Notes on the Geography of Uzbekistan: Khiva Town
Want to see what else is going on in Khiva, besides the fly-in-amber preservation of old buildings?
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For one thing, there's a major tourist trade--or was, until September 11, 2001.
The Soviets had no qualms about converting madrasas into restaurants.
Inside.
Still within the town walls, there are occupied residential neighborhoods.
The buildings are modest.
An outdoor oven.
One of the surest signs of occupance is greenery.
A Russian visitor, N. Muravyov, wrote in 1819: "In Germany I never saw such zealousness in cultivation as I did in Khiva. All the houses are encircled with canals over which small bridges are erected..."
Outside the wall you'll find European buildings.
Here, in a wing of the post office, is a fusion of East and West.