Gazing At Big Amir Timur

Amir Timur, Tamerlane is the all time hero for Uzbekistan. Born in Shahrisabz, founder of an empire, pillager of many lands, he ruled Central Asia and beyond during the late 1300s. There are museums, buildings, streets, statues everywhere in Uzbekistan dedicated to Timur. If the phone book was sorted by first name, "Timur" would be most of the tome.

Since Shahrisabz is the birthplace of Timur, local folks decided to go big instead of going home. There's a massive statue of their hometown hero there and it's now a pilgrimage place.

Big man, standing and looming. You can spell Timur several ways.

People come from all over for pics next to tall Timur.

Especially wedding parties. You can hang out at Timur for a bit and enjoy the parade of brides, grooms and families coming by for photo memories. Use your bouquet for sun shade.

And don't forget the wedding video!

In calmer moments, maybe grab a shot of the wife with Timur. Low angle looks powerful.

Timur is there every day for your event, memory. Always powerful and dramatic, even from the back.

Around The Main Park In Shahrisabz

The center of Shahrisabz has been turned into a tourist corridor, anchored by major attractions like Timur's Summer Palace and the Kok Gumbaz mosque. Smaller, satisfying sites dot the area between the heavies.

Here's the charming Abdushukur Agalik mosque. So simple, so symmetrical, so cute!

Mosque porch details. The nice woodwork is elaborately painted. Nice palette. Suck it, Martha Stewart.

Moving on, time to pop into the small market, Chorsu. More cute!

The space has been given over to local women, master weavers. Carpets are hanging, new textiles are on the looms. Colorful.

Proud producer. She should be, lovely work.

Dor-us Siyodat Mausoleum In Shahrisabz

Dor-us Siyodat means "repository of power." The complex is a mausoleum, dedicated to the sons of the mighty Uzbek leader, Amir Timur. Timur outlived his sons and did what any powerful pop would do, commission a giant tribute. Siyodat dates to the mid 1300s.

It's a bit of a ruin. A big ruin.

Mausoleum details, a little bit of tile work still present.

One of the son's graves, in an underground crypt.

More areas, more gravestones. Other highly regarded folks also have places at the mausoleum.

At the back of the main building, an old mosque runs along the courtyard. Quiet.

Kok Gumbaz Mosque In Shahrisabz

One of the finest buildings in Shahrisabz is the old Kok Gumbaz mosque. The place was built about 1435 for Shah Rukh Mirzo by his son. What a great boy.

Classic Timurid, Silk Road in style. Tan brick, blue and green tile, arched entry.

There's a nice courtyard in front of the mosque with a lone minaret. Nice tile grate work on a window.

View of the back of the mosque, multiple domes and foreground graves. Evidently, a lot to say on this person's final resting place.

Heading inside. Another gravestone, fabulous placement. A modest, whitewashed arcade area.

The main prayer area of the mosque, intricate designs on the walls, understated carpeting. Worship for one, please.

Action! In Uzbekistan

What do you get when an East German movie production company in the 1970s wants to do a movie about Apache Indians living in northern Mexico? Obviously, you shoot on location in Uzbekistan.

To be specific, you shoot in a mountain pass area between Samarkand and Shahrisabz. Plenty of rocks, looks perfect!

The location is now a cheesy stop along the main road. Get out, stretch your legs and enjoy the random objects placed in the landscape.

Low tech. There's not much information about the filming location except for some posters and a big Apache figure on the top of a rock. If you know, you know.

Looking to draw a wider audience, romantic "love" swings for the Instagram crowd.

Fierce objects, a stabbing sword and a concerned cobra. Must have been plot points in the movie epic.

Exit through the gift shack. A faded movie still over random souvenirs for sale. "Buy that guy a shirt!"

Apartment Hunting In Qarshi

Looking for apartments in Uzbekistan is so much fun. Who can forget this gem? In Qarshi, the peculiar layouts and always, err, interesting decors were abundant.

A room in a typical apartment. Dining? Living? Porch? Op-Art happening?

Decor details. Well armed wall and glorious, equine clocks. You gotta have two.

The green room. Multipurpose.

More masculine artwork. The bathroom, not much more than a sea of tile and some pipes.

Bedroom with view to... another room?

Random Details Of Qarshi

A little wander, a little harvesting of interesting sights. Or not.

All dried up. A swimming pool (fountain?) next to a military helicopter. Interesting park.

Mini landmarks. A 3D "map" of Uzbekistan, crammed under a pedestrian bridge. Blue trees during a hot summer.

Butcher cash register.

Paint ball set. Back to looking at trees. White paint for pest control.

Where the road stops. Or begins.

Memorable Memorials In Qarshi

First up, the Great Patriotic War. Throughout former Soviet Central Asia, there are many tributes to the fallen folks from WWII, The Great Patriotic War. The monument in Qarshi is one of the more impressive examples. Big and powerful, fitting.

The monument, a sort of semi enclosed, pyramid, octagon, stained glass sculpture thingy.

Step inside and admire the series of stained glass panels. Mostly, eerie soldier scenes.

Giant gold wreath and an eternal flame. Alas, eternity must have passed and the flame is now out.

More stained glass, a depiction of home front grief. A sculpture in another part of Qarshi, the suave miner.

Another area, another memorial. An heroic piece, dedicated to the all powerful Uzbek family unit.