Isfahan

We arrived in Isfahan on friday the day many good Muslims go to the Mosque for prayer. In Iran it is their day off so most places of business are closed.  We walked across the bridges and along the river bank park where many Iranians were out picnicking with their families. This area of Iran was exceptionally green with grass & trees and it was cool, a nice place to be in the heat when your wearing a scarf, and a coat jacket to cover your curves.  Families were out laying on blankets, drinking tea and setting up their grills and ‘camping’ equipment to settle down for an afternoon of food and family and friends. The people along the way were especially friendly and one lady invited us for tea at her blanket but our guide urged us on. To bad because we came to meet the people. We felt this was sorely missing from our experience and when we told our guide he had no comment and did not try to rectify it. 

Friday along the river

We visited Imam Square, the 2nd largest square in the world after Tiananmen square in China. It was very very large with a green space surrounded by buildings that contain a bazaar all around, a large mosque, a king's palace and the private mosque of the king. The kings palace had a large balcony so he could watch polo games on the green lawn below. There are many old pictures of polo games being played in Iran during the kings time. The private mosque was across the square from the kings palace with a private underground passage for the king and his harem. 

It’s said when the main mosque in the Imam square, the Shah Mosque, was built the architect did not get the directions to Mecca correct so they had to build another ‘altar’ inside the mosque facing Mecca. Inside the mosque carpets were all rolled up and stacked on the side and used for friday services. Once again there was this sea of black Chadors flowing in and out of this space with many young girls wanting to have their picture taken with the FOREIGNER, Mary.

Imam Square

A room in the king's palace

Women posing with Mary

Carpets for the Friday prayer

Gathering at the Shah Mosque

Mary is hot in the taxi

A restaurant in  Isfahan

One fun thing about the ‘Iran Life’ tour was taking taxies. In Isfahan we would walk 3 blocks to catch a taxi, ride for awhile stop because the taxi only went certain areas, get in another taxi ride for awhile get out and walk another 3 blocks. Sometimes there were other passengers in the taxis. Once the other passenger was a young boy around 10 years old. 

We experienced ‘carpet buying’ several times in Isfahan. (Isfahan is the place in Iran to buy Persian carpets). Here is how it worked, you go to the carpet shop, sit down, have tea and look at hundreds of gorgeous carpets, wishing you could buy as many as you wanted.  We did finally make a small selection for a runner in our house. It was a fun experience.

  

We had a more modern hotel in Isfahan and enjoyed our first soft bed and an air conditoner that worked, though now very well. The toilet didn't work properly so you had to reach inside the tank to flush it. We gave thanks when we were told by another tour group that they did not have air conditioning and that the electrical in their room was not finished and wires hung dangling on the walls.  Breakfast is hard boiled eggs some dried flat bread and tea.