5th July 2006 - Khiva
The mud and clay fortress walls that have protected this ancient city for hudreds of years still stand. Just like the day they were first built. Their sun baked muddy fawn colouring giving the appearance that they have been pushed up from the surrouding desert from which they were made. Inside are tall minerettes and gold and blue mosiac domes cap the earthern brick mosques, houses and public buildings. Khiva, once a watering hole along the Silk Road from China to Europe is now a showcase of Islamic Architecture, art and culture. Thanks to extensive rebuilding in the19th century and more recently, the UN World Heritage program, Khiva is once more a living city. Young men still gather daily in the to learn wood carving and young ladies, silk dying and carpet weaving while older women draw water daily from the well just as countless generations before them have. This is a timeless place. Quiet, peacefull and unhurried offering rest to travellers. After two nights camping in the desert we were very glad it still did! Unfortuately I still can't get pictures on to this site but just do a Google search on Khiva - images. It's amaising.
I've also added links to sites of others travelling with us - look at the top left hand corner of the site and click the link.
Next stop Bakhara
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