Yazd

Arrived in Yazd after a stunning bus ride through the snow capped Zagros mountains.Amazing impenetrable solid rock mountainsWhat stood out in Yadz was ancient paths lined with mud brick walls and houses.Clever wind towers cooled the homes . We visited the fire temple in Yadz the flame continually burning for 400 years which is part of the Zorastrian faith dating back to 1500bc. Our guide Mr Lorian was a follower of this faith which we had some great discussions with.Before we left we visited the towers of silence which is a place where there dead are placed to have there bones picked clean by vultures there bones thrown in a big hole afterwoods.Now they are buried in a nearby cemetery.

Zoroastrian silent towers!

Zoroastrian fire temple!

Esfahan

By bus we travelled through barren desert (buses in Iran serve drinks and snacks, and have reclining seats). We arrived to a beautiful city with tree lined streets. We stayed at the incredible Abassi hotel where the Queen of England had previously visited. Our time was spent walking around a bazaar (4km long) which outlined a traditional Iranian square. The square had hosted polo matches 400 years ago. We wandered through spiritually dark but architecturally beautiful Mosques. 98% of Iran is Muslim.

Abassi hotel gardens!

Esfahan Square!

Had an interesting talk to this Muslim Cleric

about Ashura which marks the martyrdom of Imam Hossein

on the shia Muslim calendar!

Tehran Part 2

On our first afternoon Phil and I visited our travel agent and finalised details over coffee?The office was back in the eighties which was quite surreal with the old adding machines and lovely warm people.The next day we went into the heart of Tehran and we were taken on an open sided tram which was quaint. Our guide took us to the Golestan palace (It was Nassar al-din shah1848 impressed of what he had seen of European palaces who built it into the palace of flowers)

Shah and his eunuch!

Tehran Part 1

We woke up at 5am to catch two taxis to Dubai airport. The ladies all scarfed up on the plane as we arrived at iman Khomeini international airport in the middle of the desert, the sanctions obviously contributing to the pot holes in the runway!  After passing through security easily we hopped into an old beaten up van with our guide Salar. As the airport was an hour drive from our hotel the traffic steadily became more chaotic as we entered the Center of Tehran and it's 13 million inhabitants.
Unfortunately our blog site was blocked in Iran but we are now in Rome so will update our Iran post soon.

 

View from our hotel window! 

 

Azadi tower!

 

Golestan Palace!

Dressing like the locals!

 

 Abori Mountains!

Dubai

• We arrived at Dubai international airport after a long 14 hour plane ride from Sydney. Its been a wonderful two days seeing all the sites and attractions,  walking the streets of gold and perfume souks, and enjoying the spice markets to cruising up the Dubai creek on wooden boats
•   

Leaving New Zealand

                                              Ready to fly!

Haere rā!