Little Johnny and not so little, but lovely Geri, mounting their race-bred steeds. Holly has an entirely different agenda, looking for a tree in the desert.

What's left of one of two 7th century fortresses that were used even 600 years later, until, of course, one of the Mongol hordes finally destroyed them.

View of the other 7th century fortress ruin, located near the new city of Mary, in the vicinity of the ancient city of Merv

Nisa. capital of the Parthian Empire

While we (Americans) were admonished to stay off the ancient walls that were being excavated, a group of Italian tourists were happily allowed to swarm all over the Nisa excavation site.

Archeologists from the University of Turin (Italy) are excavating part of the site. The mounds in the background are the remains of a wall that surrounds the whole immense complex, once consisting of the palace, two temples, and a variety of associated buildings, with a large bustling city sprawling all around it.

Natalie (Natasha) at the Nisa archeological site. She's David's assistant and speaks German, Russian and is learning English.

Nisa, the site of the capital of the Parthian Empire. 2300 years ago the Parthian Empire ranged all the way to the Indus River (in modern day Pakistan, near the border with India).

Some of the excavated and restored buildings

A column base, maybe a place for a statue or large vessel. Just one of the many discoveries at Nisa. Again, the buried wall, just past the two individuals, that surround the whole area. Much of what is dug up here and at other important archeological sites in Turnkmenistan ends up in the National Museum in Ashkerabad. Unfortunately, there was not enough time to visit the museum.