Samarkand. "A great historical city", "The highlight of Central Asia", according to my guidebook. It's like Kyoto in Japan. But I didn't have to save more than three days, perhaps.
There are beautiful mosques or other buildings with characteristic blue tiles. But the entrance fee for foreign tourists are so expensive! 2$, 3$, or 6$. The disappointing fact is that inside of those is often not as attractive as their outside. Sometimes there is just a hollow space with no decorations. Sometimes there are tens of souvenir shops, with sellers talking to me in Japanese. You'd still enjoy if you had good historical or architectural knowledge. Unfortunately I don't. I've stopped visiting those, and spend more time in bazaars or just for walking around.
The weather in Uzbekistan is much warmer and nicer than in Dushanbe, though local people are in their winter clothes (they still sell melons on streets!). The guesthouse where I stay is cozy with nice meals. I'm having relaxed days, chatting with other guests, fixing my bicycle (the broken hook of my bicycle bag is replaced to new one, thank for my wife's sending it), reading, etc.
23 Nov 2008, Samarkand, Uzbekistan, 10110km
