Foto: The mosque in Yazd (bron: Ronald van der Veer)
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 structure shaped like a palm leaf. Using hand gestures, a man explains that the Nakhl was used in procession ceremonies. I’m impressed, considering the weight of the structure. We cross the square and turn right. The shops are bustling with activity. On the left, we take a look inside a smaller mosque. On the other side is the larger Hazirez Mosque, with beautiful carpets in the prayer room. After a fresh orange juice, we turn the corner at the clock tower and walk toward the large Jameh Mosque. On the right, we pass the turquoise dome of the Bogheh-ye Sayyed Roknaddin. Next to this dome, we have lunch at the Silk Road Backpackers Hotel. After lunch, we enter the Jameh Mosque. The high prayer hall connects openly with the inner courtyard. On the other side, we exit the courtyard and walk into the souq. Many of the shops are closed during the midday break. Some have draped a cloth over their goods; others simply place a broom diagonally across the entrance. Closed! Through narrow streets and covered alleyways, we walk back to the hotel. Yazd resembles a large maze. Luckily, the ‘Alexander Prison’ is well signposted and our hotel is right across from it. Back at the hotel, I lie down for a bit and fall asleep. Just before six, I wake up and decide to head back into the city. It’s much busier in the streets, and without anyone asking where I’m going, I’m pointed in the right direction. Probably everyone is directing me toward the central Jameh Mosque and the bazaar. A man on the back of his moped laughs out loud when he sees me again. I’ve walked in a circle. Laughing, he points out that I need to turn right and then immediately left. Here, I enter the bazaar.
Alborz Mountains in Tehran
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. ...
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 ...