My hotel for the next two nights in Samarkand was the newly and quite lavish Hotel Grand Samarkand. It looks like a simple brick building from the outside but upon entering you are immediately dazzled by the multiple crystal chandeliers in the reception and large area rugs.The needed to register my passport again and attach a slip which every hotel needed to do so I went up to my room. It seemed like I was the first guest in this newly built room. The brick walls...

My guide had said that driving from Samarkand to meet us at Shakhrisabsz this morning there was heavy fog. We had some drizzle coming from Bukhara but not fog. However, upon leaving Shakhrisabsz and retracing her route back to Samarkand the weather did change suddenly.I think we were in a different weather pocket due to elevation and mountain valleys. Suddenly we were driving in heavy fog and the rain drizzle changed to heavy snow flurries.All of a sudden it was ...

The rain was now coming down steadily as be began our city tour of Shakhrisabsz. This was the birthplace of Timurlane who ruled 100 years after Ghengis Khan and went on to found an Empire across much of Central Asia.We passed by a giant statue towards some ruins of what appeared to be a castle. The statue is facing towards Samarkand. We were actually coming from the back and its only from the front you appreciate the true awe inspiring scale and beauty of what lo...

This morning we would be leaving Bukhara and driving about four hours to Shakhrisabsz en route to Samarkand. After resting up last night I was feeling somewhat better so was hoping the bad weather would pass and I wouldnt get more ill. Fortunately today was mostly by car so I could avoid one days cold weather.I had my last breakfast in the historic dining hall. The guy turned on the cd player and started playing "What a Wonderful Life". I asked him for some Uzbek...

My guide book showed a Jewish Cemetery and Synagogue on the town map. I was curious to explore these places and was surprised to know that Jews had settled this far east (as we are never taught anything about Central Asia). I was told my hotel is actually in the Jewish Quarter and these places were not far. My hotel itself was a converted Jewish merchants home.Jews had always played an important role in the success of all Islamic Empires and were welcomed and hel...