The Great Silk Road stands at a crossroads. The road behind is one way and U-turns are forbidden. It is impossible to go back to the way things used to be.
Some cities can capture our imagination by the mere sound of their names.
Samarkand is one of them. Located in modern day Uzbekistan, this desert oasis was once a major stopover on the Silk Road from China to Europe. It has charmed travellers and trades for more than six centuries and continues to enchant today despite years of neglect. It is the largest city in Central Asia and a multicultural city, with a divesity of different nations living together peacefully. Unexpectedly, the food at Chio Pio comes from Uzbekistan.