The Silk Road: On the Beaten Path
Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on Monday, October 20, 2014.
It’s funny that to the American audience, most people don’t see Uzbekistan as a cultural sightseeing vacation destination. However, to many other countries — many European because of proximity, I gather — it very much is “ON the beaten path;” with a plethora of restored historical sites, modern cities that surround them, and a decent travel infrastructure, people arrive in hordes by the busload — literally.
Samarkand, the former capital of Amir Temur’s great empire during the Silk Road days, can be compared to Istanbul, Rome, or Athens in terms of mass tourism. There’s even big tour groups with guides who have to hold a flag in the air so that every in can follow. Here’s a big German group obstructing my view of the Gur-E-Amir Mausoleum, coincidentally right near my hotel.
Later in the day, I encounter groups of Italians, Chinese, and Russian tourists, to name a few.
The buildings of the famed Registan dwarf anyone approaching on foot. It’s a short 8-minute walk away from my hotel in the Old Town, and I feel tiny.
View or add comments on the original Instagram posts.
View or add comments on the original Facebook page posts.
Next entry: Three Taj Mahals For The Price of One
Previous entry: Fast Train to Samarkand
back to top of page