Iran - A tale of tea, sand and kebab
Traveling around the country, visiting Tehran, Esfahan, Kerman, Yazd, Shiraz, Persepolis, Bagh-e Shahzde, Mashhad, Rayen, Meymand, Ardashir-Kwarrah, Dasht-e Lut, Pasargadae, Meybod and more.
Badger badger badger
The roofscape of ancient town Yazd is covered by badgirs. These are ingenious constructions acting as medieval air conditioning systems.
Yazd
Desert rose
The 1800-year old palace was built by Ardashir Babakan, the founder of the Sasanian empire. But even among the deserted ruins, life finds a way. However it's not really a rose but a papaver (opium poppy).
Ruins of Ardashir-Kwarrah
Black on green
There are worse things to do in the afternoon than having a picnic in the grass while waiting for the sunset.
Naqsh-e Jahan in Esfahan
Life between the rocks
Somewhere in Meymand
More tea
Invited for tea in village somewhere in Meymand
Chickens
Trying to catch breakfast at nomad camp
Open air kitchen
Having breakfast in nomad camp
A wicked hive
I bet Obi-Wan would feel at home here.
Alley in Yazd
Below the minarets
We sat down in the mosque at sunset and watched as the hordes of people arrived for the evening prayer, ushered by the endless pre-recorded chants from the loud minaret speakers.
Imam Mosque in Esfahan
Looking for Baal
Naqsh-e Jahan is the second-largest square in the world after Tiananmen Square in Beijing, or so they say. The kebab animals are quick and hard to spot from a distance, so pay attention.
Reine at Naqsh-e Jahan in Esfahan
Bridge over river Zayandeh
There used to be lovely tea houses located on the many bridges across the Zayandeh river. For various reasons they have been forced to shut down, one by one. The only one remaining is located on the north side of this 298 meters long bridge.
Si-o-Seh bridge in Esfahan
The sound of silence
Instead of a traditional burial, the Zoroastrians placed their dead on top of a Tower of Silence. The bodies were then picked clean by vultures and their bones later stored in the wall.
A Tower of Silence south of Yazd
Not really a final rest
Cyrus the Great was perhaps the greatest leader of ancient Persia, praised in the Bible for his humanitarian rule. The large tomb is located in his capital city of Pasargadae. Unfortunately it had already been plundered when Alexander the Great visited the site 200 years after Cyrus' death.
The tomb of Cyrus in Pasargadae
Sins of the father
Since Xerxes sacked Athens in 480 BC, it was probably inevitable that Alexander the Great had to burn Persepolis to the ground in retaliation 150 years later.
Palace of Xerxes at Persepolis
On this rock
Notice the person for scale comparison.
The tomb of Xerxes at Naqsh-e Rustam
Cave man
Reine having tea in a cave in Meymand
Roadblock
The path was blocked by an unexpected obstacle, so we tried some social engineering.
Somewhere in Meymand
Lay a brick
The 1800 year old town of Meybod consists of mud-brick buildings. This man is creating bricks by mixing clay with straws.
Worker in Meybod
Welcome to Mos Eisley
The 1800 year old town of Meybod consists of mud-brick buildings with gardens featuring pomegranade trees.
Meybod
Raiding the citadel
The town of Rayen is located at the foot of Mount Hezar, the 4th highest mountain in Iran.
Citadel ramparts in Rayen
Ascend
Just one more hill. Just one.
Climbing kaluts in Dasht-e Lut
King of the hill
It's great fun climbing the kaluts (sand castles) in the Lut desert towards Afghanistan.
Reine in Dasht-e Lut
Leave in silence
The kaluts remind me of the Monument Valley in North America.
Sunset in Dasht-e Lut
House of strength
Attending a Zurkhaneh training/workout. This is the most fascinating thing I've seen in a long time.
Zurkhaneh at Saheb A Zaman in Yazd
Bazaar boys
Hanging outside the Bazar-e Vakil in Shiraz
Mirror mirror
This is the tomb of Emir Ali. The walls are covered with mirrors and the tomb itself is located in the center.
Imamzadeh-ye Ali Ebn-e Hamze in Shiraz
The lost boys
The really cool guys are hanging around beneath the bridges.
Under the Khaju Bridge in Esfahan
Raiders of the lost ark
Bazar-e Vakil, Shiraz
The keymaster
The Chak Chak temple is the most important pilgrimage site of the Zoroastrians. The brass door is embossed with Zarathustra and the keymaster was a man who had lived here alone for ten years, with his entire family left in Tehran.
The guardian of Chak Chak temple
Inside the fire temple
Admiring the view from Ateshkadeh-ye in Esfahan
Life is good
Even though it's alcohol free and tastes pineapple, you can still have a cold beer at sunset sitting on a rooftop.
Amir Chaghmagh Square in Yazd
One more for the road
This guy dropped tons of tea on our table until we had to ran away.
Azari teahouse in Tehran
Tea time
Somewhere in the middle of the bazaar we found a great tea house with live music and the local speciality: Kolompeh cookies. These sweets contains dates, walnuts and spices.
Bazar-e Vakil in Kerman
Of love, wine and nightingales
The 12th century poet Hafez remains an idol 700 years after his death. The marble tombstone is visited by happy faces and the area more resembles a picnic spot than a burial site.
Tomb of Hafez in Shiraz
Salty feet
Reine at Daryache ye Namak
Headhunter
The proud chef with a sheep head.
Tehran
Braaaaaains
After eating eyes and tongue, it's time for the brain dessert.
Reine eating sheep brain in Tehran
Braaaaaains
This is where zombies goes for a late night snack. The mind is a terrible thing to taste.
Having sheep brain in Tehran
Behind the wheel
Lotfali Khan Street in Shiraz
Follow the light
This town really needs better signs.
The anonymous entrance of our hotel in Yazd
Crossroads
The shrine of Imam Reza is so large that two freeways cross beneath it.
Imam Reza Street in Mashhad
Light at the end of the tunnel
Bazar-e Vakil in Shiraz