Kalyan Mosque: the most beautiful
19 апреля 2025 г., Узбекистан ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C
The Kalyan Mosque, part of the Po-i-Kalyan complex, is one of the largest in Uzbekistan and dates back to the 1500s.
The blue domes, the minaret, and the sunset (and possible storm) lights make theЧитать далее
A fancy dinner in Bukhara
19 апреля 2025 г., Узбекистан ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C
Last dinner before continuing the journey to Khiva.
A slightly more elegant dinner in a beautiful city hotel. For me, a nicely grilled river fish.
Finally a bit of sun!
20 апреля 2025 г., Узбекистан ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C
Finally a bit of sun in Bukhara!
In Samarkand, we encountered very cool temperatures and a few days of rain.
Now, the sun has finally come out, and the good weather has returned.
Time to tan waitingЧитать далее
Perfectly integrated and camouflaged
20 апреля 2025 г., Узбекистан ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C
I am wearing the *doppa*, the traditional square-shaped cap of Uzbekistan. Many men, especially the elderly, wear one embroidered with geometric or floral patterns that vary depending on the regionЧитать далее
USSR nostalgic icecreem
20 апреля 2025 г., Узбекистан ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C
In one of the shops, we found an ice cream called "USSR".
We were curious of trying this nostalgic icecream, but in the end we opted for the local version of Magnum.
A good way to cope with the highЧитать далее
Statue of Nasreddin and the donkey
20 апреля 2025 г., Узбекистан ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C
The statue depicts Khoja Nasreddin Efendi riding his donkey and is located in front of the Kukeldash Madrasa, in the central square of Bukhara. The donkey is, in fact, the protagonist of many storiesЧитать далее
Time to move on to Khiva
21 апреля 2025 г., Узбекистан ⋅ ⛅ 11 °C
This time, the train is very different from the Afrosiyob.
To get to Khiva, we take a sleeper train that has traveled for over 24 hours across the country from east (Fergana) to west (Khiva), coveringЧитать далее
3H later, somewhere in the desert
21 апреля 2025 г., Узбекистан ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C
Three hours after departure, we are in the middle of the desert. To the right and left of the train tracks, there is only the red sand of the Karakum Desert. We are travelling along the border withЧитать далее
We are (finally) in Khiva!
21 апреля 2025 г., Узбекистан ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C
After 6 hours of travel, we arrive in Khiva.
We take a photo with our diesel train, which crossed the desert in the middle of nowhere, and we leave the train station.
We notice that all the stationsЧитать далее
A group of people singing and dancing
21 апреля 2025 г., Узбекистан ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C
In the city center, we come across a group of people singing and dancing to local songs. A lovely moment of local folklore.
Inside the bazaar and the tourist shops, we come across rehearsals for aЧитать далее
Shashlik and bread/ayran production
21 апреля 2025 г., Узбекистан ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C
After arriving in Khiva, we stopped to have a shashlik in one of the eateries in the city center. Next to us, a man was kneading and baking the typical local bread, while the women prepared ayran byЧитать далее
A refreshing (non halal) beer
21 апреля 2025 г., Узбекистан ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C
Although Uzbekistan is an Islamic country, tourist venues sell beer and other alcoholic drinks.
We decided enjoying a nice, cold local beer to face the heat of Khiva.
In the same place I took aЧитать далее
The uncompleted Kalta Minor Minaret
21 апреля 2025 г., Узбекистан ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C
The Kalta Minor Minaret is one of Khiva’s most iconic landmarks, instantly recognizable for its short, stout shape and vivid turquoise tilework.
It was begun in 1851 with the ambition of becomingЧитать далее
Wooden Juma Mosque
21 апреля 2025 г., Узбекистан ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C
This mosque is famous for its 218 wooden columns supporting the roof, with bases carved with Kufic inscriptions dating back to the 10th–11th centuries.
Although the mosque itself dates to theЧитать далее
The sunset behind Kalta Minor
21 апреля 2025 г., Узбекистан ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C
The Kalta Minor Minaret changes colors in the evening, when the sun sets behind it.
At this time of day, the small town of Old Khiva truly becomes magical.
The city and the Silk Road
21 апреля 2025 г., Узбекистан ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C
Behind the minaret, on a low wall, there is a statue depicting a caravan of camels and merchants. The statue commemorates the many traders of the Silk Road who, after crossing the desert, would arriveЧитать далее
Uzbekistan flag
22 апреля 2025 г., Узбекистан ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C
A huge flag flies over Khiva.
The blue represents the sky and water, white stands for peace, and green symbolizes Islam. The red lines between the colors represent vital energy, and the crescent isЧитать далее
Islam Khoja Minaret
22 апреля 2025 г., Узбекистан ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C
The Islam Khoja Minaret, at 57 meters, is the tallest minaret in the city and one of the tallest in Uzbekistan. It stands behind the madrasa of the same name and was built around 1900.
It wasЧитать далее
Pahlavon Mahmud Mausoleum
22 апреля 2025 г., Узбекистан ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C
The mausoleum honors the hero Pahlavon Mahmud, a poet, philosopher, and warrior who became a patron saint of Khiva. Built in the 1300s, it was taken over in the 1900s to become the tomb of the familyЧитать далее
Time to tan a bit in Khiva!
22 апреля 2025 г., Узбекистан ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C
Living in dark Luxembourg, I’m taking advantage of Khiva’s sun and 30-degree weather to get a bit of a tan.
The cool breeze makes everything more bearable and enjoyable.
Camels and dromedaries in the Khiva
22 апреля 2025 г., Узбекистан ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C
In one of the main squares of Khiva, just outside the city walls, there are trained dromedaries and camels with which tourists can take photos.
The square is located in front of the Kuhna ArkЧитать далее
What a climb, but what a view!
22 апреля 2025 г., Узбекистан ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C
Climbing the 57 meters of the Islam Khoja Minaret was definitely a challenge (especially for me, since I’m 1.90 m tall). The corridor is narrow and winding, and the steps are very steep.Читать далее
Dinner with view on Kalta Minor Minaret
22 апреля 2025 г., Узбекистан ⋅ 🌙 21 °C
At dinner, we had a stunning terrace view over the historic heart of Khiva, with the turquoise-tiled Kalta Minor Minaret rising majestically nearby.
Despite a short wait and a higher price, theЧитать далее
A sky full of stars
22 апреля 2025 г., Узбекистан ⋅ 🌙 19 °C
Thanks to the absence of artificial lights, in Khiva you can admire an incredible sky full of stars.
But it’s time to go to sleep, because tomorrow marks the start of a new leg of this journey.
We are in Turkmenistan!
23 апреля 2025 г., Туркменистан ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C
We’re in Turkmenistan.
Unfortunately, it is illegal to film at the border, but here’s how it went:
Our Uzbek driver dropped us off at the border, and we completed the exit procedures fromЧитать далее