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Hello, in October 2012 I was able to visit both Samarkand and Bokhara on the Silk Road in Uzbekistan.
I also visited the Pamirs and Khojand in Tadjikistan. Not much to see in Khojand though.

In Samarkand I got to see the Islamic city, but right next to it is Afrosiab. This is the original Samarkand which Alexander visited. I also visited Afrosiab. Before that I had thought that the newer Islamic city was the Samarkand/Marakanda which Alexander visited. Only as I was about to leave for Bokhara did I realise my mistake when I looked at my Lonely Planet guide. It said Afrosiab was the original Marakanda which Alexander and his troops fought and conquered. I feel so very fortunate that I didn't miss it, since it was a once in a life time opportunity.

At Afrosiab, I was so excited I ran around the ruins taking photos for 2 hours while my taxi waited for me in the museum parking lot. I had originally told him I'd only take 30 minutes!
Is anyone interested in seeing my photos? They are just ruins and sand... If so, how do I post photos here?

Hi Hando,

I'm glad you were able to find Afrosiab! I went there back in 2009, and enjoyed a wonderful couple of hours in the ruined citadel - it was very exciting to think that, somewhere amidst those ruins was the spot where Alexander killed Cleitus! (Assuming they were in the citadel and not in camp outside the walls.)

To post photos you need to scroll down and click where it says "upload attachment". I think the instructions are fairly simple - but not so simple that I can easily explain - I'd only be repeating the instructions in the tab, anyway! You can preview before posting, so that, if it doesn't work quite as you expect, you can have another go.

A word of warning - reduce the size of your pictures before posting, otherwise they'll come out huge, and people won't be able to see each pic in its entirety.

All the best - look forward to seeing the pictures.

marcus wrote:Hi Hando,

I'm glad you were able to find Afrosiab! I went there back in 2009, and enjoyed a wonderful couple of hours in the ruined citadel - it was very exciting to think that, somewhere amidst those ruins was the spot where Alexander killed Cleitus! (Assuming they were in the citadel and not in camp outside the walls.)

Thanks Marcus. Glad you got there too. Going through my photos and then comparing them to images found on google, I realised that although I went to Afrosiab, I did not go to the palace. How could I have missed it?! It's the only standing structure surrounded by nothing but flat sandy terrain for miles and yet in the two hours of exploration there I simply missed it. Did you find it? Does this photo of the palace look familiar to you? Assuming it is a palace and that it was around during Alexander's time?
https://www.google.com/search?q=afrosia ... 1093%3B506

Afrosiab

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