Samarkand, Uzbekistan

Fun fact – about 94 percent of the cars you see in Uzbekistan will be white Chevys…..

What’s the deal? Daewoo, a South Korean firm, built the largest car manufacturing plant in Central Asia in the 1990s in Uzbekistan in partnership with the government. They since became a part of General Motors…. And now GM Uzbekistan is owned 25% by GM and 75% by the government. Sales are boosted as this same government imposed a large tariff on imports….. consequently, Chevys are ubiquitous here. White is the prevalent color as it stays a bit cooler in the desert heat.

So much for the Future of Capitalism!

Samarkand is located right around the midpoint of the Silk Road, the ancient trade route that connected China with Western Europe, and all points in between.

Most notably traveled by Marco Polo in the 13th century, the Silk Road was a thoroughfare for the exchange of goods, and a pathway for transferring knowledge and culture. Conquerers such as Genghis Kahn and Timur (aka Tamerlane) roughly followed its direction in expanding their domains east and west. Silk Road traders and merchants may also have been responsible for the spread of diseases, such as bubonic plague.

Today in Samarkand, one visits the magnificent mausoleums, mosques and madrasas (places of higher learning) that transport you to those ancient times (hopefully without the plague part). But of course you must be prepared spiritually and physically. You ladies must be sure to cover up all of your offensive parts….. which appears to mean all of them.

Quite a stirring sight, even from behind a veil…..

Locals visit as well as tourists.

Tamerlane himself is buried here…..

And his tomb gets the finest gold leaf decoration…..

Very nice also from the outside….

The bazaar was fun, but few photos….. just a lovely boule of bread:

And a purchase from an enthusiastic young vendor…..

Now we leave exotic Asia for the Baltic states…. Starting with Estonia.