Since high school I have wanted to go to Uzbekistan. Mongolia was the first priority and I did that mere weeks after graduating. Somehow, however, Uzbekistan kept getting delayed even after I filled out my travel to-do list with so many other things.

But it finally just happened. I spent in particular time in the ancient trading cities of Samarkand and Bukhara. Samarkand has the top sites, but they are spread out between a modern and very lively city. Bukhara is smaller and more modest but much more cohesive as a continuous historical entity. This kind of makes Samarkand a Silk Road Boston and Bukhara a Silk Road Providence in feel.

The kind of man made places that I like are like this: layers of history, distinct eras interacting.