A town center like a Dragon Quest temple
I woke up in the morning and Sonya, as always, made fried eggs and grilled tomatoes for me. It was the second day in Bukhara. We couldn't do any sightseeing yesterday, so today we decided to go to the center and see the sights.
Heading toward the center. In Bukhara the sidewalks aren't well maintained and it's hard to walk, but when you reach the center it changes completely.
It felt as if, like a Dragon Quest temple, the places where old caravans once passed and the shops selling goods had been left as they were.
Stone houses, shops selling rugs. It was like the world of Dragon Quest itself.
We took a breather at a restaurant in the center. There was a cat and the staff were feeding it. It was so cute.
The interior was stylish and the bowls and plates they used had an Uzbek feel. I ordered tea with lemon and sugar and plov. But nothing has yet beaten Besh Quzon.
Sonya ordered kebab, and it was incredibly delicious. She was raving about it too.
The sun seemed almost alive
After we were full, we began walking around the center again.
A place that felt like a scene from The Alchemist.
Everything was surrounded by stone architecture and the sun kept sinking. The sun felt as if it were alive, pulsing and moving. While I was there the sun felt incredibly close. It had been a long time since I'd experienced such a fantastical feeling and experience.
There were even buildings made using things like plates, which was interesting. We spent a relaxed time taking photos in various places.
There were stalls selling spices and stalls selling tableware.
But there were no staff, and when you went inside pots were lined up there.
It was like the world of Dragon Quest IX, and I felt like I was adventuring there.
A mosque with a chimney and saffron tea
After enjoying the sights of Bukhara we went to a mosque. It was right nearby, and its very long chimney was a distinctive feature.
I don't think the mosques we'd seen so far had chimneys. When I looked it up, apparently people used to climb to the top and stand watch. I felt the history.
It got cold, so we went to a nearby cafe. In that traditional cafe they had many Uzbek sweets and teas made with various spices.
It was my first time drinking saffron tea. It had a unique flavor, but it was oddly soothing from the inside and very strange in a wonderful way.
After that, perhaps because my circulation improved, I suddenly felt very lethargic.
Wild ducks and the unforgettable sun
Night fell and we started walking again. In an ordinary park there were two wild ducks. They were walking around loudly, and while I wondered what they were looking for, it was fascinating. I wanted to feed them, but I was a little scared so I didn't.
Second day in Bukhara. It was a day full of so many impressions and I was struck by the realization that a town like this exists. Especially when I was in the center, I wondered why the sun felt so close. The sun is alive. I can't forget the moment I felt that.
