I find myself kind of missing Central Asia, and especially Uzbekistan. This is a very quiet photo, I know, but it evokes for me a very specific feeling.

Bukhara is one of the handful of spots in Uzbekistan, maybe even just a handful in Central Asia, that are truly touristy. Big busses full of geriatric Italians and French and Germans pull up to ancient mausoleum complexes and just really ruin the vibe. To find calm and quiet in Bukhara, then, the key is to get up with the sun. I’d actually headed elsewhere this morning for sunrise shots, but on the way back towards bed I just had to stop and sit and soak in the stillness. I saw one person go past this gate, and it was a vendor whose shop is just past the portal who was up early sweeping and setting up for the day.

When can I go back to Bukhara?