At breakfast in Nukus, Uzbekistan we meet a Spanish biker, he is riding a BMW F800 from Spain all the way through to eastern Russia, the getting a boat to Alaska and then biking all the way down to Ushuia in Southern Argentina. Wow I thought our trip was long but he is going to be on the road for several months.

An easy 120 miles journey to the walled city of Khiva. Roads in Uzbekistan are anything from bad to poor, occasionally good, so it was fairly slow progress with more pounding for the bikes and us and it's very hot. We make it to the hotel - Zukhro boutique hotel about lunchtime and receive a very warm welcome indeed. It is too hot to go out so a bit of washing and relaxation in the air conditioned bedroom in the afternoon.

Khiva is split into two parts. The outer town, called Dichan Kala, was formerly protected by a wall with 11 gates. The inner town, or [[Itchan Kala]], is encircled by brick walls, whose foundations are believed to have been laid in the 10th century. Present-day crenellated walls date back to the late 17th century and attain the height of 10 meters.

Kalta Minor, the large blue tower in the central city square, was supposed to be a minaret, but the Khan died and the succeeding Khan did not complete it.

The old town retains more than 50 historic monuments and 250 old houses, mostly dating from the 18th or the 19th centuries. Djuma Mosque, for instance, was established in the 10th century and rebuilt in 1788-89, although its celebrated [[hypostyle]] hall still retains 112 columns taken from ancient structures.

So there you a little bit about Khiva. We venture out in the evening for a freshly cooked sish kabab and salad, followed by the obligatory ice cream. A beer before an early night. A chance to explore the city proper tomorrow.