Our Aral Sea tour wrapped up in Nukus around 15:00. I said goodbye to Miko, Jana, and Simona, enjoyed a coffee at the hotel, then got into a taxi for 2.5 hours more driving (this time on a good road) to the ancient Silk Road city of Khiva.
I arrived at a perfect time, because the streets were cooling down and clearing out as I headed out to explore. My guesthouse is right behind the impressive Islam Khoja minaret, one of the two iconic minarets in Khiva. Obviously its height is noteworthy, but it is also very beautifully painted.
Even more famous, I think, is the Kalta-minor minaret. Kalta-minor is much shorter than Islam Khoja, but it is extremely wide and also beautifully painted. It is honestly a magical sight!
After visiting the two minarets and doing some other exploring . . .
. . . I found a rooftop to get some dinner.
I was pretty pleased with my view!
I ate a local dish called Shivit Oshi, which is well known for incorporating green noodles.
The sun had set as I descended from the rooftop, and I continued on exploring the now-mostly empty alleys . . .
. . . and eventually climbed up onto the city wall.
Then I continued through the Bogcha Gate and out of the old city.
The Alice Sabbatani Park is across the street here, and I walked through the park as the light continued to dim . . .
. . . and then I began walking south alongside the western city walls as the moon rose.
Once I reached the Ota, or western, Gate, I reentered the old city. Here are some photos of Khiva at night.
As you can see, Khiva at nighttime is spectacular! But, eventually, I returned to my guesthouse. The guesthouse is not quite as magical as the Khiva streets, but it has character in its own way.
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