Uzbekistan: Bibi Khanym Mosque & Masoleum

Walking up from Registan Square in Samarqand is the Bib Khanym mosque & mausoleum with a pedistrian street in the middle where people hang out.  Below are some photos of life on that street.

Uzbekistan: Two ladies near Shahrisabz

Two ladies walking near Shahrisabz in southern Uzbekistan - with satellites in a nearby house. 

Uzbekistan: Chimgan Mountains

Beautiful scenery in the Chimgan Mountains, which are in some of the Eastern-most parts of Uzbekistan, smack dab between Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.  

Uzbekistan: Playground outside Tashkent Sirk

Tashkent Circus often called the Tashkent Sirk has clear Soviet roots. The circular building was constructed in 1976 during the Soviet era, replacing an older circus structure and becoming part of the USSR’s broader tradition of grand state circuses. Its massive blue-domed design feels unmistakably Soviet modernist: geometric, imposing, and built to make entertainment feel civic and monumental at the same time.  And like the soviet culture, its part abandoned, part still being used.  The circus inside is still very much going, but outside, some of it has not been maintained. 

Uzbekistan: Islam Karimov statue in Samarqand

Islam Karimov was the first president of independent Uzbekistan, leading the country from the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 until his death in 2016. He is credited with maintaining stability and building the foundations of the modern Uzbek state, though his rule was also marked by tight political control and restrictions on dissent. His legacy remains highly visible across the country, with monuments, museums, and public spaces reflecting the significant role he played in shaping post-Soviet Uzbekistan.  Below is a statue of him in Samarqand, with a bird on his head.

Uzbekistan: Faces in Samarqand

I loved looking at all the faces in Uzbekistan.  They felt really unique to me.  Like faces I hadn't seen before.  Round.  Somewhat Asian.  Somewhat Russian.  Somewhat Middle Eastern.  And different head-coverings than I had seen.  I photographed so many of their beautiful faces!

Uzbekistan: Outside Chorsu Bazaar

The blue domes of Chorsu Bazaar are one of the market’s most recognizable features, blending Soviet-era engineering with the architectural language of Central Asia. Wide, turquoise, and almost futuristic-looking - they were built in the 1980s, but its color and form echo the tiled domes found across historic Silk Road cities like Samarkand and Bukhara.

Uzbekistan: Chorsu Bazaar in Tashkent

Chorsu Bazaar is loud, colorful, crowded, and full of movement. Beneath its massive blue dome, vendors sell everything from spices and fresh bread to dried fruit and handmade goods, with the smell of bread and grilled meat drifting through the air. It may be a tourist attraction - but we didn't see any tourists.  It felt like a true Central Asian time capsule without a Western around.  

Uzbekistan: Siyob Bazaar

Siyob Bazaar is Samarkand’s busiest market and a great place to see everyday life in the city. Located just beside the Bibi-Khanym Mosque, the bazaar is filled with stalls selling fresh produce, spices, nuts, dried fruit, and the round loaves of non bread that Uzbekistan is famous for. It’s lively, crowded, and far less polished than the city's historic monuments, offering a glimpse of the Samarkand that locals experience every day.

Tashkent: Hotel Uzbekistan

Hotel Uzbekistan.  Also one of the most notable attractions in Tashkent because of its Soviet style architecture.  We stumbled upon it, coming out of the metro at the wrong exit.  

Opened in 1974, its distinctive grid-pattern façade became one of the defining images of Tashkent, sitting directly across from Amir Timur Square like a monument to Soviet modernism. Even now, it feels less like a luxury hotel and more like an architectural time capsule from another era.

And time capsule is right... from reading the hotel's reviews, I'm glad we didn't stay there.  

Uzbekistan: People hanging at Shahrisabz

Shahrisabz is home to a sprawling historical complex built around the legacy of Amir Timur, with monumental gateways, mausoleums, mosques, and wide open plazas that reflect the scale of his ambitions. The ruins of the Ak-Saray Palace are the centerpiece, with massive surviving portals that hint at what was once one of the grandest palaces in Central Asia.

What stands out today, though, is how much the site is used by locals. In the evenings, families stroll through the grounds, children ride scooters and bicycles across the plazas, and groups of friends gather on benches to escape the heat. The complex feels less like an isolated archaeological site and more like a public gathering place, where everyday life unfolds alongside centuries of history.

The government tried to make this a destination by building hotels and resorts on the complex, but unfortunately visitors have not yet been coming and most of the hotels are left empty.  Its only 2 hours from Samarqand, and after visiting, I never wanted to think of Amir Timur again.  

Uzbekistan: Flying Kites outside Samarqand

Teshik Tosh, or "Hole Stone," is one of those roadside landmarks that looks almost too strange to be natural. The wind-carved opening and surrounding rock formations give the area an otherworldly feel, especially against the wide, open landscapes outside Samarkand. On weekends, the atmosphere is lively, with families gathering around small amusement rides, vendors selling snacks, and colorful kites floating above the hills. It feels like a community gathering place as a geological landmark.

We saw tons of kites in Central Asia, and my son got one and enjoyed flying it in multiple locations.  I wondered why kites are so popular across parts of the Middle East, Central Asia, and South Asia and found its for a few reasons:

• They're inexpensive and accessible. A kite and string are affordable forms of entertainment, especially in places where organized recreational activities have historically been limited.
• The climate helps. Many regions have wide open spaces, dry weather, and reliable winds that are ideal for kite flying.
• They're tied to tradition. In countries such as Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, and parts of Central Asia, kite flying has been a popular pastime for generations and is often associated with festivals, family outings, and community gatherings.
• They're social. Flying kites is often something entire families do together in parks, hillsides, and public squares, especially on weekends and holidays.

Uzbekistan: Views from Teshik Tosh

The drive from Samarqand down to Shahrisabz is through mountains and valleys with the snow-capped mountains being across the border in Tajikistan.  Below are some of the amazing views of these mountains and valleys.  

Uzbekistan: Tashkent Sirk

Tashkent Circus feels like a relic from another era - a massive blue-domed Soviet circus sitting in the middle of modern Tashkent. Built in 1976, it carries the Soviet style of architecture. But its still running with kids playing outside before/after the shows.  It feels like a time capsule from a different world.

Uzbekistan: Faces of Tashkent

I found the faces in Uzbekistan so unique - part-Asian, part-Russian, part-Muslim... it truly had unique looking people.  

Uzbekistan: The Siyob Hillside

The Siyob hillside is one of the best places to take in the scale of Samarkand, with views stretching from the old city to its famous blue-domed monuments. In the evenings, locals come to stroll, meet friends, and enjoy the view, giving the area a relaxed, community feel.  For us, we went up mid-day and had fun climbing and running up the grassy hills with my 6-year old son.