A perfect day

A perfect day in Bukhara starts at the Lab-i-Hauz. You sit down on one of the benches near the fountain and order breakfast. Probably one of the locals will strike a conversation with you. You might even end up drinking wodka at ten in the morning, but you should try to safe your energy a bit. Do take your time however. This is one of the most relaxing places in Central Asia. When you sit down here it is easy to imagine you have driven a caravan full of priceless goods across the desert.

When you get up you are ready to enter the old city. There are a few great Mosques and Koranic Schools to choose from. You can roam about them freely and admire the blue glazed tiles. Look at the stunning Kalyna Minaret, where they used to throw of prisoners.

When you have walked around for about an hour or two and have seen the major sights, you can have lunch. After lunch you can go up the Citadel. It is easy to reach by foot. There is a museum in the Citadel and the views over town are great.

When you descend back to town, do not go back to the centre, but continue a bit to the market that is just accross the street form the Citadel. See the fresh vegetables and the consumer goods Made in China piled up in the market stalls.

Now it is time for some relaxation. Hey! An Uzbek type amusement park is nearby and has a few nice attractions. Go on a ride or two and have a drink in the shade (wodka is okay now). While you are here, you might want to take a walk through the park and admire one of the oldest standing buildings of Uzbekistan, the mausoleum of Ismail Somani.

When the sun has set, you are of to a restaurant. Try one of the traditional Uzbek ones, near the Lab-i-Hauz. And then it's sweet dreams!