Samarkand - Samarqand - سمرقند

Samarkand / Samarqand / Самарқанд /  

 سمرقند

 (Uzbek: Samarqand Самарқанд; Persian: سمرقند‎; Russian: Самарканд from Sogdian: "Stone Fort" or "Rock Town"; Mongolian: Самарканд from "Nut Rock" or "Hard Rock") is the second-largest city in Uzbekistan and the capital of Samarqand Province. The city is most noted for its central position on the Silk Road between China and the West, and for being an Islamic center for scholarly study.  During the 14th century it became the capital of the empire of Timur (Tamerlane) and is the site of his mausoleum (the Gur-e Amir). The Bibi-Khanym Mosque (a modern replica) remains one of the city's most notable landmarks. The Registan was the ancient center of the city. The city has carefully preserved the traditions of ancient crafts: embroidery, gold embroidery, silk weaving, engraving on copper, ceramics, carving and painting on wood.

In 2001 UNESCO added Samarkand to its list of World Heritage Sites

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These postcards were purchased at a charity shop in San Francisco.  There is something to be said that citizens of San Francisco travel to these distant places.  San Francisco is a melting pot where Tatars have their place.   The ruins at Bulgar are minimal in comparison to the glory of Samarkand.  It makes us a tad envious.  Samarkand is in Uzbekistan and the Uzbek are Turkic people, cousins of Tatars.