Azadi Hotel Esfahan

... s Martinem Lawrencem na LCD&#269;kách se podávalo ob&#269;erstvení jako v letadle - pití&#269;ko, pi&#353;kot, N&#283;coJakoEsí&#269;ka a ubrousek (celé zatavené v pytlíku). Po cest&#283; jsme si zahráli &#269;lov&#283;&#269;e nezlob se ve &#269;ty&#345;ech (i s Doldovo spolucestujícím Mahedem), poztráceli tak 10 figurek z &#353;ach&#367; a dámy a Petr vyhrál. <br> V Kashanu jsme neomyln&#283; zamí&#345;ili do nejlevn&#283;j&#353;ího hotelu, který byl inzerován jako "spartan rooms ...

... goal posts still stand). The square was framed with little shops along the length of each side, as well as the stunning Skeikh Lotfollah Mosque, the bazaar entrance at one end and the almighty Imam Mosque at the other. <br><br>We had been told one of the best views of the squares was from a small tea shop at the entrance of the bazaar, so we set off in search of it. Our first mistake was asking for directions at a carpet shop at the entrance to the bazaar. Before we knew it we were ...

... located in every major town and city. They are of both religious and social importance and have these characteristics:<br><br>- located at least 42km apart to bring people from small villages nearby together<br><br>- always next to a bazaar, as this was the traditional source of funding for the mosques<br><br>- have either 2 or 4 minarets (not every mosque has minarets) <br><br ...

... you'd hardly believe you're in Iran. The house are built into the side of the valley creating a maze of passages, steps and paths across roofs. After Masouleh we spent two days driving and bush camped two nights. We also stopped at the ruins of Tahkt e Salamian or Castle of the Assassins which was a Zoroastrain site of worship and has a beautiful but posoinous lake in the middle. Now it is a unesco world heritage site. <br><br>We are spending 3 nights in Isfahan. I spent ...

... then headed back to the hostel as the heat was getting a little too much and we were all finding ourselves slightly hysterical, and here we are.<br> <br> Lots of you have been asking me about what Iran is like and the only thing I can really say is that it is definitely not how I expected it to be. All your preconceptions about the people, the culture, the environment, just forget them. The people we have met have been the most hospitable I have ever ...

... Suna and Beryl. Safely decanted by our taxis in Imam Square we heaed for the pavement. That was all going swimmingly until Suna literally disappeared in front of me! The metre wide water channel surrounding the square had, in the dark, caught Suna (and no doubt many another) completely unaware. There's no such thing as gratings or covering of any sort. It's up to you to know/remember these channels are lurking. Thankfully Suna ...

... mes "tché tché hu hu hu" so french. Nous n'avons pas discuté du tout, donc, mais les echanges de regard m'ont rappelé au bon souvenir de Teheran et, surtout, m'ont donné une motivation amoureuse assez dense que j'eus la chance/le génie/le hasard d'user à la gloire d ...

... to ignore the insidious propaganda relentlessly churned out by the American and British governments then I'll be pleased to do so. You must visit. You'll love the noise, bussle and chaotic traffic in Tehran. You'll fall in love with Yazd, Persepolis (and possibly in love at Perseposlis!!), and Shiraz. And as for Esfahan, well read on dear reader....

... what I saw. I'll post this when I can. I then went back to the hotel to meet up with yet another guy who I had met the night before on my way back to the hotel. He was younger, around 20, and he wanted to take me out with his friends. I hadn't been out with the younger people yet, so I figured this would be a good opportunity to see what everyone does for fun. We went first to a restaurant and ordered a few hookahs and a lot of tea, where we drank and smoked ...

... with me. I thought it was amusing that they wanted to capture me in their video diary. <br><br>Back in the grandeur of Imam Square, I sat down on a bench to enjoy the dusk and watch Iranian families do the same. A young man of Mongloid features came up to me to chat. It turned out that he's from Afghanistan studying at Esfahan University. I hit it off with him because he's a student of law and he wants to study in the UK and then return to Afghanistan to help his country ...