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Pamelahawthorne
—solemn, symmetrical, and magnificent in its melancholy.” Lord Curzon, British statesman 19th c. The colors had begun to deepen in late afternoon shadows when we arrived in Samarkand, tired after a long bus ride through the desert but the mood changed instantly. We were in a sacred place, the burial monument to the legendary Tamerlane, Timur the Lame. A hot, dry wind carried stories older than time and the sky …
Bukhara, one of the country’s oldest and continuously inhabited cities, a major center of trade, scholarship, and religion on the Silk Road for over two millennia. Today, it’s known for its remarkably preserved Islamic architecture, old city atmosphere, and its role as a spiritual and intellectual heart of Central Asia. Over 2,000 years old: Bukhara’s roots go back to the 6th century BCE, long before Islam arrived, as part of …
Khiva’s roots stretch back over 2,500 years, but its golden age began in the 16th century when it became the capital of the Khanate of Khiva. As a major oasis along the Silk Road, it prospered from trade — and infamously, from a large slave market that once operated within its walls. The real magic of Khiva lies inside Itchan Kala, the old walled city, where more than 50 historic …
Nestled in Uzbekistan’s remote northwest, Urgench might not be the first name that jumps out on a Silk Road itinerary — but you don’t want to miss this gateway to one of Central Asia’s most fascinating cultural crossroads. From the grand courtyard houses of Ulli Khovli to the enduring traditions of the Turkmen people, this region is full of quiet magic waiting to be explored. Founded in the 19th century …
The term “Silk Road” evokes images of camel caravans crossing deserts, laden with silk, spices, precious metals, and exotic goods, and was the intrigue for my 8,650 mile journey to Central Asia. That along with stuff of legend; the conquests of Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan and Tamerlane. For over a thousand years, the Silk Road was one of the most influential networks in world history stretching from the ancient …
Rio de Janeiro is more than a city—it’s sun-soaked poetry. From the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue gazing over the city to the energy of Copacabana, Rio pulses with life. But one neighborhood in particular, Ipanema, has etched its name into global culture—thanks to a girl who walked along its beach and into musical history. In 1962, a young woman named Heloísa Pinheiro strolled past a small bar in Ipanema …