“Bukara, known for its architectural marvels and scholarly history, captures the tranquality and wisdom of this ancient city, establishing an emotional connection it its history”

- Poem of Uzbekistan

Up early so exhausted due to lack of sleep. No traffic the wide European like boulevards to the airport in Tashkent was buzzing with many tourists groups and guides waiting. My plane was half full most travellers all going to Bukhara but many planes going to Samarkand. As with my arrival to Uzbekistan no jet bridge you either take a shuttle or walk direct to the plan.

Bukhara 4th largest city in Uzbekistan population 247,644 a lot of agriculture growing around the city from the air. They grow most of all vegetables for the country irrigated by large underground water reservoirs. The airport was just building in a field built by the Russians The landscape is much like it of parts of South Australia very dry and hot.

When Russia conquered them they changed from the roman alphabet to the Cyrillic alphabet, there language is a mix Uzbek and Russian with English widely spoken along with other central Asian languages

Bukhara along with other major cities in Uzbekistan were extensively damaged by the Russians invaded luckly most of the sited in Bukhara were not, those that were could be restored.

It was still early once landed after such an early flight so we went to a local coffee shop Bon a French boulangerie and patisserie the food look yummy and coffee smelt wonderful. The has many cakes and croissants plain and filled. Mixed omelet my choice it had beef ham….. no pork products more like a pastrami

Ismail Samani Mausoleum (892 to 943). This tomb lay undisturbed in mud for centuries before it was rediscovered in the 1930s by a Soviet-era archaeologist. It was small located in a local summer fair

The Ark, a fortified residence of the Emirs of Bukhara the cougars are natural and outstanding – the despotic and ruthless leaders who ruled until Soviet times, continue to the Shukhov Tower, an ex-water tower, recently transformed into an observation tower which has a French restaurant --to enjoy the views of the Old Bukhara. .

Mercure Bukhara hotel is in the heart of Bukhara's Old Town and is surrounded by historical sites from the UNESCO Heritage List, including the Magoki-Attari Mosque, which arose on the fire temple site, the XVI century trade domes, Lyabi-Hauz architectural ensembles, Poi-Kalyan and Kalyan Minaret of the XI century. Designed by the famous architect in Uzbekistan, Zoirsho Klichev, the hotel’s architecture and interiors reflect the rich history and cultural heritage of the region. The architecture of the hotel blends perfectly into the landscape of the Old Town, while the authentic interior design immerses in a vivid destination atmosphere from the moment guests enter the lobby. Gorgeous mosaics, colourful symbols and abstract geometric patterns, all traditional for Uzbekistan, complement the design and immerse guests in the destination

Breakfast was a mix of western and Uzbek. Samoa’s with beef or chicken and a baked cottage served with sour cream and ginger jam were favourites. Dinner from the roof top was a chance to take in the view smell the dust and cool of the evening settle in. I I had a lamb shalick with yoghurt and a Greek salads the cucumbers are so delish with Aperol spritz. The views were excellent

Kalyan Square, has amazing architecture and the square is the central point of the city.

The impressive square includes the Kalyan Mosque, also excavated by archaeologists, and rebuilt in the 15th century, following its destruction by the Mongols. They still are excavating parts.

Stop near Ulugbek Madrasa for a a virgin mojito and indulge in watching the daily lives of the locals pass by.

A walk through the Trading Domes from the Silk Road days was full of many shops sorry not photos they weren’t very good. . These covered bazaars conceal a labyrinth of shops and stalls selling jewellery, carpets, silk, traditional hats and embroidered cloth.

Visit the workshops of the local artisans – carpets and embroidery and puppeteers making clay puppets.

That night, dinner on the rooftop at city restaurant Minorai Kalon with great fairy-tale view over the Kalan Square and Old Town to watch the sunset. Once again Bbq or grill are the menu choices

Final day in Bukhara we drove through the countryside to visit the Summer Palace of the last Bukhara emirs, which dates from the beginning of the last century. Bukhara interiors were unique and so beautiful and stroll through the seven-hectare grounds. The walls looked like wallpaper but were painted. The emir took a long time to find the location setting up temperature points in a number of locations to find the coolest place. He had been to Russia and liked the idea of his own summer palace the final location was 15k from the centre of Buhrkara maybe one or two degree coolers. He came by himself with part of his harem.

The guide said that as the emirs reign fall he escaped Uzbekistan to AfghanIstan with is four favourite sons. Jocking said the noisy dissents were left at the summer place

This is a photo of the house where the harem women lived the emir would throw a gold chain in to the water and who ever recovered it got to spend the night with him creepy

Next we travel to the high speed train station to the ancient city of Samarkand; the train travel through some of the most beautiful landscapes and mountain ranges in Central Asia. (travel time 1 hour 40 minutes) but I needed to put the blind down as it was too sunny. The train was Spanish build. The train station especially built for the high spreed train. Many many tourists and guides wait patiently for the train 8 minutes to disembark and embark. We had plenty of time to purchase a drink and snack which was my error of the day i had a chicken Samos and a poppy seed cake not sure if the chicken was in good health.

Guess who is Bukhara