to be even warmer today than yesterday so we got an early start to the day with plans to again rest during the mid-day and resuming touring late in the afternoon. At 8 AM it was already 85 degrees. Luckily there was no humidity.
Our first stop was about 4 km outside of Bukhara to visit the Emir’s summer home , the Sitorai Mohi Khosa Palace, also known as “Palace Like the Stars and the Moon”. It was built in the late 19th-early 20th century for the last Emir of Bukhara, Emir Sayyid Mir Muhammad Alim Khan who ruled from 1911-1920 until the Russians took over. In 1927 it was converted to a museum of decorative and applied arts.
Entrance to the 20th century summer palace of the last Emir of Bikhara.
The last Emir of Bukhara-Sayyid Mir Muhammad Alim Khan
The meeting courtyard.
Marble lions at entry to the palace.
One fine looking male looking for love! There were dozens of peacocks wandering around the palace grounds.
Even the rear view is attractive.
The closest I have gotten to a peacock. They sure are beautiful animals.
There is a zoo (or aviary). Today there were some peacocks in it.
Gardens within the palace grounds.
Trellises with grapes cover the walkways.
Clothing for sale in the complex.
The “ladies” building where they lived.
The swimming pool where the ladies swam.
The Emir’s “viewing” stand overlooking the pool where his harem frolicked!
Inside the palace are several restored rooms.
The main reception room of the palace.
One of the restored rooms.
Imported fireplaces from Europe are in many rooms.
A sun room in the palace.
Using natural products to make different colors.
Tapestry on display
Examples of elegant mother and daughter outfits.
Elaborate lady boots on display in one of the decorative arts museum in the complex.
What fashionable men wore.
My guess is these sashs are made of gold.
Local school children wanted to take a picture with us.
Temperature update: 91 degrees at 9:15 and 99 at 11:00AM!
Leaving there we next visited the Baha al-Din a mausoleum . He was a 14th century mystic who created and promoted the Sufi form of Islam.
A very old door handle.
The courtyard outside the Amir Muzaffarkhan Mosque.
Looking at the prayer rugs in the mosque.
Part of the Baha al-Din Naqshgband complex. This is outside the mosque.
The minaret next to the mosque.
Access to the minaret.
Women participating in a morning prayer service outside a mosque.
The imam and his assistants holding a morning prayer service.
The imam and his assistants arriving for the morning service.
Returning to the old town area of Bukhara we walked past the unique Chor Minor madrasah on our way to lunch in the central plaza of old town. It was built in 1807 and is unique in that it has four minarets. All that is left of the madrasah is the entry portal and the minarets.
The unique Chor Minor madrasah with its four minarets. It is rather striking.
Closeup of the minaret.
The only antique store we saw. We tried to bargain but the owner was unwilling so we all left without buying anything.
Russian uniforms and old medals for sale at this antique store.
The pool in the Lyabi Hauz plaza in old town.
A local lady who talked to us.
Another fine dining experience for lunch at a restaurant in the Lyabi Hauz plaza.
Elegant place setting.
Shish-kabob of chicken and beef.
This looked like something I would like!
I continue to be amazed at the location and quality of the restaurants where we have eaten. It is not what I would have expected in this part of the world.
After lunch we again retired to the coolness of our rooms. Furkat announced he would be leading whoever might be interested to visit the local studio of a puppet master and offer shopping opportunities at 4PM. Having seen puppet masters in other countries I again chose to stay in the comfort of my room until we all met for dinner at 6:30 PM.
More wooden doors. Yes, I have a thing for them!
Preparing “plov” for our dinner.
Another dinner in a private home.
Marinated pickles, nice green salad and somsas.
Plov, the national dish of Uzbekistan.those are quail eggs as decor.
We leave in the morning for another ancient town-Khiva.
Steps for the day: 6096. Not bad given the heat we had to endure.
