Posting of Photos of my Iranian Trip

I have posted all my photos http://picasaweb.google.com/collin.smith. I have not gone through and captioned them all yet. I have 60 photo album in facebook I did make.

There are alot of photos!

Last Day in Tehran

The goal for the last day was to get a carpet and do something else as well. We went to Jomay Bazaar which is a parkade that turns into a Bazaar on Fridays(their main day off). Found a carpet that I liked for $250. After that Charles, Sally and I went to have brunch.

I have actually left out the fact that Westerners are seen as something of an oddity where they love to talk to you and try out their English. When I was in Imam Mosque in Esfehan, a girl told me that her Dad wanted to speak English with me. They wanted to know what country I was from, what I did for a living, and eventually it led to the whether I am single or not question. They got the cell number I had and thought they would talk to me further over coffee at their hotel, as they were visiting from Tehran. They did text me but I was already in Shiraz at that point. But it was arranged to go to their place in Tehran at 2:30pm on the last day of my visit.

So after getting the driver to drop me off, I went to their apartment. They were quite hospitable with the Dad asking questions and the Mother trying to feed me as much stuff as she could. I ended up talking with the girl, Behnoosh, and her sister most of the afternoon. They gave me gift of an Iranian picture, which strangely enough is the only thing I have from my trip right now. My bags are currently in London to arrive tomorrow. :-)

After talking for a while, it was fun, the mother, sister and Behnoosh were going to give me a ride home. I phoned the driver that he didn't need to pick me up and just pick me up at 5am to go to the airport tomorrow. When they were dropping they thought I could go to the cinema with them. So we went to an American movie with farsi subtitles. They dropped me off around midnight, I packed and went to bed.

It was an eventful return trip including the fact that my bags are currently in London and should arrive tomorrow.

Last day in Shiraz then back to Tehran

May 29th,

Sitting in a coffeenet before I go get my suitcase at the hotel and go to the airport. Kind of tired from running around to all the remaining sites in Shiraz.

Met up with Mahmoud outside of my hotel at 8:00 this morning. We went off to the Bagh-E Eram (Garden)(Photo above) which contains a nice palace of sorts along with beautiful gardens of specific plants. A must for any botanist in Shiraz.

Later, walked to a Arg-E Karim Khani which is a big fortress with a garden inside. A bunch of Iranians horded around me to talk to me in English and know what I thought of Iran. They are pretty excited about foreigners here.

Visited Pars Museum,Regent's Mosque(Masjed-e Vakil),Bazar-e Vakil(the Bazaar),Bagh-E Naranjenstan which is another garden with a sort of palace. Then we went to The tomb of another famous Iranian Poet Sa'di. There was a nice garden around his tomb.

Mahmoud invited me to his place where his parents made lunch and we rested during the hotter moments of the afternoon. At 5:00 we headed out to the Military Museum in Shiraz which also has the last Shah's palace where he like to play cards and entertain. Mahmoud dropped me off at the coffee net where I am typing this now.

Well, I am glad to be getting back onto a plane for Tehran tonight. Tomorrow's goal is to get a carpet at Jomay Bazaar. Then say goodbye's and try and pack all my stuff into my bags. Flying out at 8:30 and should get into Calgary in the evening I think.

Been a busy trip but yes I do plan another to Iran. People are pretty friendly and I liked it alot.

Full Day in Shiraz

Full Day in Shiraz. Today I took a tour with an agency to see the ancient ruins of
Persepolis,Naqsh-E Rostam, Naqsh-E Rajab, and Pasargadae. Persepoli(photo above) was really amazing and the others were nice too. Pasargadae was quite worn though. Met up with a Brit and a Singaporean and took a ton of pictures. Very hot and sunny out there.

I am definitely coming back to Iran. The tour was from 8am to about 5:45pm. Then I met up with Mahmoud, the English tutor and we went to the Tomb of Hafez. Hafez is a very famous poet in Iran. There were many people mourning him there. He is very important to the Iranians.

Then we saw some parks and went to the Quran Gateway, got some good night shots there. Tomorrow I will check out the rest of the sites in Shiraz. Then fly to Tehran late that night.

The people are friendly and love to try to speak to the foreigners. People stare at us alot. The Brit who is of Indian descent, the Singaporean, and myself were a valuable commodity in that people wanted to take their picures with us.

So off to bed, tomorrow should be more relaxed, then try and get a carpet Friday, then off to home.

Esfehan for the day, then off to Shiraz

Today, I got up early to check out a couple of sites in Esfehan before I had to catch my 15:45 flight to Shiraz. First was the Jameh Mosque which was fairly interesting but not as grand as Imam Square and the mosques there.

After that I went to check out Manar Jomban(photo above) which is tomb that has 2 towers. They used to let you climb the towers but now they only let you watch. Basically, a man climbs into one tower and shakes it back and forth. Then you get to see the 2nd tower shake as well. They are 10 metres apart. It is some mystery why this happens.

Back to the hotel to pick up my suitcase and head to the airport for my flight to Shiraz. Actually, flying is less hassle and cheaper than back home. A flight from Esfehan to Shiraz is about $30 and it is further than Calgary to Edmonton. I landed and got a taxi to the hotel. Checked in then headed out to see what I can see. I arranged a tour of Persepolis, Pasargadae, Naqsh-E Rostam and Naqsh-E Rajab from 8am to 5pm tomorrow. Seems really hot and dry here in Shiraz.

Also met an Iranian English student, Mahmoud, who bought me some ice cream because he wanted to speak with a native English speaker. We have arranged to meet tomorrow and the day after and will trade English conversation for a tour of Shiraz.

Well think I am off to get a kebob then back to the hotel for tomorrow.

Walking the bridges in Esfehan

I got pretty sore feet from walking around yesterday in those dress shoes. Today, I wore my running shoes as I wanted to see all the bridges in Esfehan. It is so sunny here, I am going to have a good tan when I get back.

There are about 4 very old bridges along the Zayandeh River here in Esfehan. It was quite a hike to get to the Shahrestan Bridge which was 3km past the Khaju Bridge. But I was pretty determined to see that one. All along you can see people resting in the shade studying or couples talking to one another. I stopped to get a coke and some ice cream and some Iranians gestured for me to sit with them. I was tired and said what the heck. They always have some standard phrases like Hello, How are you that they try on you. One of them made it understood that I should buy them some ice cream and I made it understood that he should buy me an icecream. His friends laughed at him.

After that massive walk along the river, I decided to mail some post cards. Got those off, then changed some more money as I wanted to pick up some souvenirs. I really like the copper kiln fired blue plates and vases. They are very nice. Still holding off on a carpet, just to fatiguing for that. I will try a last minute thing in Tehran Friday.

Had a little nap in Iman Square in the shade of some bush. Feels good to get a little sleep on a hot afternoon. Almost all the shops close down from about 2 to 5pm for a sieste. Almost like southern Europe. I tried walking around during that time but eventually came to the conclusion that they were mostly closed and I should just lie down and take a nap.

Did go to the Museum of Contemporary Art where they showed some paintings with a money theme. It was ok. The museums are very cheap here, about $1 or $2 so even if it is not so great you are not getting ripped off. They have a Natural History Museum with large dinosaur statues around it. I find that rather peculiar to see dinosaurs in a Muslim city. Probably no weirder than dinosaurs in the bible belt of the US I guess.

I have noticed that they like to say: Hello Mister! Where are you from? Then that leads into some chit chat followed up with a "Do you have some time to come to my shop?" It is all good, you just have to know what you like I guess and not get persuaded into buying something you don't want.

There are very few white tourists here. Walking around I saw a Scotsman and Irish lady that I saw yesterday that I chatted with. Other than that I see a few others. This really is not on the high list for most tourists. A shame as the people are quite friendly.

Tomorrow I am flying to Shiraz and I have to see Persepolis which is some ancient ruins along with some other sites there.

Esfehan Here I am!

Got up early and got ready for my flight to Esfehan. Managed alright and got to the hotel reasonably early and checked in. Figured out where the hotel was in relation to the main sites in Esfehan and started walking.

It is very sunny and I am getting a very nice farmer's tan. I headed right for Imam Square. There are 2 beautiful mosques here: Imam Mosque and Sheikh Lotfolla Mosque. The Imam Square is the second largest square in the world after Tiannamen. There are little hand made craft shops all along the edge. I just love the blue and yellow design of these mosques. I would have put photos but until I get to a computer where I can download them I can only describe them. This site is probably the thing I wanted to see most here in Iran. So beautiful. I tried to take some very nice pictures. Too bad they are doing some repairs in Imam Mosque, so could not get super great shots.

There are some local shopmen who come around and tell you to turn to page something of your lonely planet book to notice their shop is there. People come up and try and get you to come to their shops and show you their wares. I did get some of those nice jewelry boxes that I like with the nice design on them. I just don't know what a good price is and if I am getting quality. I try and look around and compare the prices to avoid getting ripped off.

Another Iranian came up and started speaking English, he held an English study book so I assumed he wanted to practice speaking. We went to a local teahouse and had some tea while others drank tea or smoked their hookahs. I told him I was interested in those blue painted copper vases. He said he studied art in University and knew where they made really good ones cheaply. Apparently, the previous President bought them from there. Never know if someone is telling you the truth or just feeding you a load of stuff.

We went there and I did find a really nice large one and a smaller one I wanted. Heck, I am in Iran and should get some keep sakes. Later compared with other stores and these ones are nicer for sure. Starting to get sore feet and baking under the sun.

Went to Chehel Sotun Palace, which is sort of an open palace apparently made of 40 pillars but they reduced it to 20 when making it. They said the reflection from the pool made it 40, doubling the 20. Then went to Hasht Behesht Palace which is another older palace located with a nice pool in a park.

I feel good here in the library at the computer but looking forward to maybe heading back to the hotel to shower and lay about reading and writing some post cards.

Tomorrow, I should check out some of the bridges here. I fly to Shiraz on Tuesday afternoon.