A Trip to Iran — Part 2

5 min readDec 21, 2015

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A Trip to Iran — Part 1

Starting in Seattle, I flew to Dubai to spend a few days around the United Arab Emirates and Oman’s Musandam Peninsula before leaving for Iran. On the return, I flew from Tehran to Abu Dhabi, then to Los Angeles, and finally Seattle. After a few days in Tehran, we flew to Shiraz to begin our cross-country roadtrip.

Continuing the 10 day drive from Shiraz back to Tehran via Yazd, Isfahan, Kashan, and Qom.

What to say about this family. We met Majied’s (third from left) family at a wind tower garden. After talking for only 5 minutes, he invited us to his house for dinner in Isfahan. OK Majied! We exchanged WhatsApp numbers and set it up for later in the week.

Lunch on Day 6. Chicken and potato stew, similar to an Indian curry

Jameh Mosque of Yazd

We played soccer with this boy we met while walking through the maze-like alleys

Yazd

It’s kind of popular to watch a bunch of guys do an exercise called Zor Khana

Amir Chakhmaq Complex

Yazd carpet store owners

In the desert city of Meybod

Driving further into the desert of central Iran

The abandoned desert village of Kharanagh

After stopping off the highway to play some volleyball in the middle of the desert, we snuck into a camel pen to say hello to these guys

City of Varzaneh

Heading off into the dunes

Very modern hotel room in Isfahan

Isfahan’s Bazaar is full of copper, jewelry, paintings, and other artwork

Imam Square at night

I thought I ordered biryani but got this instead. I’m still not sure exactly what it is — but like most food in Iran, it was very good.

Shah Mosque

Imam Square from above

The upscale Shahrzad Restaurant

Fesenjan, a very unique and strong-flavored dish of chicken, pomegranate, and walnut

Imam Square

Sio Se Pol Bridge, one of Isfahan’s famous bridges

Just a few days later, the dam on this river was closed. There would be no water under the bridge due to water shortage.

Khaju Bridge

American style restaurant selling fried chicken, burgers and hot dogs. It was common to see fried chicken advertised as “Kentucky.”

Church of St. Joseph of Arimathea in Isfahan’s Armenian Quarter

Outside of the city by the Zayanderud river

Jameh Mosque of Isfahan

Four days previously, we met Majied in Yazd, and tonight was dinner with his family. But first, he took us around his hometown of Najafabad to show us true Iranian life. The first stop was to visit his doctor friend. We didn’t stay too long due to a room full of sick people outside who were waiting to see the doctor.

At Majied’s house, his wife prepared the biggest meal we’ve seen yet — enough for her family of six plus three guests. Mounds of rice, chicken and vegetables were served with non-alcoholic beer.

After dinner, about six or seven family friends and neighbors came over to meet us foreigners and ask us questions. It was a kind of cultural exchange with singing and dancing, mostly from Majied. When it was time to leave, the entire group came outside to see us drive off, running after the car and waving. Truly an unforgettable experience.

Snow in Iran. About 2 days before the end of the trip, we got snow. Tehran got a lot more than we did, but we were happy to see even a little bit.

On the way to Kashan, we stopped in the small village of Abyaneh and did some hiking in the snow. Afterwards, we bought some spices from old ladies and had lunch.

We didn’t build the snowman but took the opportunity to make it look that way

Over lunch, we realized tomorrow would be our last day in Iran

The final hotel in Kashan, the Amir Kabeer Hotel

Afshin never missed an opportunity to have BBQ’d street corn. They take fresh corn, grill it, then dip it in salt water.

Kashan

The Amir Ahmad Historical Bath House

Inside the bath house

“Welcome to your shop.” Lots of stores had this tagline. I noticed at least a few shop owners also had pictures of their father proudly hanging.

Kashan’s Bazaar

The lemon-flavoured malt beverage we grew accustomed to. 0% alcohol.

On our last night, we visited one of the holiest shrines of Shia Islam in the second holiest city in Iran — the Fatima Masumeh Shrine

Thousands come to pray and pay respect to Fatima’s tomb. We visited on a busy night being only a few days before another Shia Islam holiday.

Go visit Iran. :)

Mark Magnotta

Written by Mark Magnotta

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