Five Stans 22 – Let’s Get Sparkly

Ulugbek Madrasah (left), Tillya-Kori Madrasah (middle), Sher-Dor Madrasah (right)

Dear Reader (2024-03-20)
Today is the second day of spring here in Calgary, Alberta. It is also the second of 4 (I think) Uzbekistan posts. The sun is just managing to glow through the overhanging bright grey blanket sky. We are a third of the way through what may turn out to be 2 / 3 full days of badly needed snow (the ground is parched) with a possible accumulation of over 25 cm. It is a great day to not drive and stay inside. So, let’s get sparkly! Oh, and just a friendly reminder that sparkly is always better viewed on a monitor.

There is gilding the lily and then there is the Samarkand Registan way, which is to dip the lily in gold and then liberally embed precious jewels in the still molten metal. Once cooled the lily is dressed in a lavish purple robe.

The Samarkand Registan is bounded on three sides by three madrasahs (schools) all of which are no longer used as such. When looking from the open end of the square, the Ulugbek Madrasah (1417-1420) is on the left. The Tillya-Kori Madrasah (1647-1660) faces the open end of the square. Inside the Tillya-Kori Madrasah there is an ornately decorated mosque. The Sher-Dor Madrasah (1619-1636) which means the madrasah with lions is on the right.

We were in Samarkand for two nights. On the first night I used my small tripod (max height approx. 25 cm) for the first and last time on the Five Stans Trip. On the second night I was fortunate enough to see the laser light show that is projected primarily on the Tillya-Kori Madrasah. The sound and light show tells the story of how Samarkand became the centre of the known universe.

In today’s set of photos, you and I will move clockwise beginning with Ulugbek Madrasah, after first introducing the Uzbekistan version of Bonhomme (Quebec City Carnival), and the view from our rooftop dinner location where I had one of the best chicken alfredo I have ever eaten.

Our hotel was on a pedestrian street along which there were shops, hotels, and a large market. From our hotel everything was in walking distance. Another travel option is to use extended electric golf carts (23). We saw one young woman who might have been a cart attendant madly speed down a wide courtyard sporting an equally wide grin. In that same courtyard there were mini dune buggies for children (24).

Notes on Photos
~ 03 – 04 – The Registan
~ 05 – 08 – Ulugbek Madrasah (left) and Interior Courtyard
~ 09 – 15 – Tillya-Kori Madrasah (middle), external details, and internal mosque
~ 16 – 20 – Sher-Dor Madrasah (right) and external details
~ 19 – Vertical panorama
~ 21, 22 – Laser extravaganza