~~Now for today's geography quiz.~~ ~~We're off in search of an ancient and exotic city.~~ ~~An officially sanctioned one, too.~~ ~~UNESCO declared it a protected site for its beauty and its historical significance.~~ ~~The city could have used some special protection in nineteen seventy-nine when the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan.~~ ~~Most of the city's monuments were destroyed, including a magnificent tiled mosque, which dominated the skyline for centuries.~~ ~~The people here are famous throughout central Asia for their skill in fashioning pottery and tile, glass too.~~ ~~Some families have kept their glass working secrets for more than two thousand years.~~ ~~Even though this city is in Afghanistan, most people here speak a dialect of the Persian language, and have long standing cultural ties with neighboring Iran.~~ ~~Think you got it?~~ ~~Well, frankly, I do n't , but the answer is coming up in just a few minutes.~~