The endless flights of steps at times defeat me. Our comfy hotel and across the road. Houses are deceptive as the long walls on the roads with one heavy wooden door hide courtyards with rooms going off. 7th C wall paintings and pottery fron thd bronze in this archaeological museum. People were making similar pots and tools in Africa, Europe and South America yet had no communication, or did they? A necropolis I didn't visit. Then after another good lunch of lots of vegetetables one of our group, Liz and I went to find a mulberry paper maker but in fact found a tourist attraction though bought 2 sheets for $12. Bit of a rip off. The taxi cost us another$4. Now having hot honey and ginger tea. Having favourite bortsch and risotto with an electric violinist accompanied by boom box .
Today we see archaeological sites, go through passport control and then Samarkand. Some very interesting people on the tour with first class guides but what the tours dont give is time to wander the streets. Its all much more tiring keeping to some elses schedule also all the talk when I am used to the quiet. Nevertheless the conversations are informative and often quite intellectual. First stop the amazing archaeological site of Sarazan which dates back 4000 years and is now a world heritage site. A weight stone thpusands of years old. On going excavataions Across the border to Samarkand in a bit of rain and 9degrees. Lunch in the art cafe. A local baby wrapped up warm. The monument is Lenin so there is still a Russian connection which is surprising. Famous Ragistan Square. ...