Foto: View from the Alborz mountains over Tehran (bron: Ronald van der Veer)
Iran - I quickly grab my daypack and place my main luggage in the depot. The bus is already waiting. The eccentric young driver—balding in front, long hair, and a goatee—navigates the traffic skillfully. He sounds a sharp whistle when cars get in the way. He doesn't shy away from using the opposite lane if it's quicker. After about an hour, we reach the outskirts of the city. It’s clearly busy with day-trippers. Due to the crowds, we get off and walk the last stretch to the chairlift. Here we meet Reza. Reza is our guide for the hike to the guesthouse at 2,500 meters in the Alborz Mountains. I sit in a bright yellow chair on the lift going up. Many Iranians come here to relax in the mountains. It’s cooler here than in the city. At one of the many teahouses on the mountain, we order tea and a sweet treat before beginning our climb to the guesthouse. We ascend over the rocks at a steady pace. When I look back, I have a beautiful view of Tehran in the light of the setting sun. Because of yesterday’s rain showers, there’s no smog. Just after six, we arrive at the guesthouse. Most Iranians are already heading back down. We are welcomed with a cup of tea. I take a shower and put on a sweater. At this altitude, it’s noticeably cooler. In the evening, we dine at the guesthouse. Several dishes are served—each tastier than the last. Satisfied, I crawl into bed.
Imam Rezas mausoleum in Mashhad
Iran - Once the weather clears, I continue to the holy shrine of Imam Reza. The shrine lies in the middle of an enormous complex, which has been expanded over the years to accommodate tens of thousands of worshippers. There are plans for further expansion, which ...
Imam Square Esfahan
Iran - Back on Ali Iman Square, I find a bench to sit and write down my travel experiences. I don’t get much time for that, as I’m soon approached by Ali and Hossein, who ask if they can have a chat. We end up talking for over an hour about our trip, Iran, ...
Persepolis
Iran - At half past seven, we leave Shiraz on our way to Esfahan. But before we arrive there, we first visit Persepolis. Amin joins us on the bus specifically for this purpose. He is our guide for Persepolis – a young Iranian man of about twenty-five. In clear ...
The bazaar of Tabriz
Iran - The bus takes me to Tabriz in a few hours. Tabriz is a large city in the north of Iran, with a population of 1.4 million. The bus literally squeezes its way through the busy city traffic. Where there are three lanes, traffic flows in four—or sometimes ...
The desert city of Yazd
Iran - Back in Yazd, we get dropped off at Amir Chakhmaq Square. The Amir Chakhmaq façade takes a dominant place on the square. The building was erected in memory of Imam Hossein. Behind the façade begins the bazaar. Just before the entrance stands a wooden ...