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Samarkand, at the Heart of Oriental Legends

Around the world Asia Uzbekistan

Samarkand, at the Heart of Oriental Legends

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There are cities whose names alone are enough to spark the imagination. Samarkand is one of them.

Ever since childhood, its name conjured up images of caravans laden with silk and spices, conquerors sweeping in from the steppes, and blue domes shimmering beneath the Central Asian sun. Yet nothing truly prepares you for your first glimpse of Samarkand. When you encounter its monumental architecture, mosaics painted in a thousand shades of turquoise, and a heritage stretching back more than two millennia, you immediately understand why this city has become one of the most iconic symbols of the Silk Road.

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Bukhara, the Merchant Soul of the Silk Road

Around the world Asia Uzbekistan

Bukhara, the Merchant Soul of the Silk Road

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If there is one city that perfectly embodies the imagination of the Silk Road, it is undoubtedly Bukhara. With its turquoise domes, caravanserais, centuries-old madrasas, and covered markets, it seems frozen in time. Yet despite its immense historical wealth, it was probably the city I enjoyed the least during my trip to Uzbekistan. 

This is certainly not because it lacks interest (quite the opposite). We spent three full days there and had enough time to visit absolutely everything we wanted to see. Looking back, however, it felt a little too long. Once we had explored the main sights, I felt the pace slow down, and two days would probably have been enough. 

Nevertheless, Bukhara remains an essential stop for understanding the history of Central Asia. Even more than Samarkand or Khiva, it is, in my eyes, the city of merchants, the place that best represents the spirit of the Silk Road.  

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72 Hours in Khiva: The Pearl of Uzbekistan

Around the world Asia Uzbekistan

72 Hours in Khiva: The Pearl of Uzbekistan

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Of all the cities we discovered during our trip to Uzbekistan, Khiva was our true favorite. In our minds, Samarkand and Bukhara stood out as the must-see stops on any trip to Uzbekistan, while Khiva remained far less talked about. Yet the moment we passed through the walls of Itchan Kala, the fortified old city, we realized that this place was something special, different from anywhere else we had visited.

We spent three days wandering through its ochre-colored streets, admiring its turquoise-tiled minarets, and enjoying its unique atmosphere. More than a museum city, Khiva truly feels like traveling several centuries back in time. For us, it is simply the most authentic (and least touristy) of Uzbekistan’s Silk Road cities. 

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48 Hours in Tashkent: Discovering Uzbekistan’s Overlooked Capital

Around the world Asia Uzbekistan

48 Hours in Tashkent: Discovering Uzbekistan’s Overlooked Capital

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When planning a trip to Uzbekistan, most people immediately think of Samarkand, Bukhara, or Khiva. Tashkent, the country’s capital, is often seen as little more than a gateway before boarding the train to the historic Silk Road cities. That would be a mistake.

With its wide Soviet-era boulevards, spectacular metro stations, bustling bazaars, and ultra-modern districts, Tashkent offers a completely different perspective on Uzbekistan. It is a city of contrasts, where history exists side by side with bold modernity.

We spent our very first day in Uzbekistan here, and it introduced us to an entirely different side of the country.

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Uzbekistan in 15 Days: Itinerary and Practical Tips

Around the world Asia Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan in 15 Days: Itinerary and Practical Tips

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Getting lost in a maze of blue domes, hearing the echo of caravans on sun-warmed stones, sipping hot tea in a shaded courtyard, and letting the golden dust of the desert cling to your shoes. Uzbekistan has that rare gift: it slows you down and reignites your curiosity. There, history is written on façades, light turns ceramics into jewels, and every public square becomes a stage where centuries pass by.

For fifteen days, we moved between brick citadels, Timurid splendor, and trains swallowing the landscape. Like any well-prepared traveler, my friend and I balanced moments of awe with practical considerations, such as tickets secured, cash on hand, insurance checked, so the magic could unfold without unpleasant surprises.

As the destination becomes increasingly popular, tourism is growing fast. Yet guidebooks are still scarce, which is precisely why this article exists.

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Road Trip in Normandy: 4 Days on the Côte d’Albâtre

Europe France Normandy

Road Trip in Normandy: 4 Days on the Côte d’Albâtre

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Between Christmas and New Year 2025, we left Paris to discover a corner of France I had not yet explored: Normandy. More precisely, a stretch of coastline that had long drawn me in, the famous Côte d’Albâtre (literally Alabaster Coast in English).

Between ever-changing skies and a sea sometimes blue, sometimes pearl-grey, the Côte d’Albâtre stretches for nearly 140 kilometers, from Le Tréport in Seine-Maritime to Le Havre, marking the natural boundary between land and the English Channel. This long ribbon of chalk cliffs, among the highest in Europe, rises in places to more than 100 meters.

Sculpted over millennia by erosion, the coast owes its name to the whiteness of its rock, reminiscent of alabaster. Yet beyond its spectacular landscapes, the Côte d’Albâtre is also a land of stories of harbors, fishermen, artists, and memory. Impressionist painters, writers, sailors, and soldiers have all left their mark here, making this shoreline a concentrated essence of Normandy: wild, luminous, and deeply shaped by the sea.

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36 Hours in Granada: The Radiance of Andalusia

Europe Spain

36 Hours in Granada: The Radiance of Andalusia

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Granada, with its Andalusian charm and rich history, is an ideal destination for a stay of less than 48 hours, with sunshine, sangria, and culture. Nestled at the foot of the Sierra Nevada, this sunny city radiates with its historic heritage and vibrant culture. What attracts visitors most is undoubtedly the Alhambra, a jewel of Moorish architecture that majestically overlooks the city.

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Cuba in 15 Days: Itinerary and Practical Tips

Around the world Cuba North America

Cuba in 15 Days: Itinerary and Practical Tips

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Reconnect with the essentials, let nature soothe your soul, listen to the sea whisper through the breeze, and sometimes, drink too many cocktails (after all, all roads lead to rum, right?).

Dance, reveal yourself, let go… The warmth of Cuba embraced me like a hug. Here, time stands still, and music is not just a sound: it’s the heartbeat that makes the island vibrate.

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From Luxor to Aswan Following the Traces of Ancient Egyptian Temples

Africa Around the world Egypt

From Luxor to Aswan Following the Traces of Ancient Egyptian Temples

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Settled in Luxor for the continuation of our Egyptian adventures, I was itching to go further, towards Aswan, to push the exploration to two jewels of ancient Egypt: Abu Simbel and the Temple of Philae.

But time was not on our side: only one day to make the round trip to Aswan from Luxor. Thus, we faced some tough decisions. We had to bid farewell to the stunning Nubian villages and, with a heavy heart, Abu Simbel, which was too far for our tight schedule. But we’ll return someday!

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Luxor, the Open-Air Museum of Egypt: East Bank

Africa Around the world Egypt

Luxor, the Open-Air Museum of Egypt: East Bank

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After wandering through the marvels of the West Bank, the next day we set our sights on Luxor’s East Bank. A different face of the city unfolded before us; bustling, vibrant, and undeniably chaotic, yet every bit as rich in history.

There, between blaring tuk-tuks and the pulse of city life, the ancient remnants of temples still rise – monumental structures that have withstood the passing of millennia. It was another kind of immersion into ancient Egypt, right under the open sky.

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