Pleasant train trip from Samarkand to Bukhara, I slept most of it!
Unfortunately, the person that was supposed to meet me was not there! With the help of a girl with phone, I was able to reach the emergency person at Sundowners, who said the person was at the station waiting? Nearly an hour later I saw someone rushing in, it turned out to be the transfer man. He was nowhere near the station, in my opinion! Was not happy, it was hot, and a taxi man kept pestering me, everyone else knew I was waiting there including a very nice young security. guard, who was doing his best to help.
Soon we reached the Lyabi house hotel, and I was thrilled with it, very central and very nice indeed. Central Bukhara is centered on a centuries old water pool. The canals supplying the city water evident, from outside the city as we passed them in the train, to the canals with in the centre itself.
I explored this fascinating old place with its domes, minaret and historical buildings, making sure I was back at the hotel before dark. I found the prices of souvenirs very high compared with Samarkand and Tashkent undoubtedly, because of what it was. No end of mosques and courtyards, gave a real feeling of how things may have been hundreds of years ago. Indeed, people watching, while dining alongside the central pool, I saw many of the women in their national dress, it was easy to imagine camels tied up while people chatted around the pool.
One of the old trees, dead now, had a notice to say it was planted in 1477. There are many mulberry trees giving the area the green it needs. There were men and boys fishing from the side of the pool, and they were catching what looked like sprats. The lines were just a two-meter line with a hook and sinker, attached to the small poles.
Early next day I made the effort to get out before the tour groups hit the place. After ten until 4-5 in the afternoon, there were tourists everywhere.
I went and used the Wifi at an internet cafe for an hour while it was quiet. Even getting a smile from the owner, as he had overcharged me the night before! Another of the shops there was a puppet maker who was giving a talk on the puppets. They are made of papier-mache. I waited to see a puppet show advertised for the evening in one of the courtyards but sadly, it was cancelled. I did enjoy sitting in the old courtyard mostly empty of the sellers of souvenirs. I said hello to a woman who I had watched earlier machining a pattern on cloth. She happily reciprocated but she was still doing the pattern as I left, in the darkened room off the courtyard. The rooms were wonderfully cool.
I chatted to some Americans, and had dinner with a very nice German couple. It was very pleasant alongside the pool. I have taken a real fancy to Borsch soup and Lagham, very tasty hand made noodle dish. I had heard people say they didn’t think much of Bukhara, but I have enjoyed it apart from the rip off prices the sellers seem to feel are their right!
Tomorrow it is up and away again to Tashkent by overnight train, looks like it will be a slow one if the train number is anything to go by, and it is usually a good indicator. Then its on to Moscow, on the second to last leg of the Trans siberian. The final leg being the train trip between Moscow and Saint Petersburg.