under mud
By loading the map, you agree to Google's privacy policy.
Learn more
The Caboose seemed to be in good shape, which meant that no repairs were necessary, which in turn meant that I had the day off. I decided to check out the 8th/9th century Samanid Mausoleum, one of the oldest monuments in Central Asia:
It had allegedly survived the Mongol invasion because it had been buried under mud during that time. It was hard to imagine where a flood that big was supposed to come from in an area as dry as this one, but I liked the story.
The building it self was rather simple compared to the grandeur of Timurid architecture:
But it was rich in ornaments:
Especially the ceiling:
Some of the ornaments looked like little suns, which could be hinting at a Zoroastrian legacy:
The mausoleum had once been part of a cemetery, but the Soviets had apparently bulldozed the graves and erected a large amusement park instead:
I found this a rather fitting image for Soviet rule: people were supposed to ride ferris wheels built in the dust of their dead:
Oh, and I saw a lot of military and fire trucks working in the park, which was apparently due to two reasons:
- The summer had been excessively hot, with temperatures surpassing 55° Celsius. This had left many trees suffering, and the government was trying to reverse these effects.
- Rumor had it that President Nazarbaev of Kazakhstan was coming to town, so everything was supposed to look neat and clean for him. This reminded me of what I had seen in Andijan two months earlier, so I thought it was very probable.
Then I took a walk in the back alleys of Bukhara, and I said good-bye to the city:
By loading the video, you agree to YouTube's privacy policy.
Learn more
And Bukhara said good-bye back:
May her most beautiful buildings always be safe, and if only being buried under mud can make them safe, then let them be buried under mud.