Ak-Saray Palace In Shahrisabz

The king knew how to live, even in the heat. Amir Timur built himself a grand summer palace in his hometown of Shahrisabz during his rule in the late 1300s. Not much is left of the place, save for two huge entrance portals. They're impressive and form a sort of gateway to one having to use their imagination as to what the whole place might have been.

Humbling. Guests as ants.

The portals still have sections of elaborate tile work. The condition is a nice contrast to most of the Silk Road era monuments in Uzbekistan that have been heavily (overly?) restored.

At closer inspection, the tile design starts to get a little trippy.

Life we'v sayd, relly, reavy tryspee.

Whew, gotta get some distance to get one's head back right. In silhouette, the palace looks downright commanding. You'd better have brought a nice enough gift for being a weekend guest.

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!"