Outside the Mosque

Snowy day at the mosque... in April!An unexpected storm blew in and I got some great photographs with my new digital camera.Even the camels...and store fronts got dusted.We weren't the only ones out in the cold.Umbrellas work for all season here... rain, snow, sun.You can see the change in architecture around the mosque.We were there on a Friday ...So we got to see services let out at the mosque.You can see all the men carrying their prayer rugs. Around the corner there is food for sale.

Roasted whole lamb, chickens, local bread.

Restaurants often cook most of their food outside. Lamb kabobs- lots and lots of lamb kabobs- a staple here.Dishes even get washed outside.

There is some time for fun, even snowball throwing.

These guys are hard at work preparing food.

Smoking on the street.

Selling newspapers and phone cards.

Later in the week the sun came out.

Mosque is still there over looking the city.

Bazaar

Welcome to the Grand Bazaar!

It's one of the largest ethnic shopping area in town.There are many things to buy.

Rows and rows of dried fruit and nuts.

Most of the shop keepers here are Muslim and wear head scarves.


Tourist season hasn't begun and business is slow, so these woman are passing their time sewing.

One of the my favorite pieces of local art work are the carved gourds.

Most of the gourds have pictures of locals dancing and playing instruments.

There is lots of jewelry to choose from.

They have a large collection of furs which I am pretty sure aren't fake.

The whole place is made up of small booths each selling similar stuff.

Rows and rows of bracelets.

There is a small section of traditional and antique Chinese wares.

The basement is full of rugs.

Some with creepy stuffed foxes sitting on top.

Lots and lots of floor rugs.

My favorites are the woven yarn wall hangings.

There are many options to choose from.

On slow days the shop keepers knit, sleep, and eat all in their little booths.

There is a large section of local traditional medicine.

The jar in the middle is dried seahorses!

Because Russia is just around the corner you can buy nesting dolls here.

Women sorting beads.

Local shop girl.

Dolls, mirror compacts, vases...

knives...

whips.

What did the water buffalo say to the squirrel?

More nesting dolls.

Painted tambourines,

a small herd of camels,

They have it all!

Shop keepers playing cards in the distance.

Upstairs there are shops full of scarves.

Cashmere, Pashmina, camel hair, you name it.

And for the wilder side, belly dancing outfits!

Fancy hats that the local dancers wear.

More local outfits with all their bells and whistles.