Samarkand in Uzbekistan is not just a historical open-air museum, but a vibrant city where past and present merge seamlessly. Everyday life pulsates both in the narrow streets of the oriental old town and in the modern outskirts. There is loud haggling in the bazaar, women weave elaborate carpets for the Italian market in the Khujum factory and classes are still held in the venerable madrasas. The mix of tradition and modernity can be seen at the annual Nuruz Festival, when historic-looking backdrops become the stage for elaborately staged contemporary music and dance performances.