The Emir's Summer Palace and a stop at a shrine to Sufism

 The Emir's palace was interesting.... built for him by the Russians. Impressive entry!

The decoration was very similar to what we had seen in the Ayvan restaurant.....

However some of the rooms were a little over the top....but the wall furnaces which heated both sides were interesting!

We visited the guest-house for foreign visitors... rather ornate!

From the over the top we went to more subdued surroundings! The resting place of one of Sufism's biggest names......Naqshbandi

Buried here.....

But we didn't just look at mosques and monuments... we did have some downtime! Somewhat!!

We were entertained at a cultural evening... in a madrassah courtyard.

But it seemed more intent on the models finding someone to buy their clothes.....

We visited a puppetmaker.......

..And we also found a great place which sold antiques....... Akbar House....

......and even though we told them we could not afford their prices they invited us to their home.......

...which was beautiful......

Bukhara market and checking out a 7th generation ceramic maker

 I like checking out local markets.... so off we went to check out what is available in Bukhara.....

Most items offered were as in other markets around the world.....

But there were a few items we had never seen before!

Cotton oil.....

...and cotton soap!

Very cheap at 4000 Som.... equals 38c a bar! The seeds of the cotton plant are used for cooking and soap!

We went about 50kms to Gijduvon to visit a ceramics place which has been in the same family for 7 generations! Father to son! It makes pottery in the traditional way.. no mass producing nor indeed much modern technology!

On the trip back to Bukhara we visited two other sites...

The Vobkent Minaret.....

and the Chor Bakr Necropolis

We were greeted by the pigeons keeper.......who  was also the person who called out for prayer!

We heard him! People started arriving by bike!

Very peaceful!

Checking out the Ark and Bukhara by night

 Obviously the city of Bukhara had an Emir.... and he lived in the Citadel or Ark. We checked it out! It had quite a wall!

...with quite an imposing entry!

The Dzhuma mosque within the Ark....

Then on to the Throne room...

Where one could dress as an Emir and sit on the throne.......

The Ark looked rather different by night! Even more impressive!

The Kalon Minaret was also fantastic in the night light!

Our meal this evening was at a superb restaurant... the Ayvan... in the Lyabi House hotel...

Great food....... an amazing borsch...

... and even more amazingly a tiramisu!!

...the restaurant was actually full when we arrived.... we were the last to leave as we had found an excellent Uzbek wine! Prior ones had been sweet and almost a sherry.