Rhubarb - Part 2........

As I mentioned in an earlier post I would be looking out for rhubarb on my travels along the 'Silk Road'. (If you are just joining me there was a valid reason, I promise - see original post 'Rhubarb'.)

Well, I found it.

First up in a market in Samarkand, Uzbekistan........

(Maybe not the ruby red ours is, but certainly rhubarb.)

(This gent asked to have his picture taken, too.)

Then being sold at a market in Uzgen, in Kyrgyzstan.......

by two delightful women who thought it was absolutely hilarious to see their photos in my camera ...........and no doubt thought I was crazy.....

It was growing wild in the mountain pass of Chichkan Gorge.....

.....on the banks of a remnant of a wall at the Burana Historical Complex.....

which archeologists believe to be either part of a palace wall or temple complex from the ancient town on the site dating back to the 10th century and earlier. 

.....close to the Burana Minaret.....

The minaret survived Ghengis Khan but lost it's top in an earthquake in the 15th century. The octagonal base has also been restored as over the years the locals had been removing bricks for their own buildings. 

(The view beyond the complex...)

......and along the roadside between Bishkek, capital of Kyrgyzstan and Almaty in Kazakhstan.

Although it seemed to be readily available I saw no indication of how it is used today - whether it's food or medicine - so it's still a bit of a mystery as to why it was so important to the ancient traders and travellers.

I'm a bit relieved the name 'Silk Road' was conjured up as I have far more to say on that topic. (What a surprise!) Definitely more interesting than rhubarb...........

(A sneak peek of what's to come, but I think you'll agree.)

Sue xxx

Rhubarb

I'm hoping you'll indulge me for a few moments while I talk about rhubarb...........It's up to you, of course.
Not recipes, gardening tips or 'rhubarb, rhubarb' and absolutely nothing to do with quilting.....though there is a connection to my upcoming trip to 'The Stans'. (see  post 5th April.)

I've long been told that rhubarb is 'good for the blood' and the GOTH (gardener of the house) has just stewed up some fresh stalks of rhubarb with granny smith apples and a dash of honey which we have been enjoying for our breakfasts, but that's not the reason my interest has been piqued............ 

As I was reading 'Journeys on the Silk Road' yesterday, I came across a sentence that stopped me in my tracks..... 'The name (Silk Road) is far more romantic than if it had been named after another desirable commodity traded along the way, which might have seen it dubbed the Rhubarb Road.' (Seriously - page 85)

A quick bit of googling brought up an article in Wikipedia where I found this... 

 

'A measure of the value set upon rhubarb can be gotten from Ruy Gonzáles de Clavijo's report of his embassy in 1403-05 to Timur in Samarkand: "The best of all merchandise coming to Samarkand was from China: especially silks, satins, musk, rubies, diamonds, pearls, and rhubarb...".'
 (You can read it for yourself...)

Who knew?

The name 'Silk Road' is apparently quite a recent appellation (coined in 1877 by a German Baron) for this vast network of trade routes stretching from China to Europe. Perhaps it could also have been called the Paper Road. For a thousand years or so before paper was known in Europe it was one of the most significant items traded along the Silk Road allowing momentous exchanges of  information in the sciences, the spread of religious teachings and for details of trade and the minutiae of daily life to be recorded easily. The original information superhighway - the Internet of its time.

So when I get to the markets in Tashkent and Samarkand next week I'll see if I can spot some rhubarb - along with silk and other textiles, of course....

I'll let you know,
Sue xxxx