Bukhara Trading along the Silk Route.

For centuries the great Silk Road's many well worn trails connected countries, their merchants trading their goods and ideas, from China to Europe.

Journeys by camel and mule trains, loaded with riches, all manner of spices, fine porcelain, medicines, carpets, jewels and of course silk, the most majestic of fabrics.

The journeys were long and arduous, through the hot desert sands and traversing mighty mountain ranges. All along the routes sprang up what at the time would be road motels the Caravansaray.

Caravansaries would be full of travelling merchants.These were good places to learn the latest news, ideas and gossip, meet new trading partners and make deals with traders from other distant lands. Not only were they resting places but also storehouses and wholesale centres.

There were also restaurants and artisans' workshops, metal and leather workers blacksmiths and tailors. Hammam (baths an saunas) and doctors and healers could be found at the bigger caravansaray

In the 16th century, Bukhara became one of the most prosperous cities along the Silk Route, it drew in religious scholars and traders from the far east as we know it today, it was one of the main trading centres housing numerous markets and trading domes.

Although now greatly restored the trading bazars still stand as a place of wonder, there are now just four main domes housing, artisans producing and selling time crafted products, skills passed down through the generations.

Ancient doors, ancient locks

Time weathered doors, faded under the sun, the intricate architrave barely visible

How the lock still wears away at the doors surface when moved

What is on offer?
Toki-ZaragonTrading Dome

Toki-Zargaron Trading Dome, let's have a look around shall we?

It is the largest of the four remaining trading domes in Bukhara, located close to the Kalan mosque complex. The dome stretches upwards, which makes it different from the other three .

The merchandise for sale though was pretty bog standard all across Bukhara, table cloths, carpets all sorts of silk and cotton articles.

The cynic in me screams mass produced, for this amount of merch, I really can't see a group of ladies sitting patiently at home sewing and weaving.

There was the usual tourist tat for sale, xmas baubles anyone?

No thank you, as cute as you are

Genuine? nah

Do you ever get home from a trip, look back at the snaps and go

"DAMN! I wish I had bought that"?

I DON"T