Friday, 28 March 2014

16 – 18 March 2014 – Tehran, Iran

Tehran is the capital of Iran, with a population of 15 million.  It was chaotic, noisy and a sea of concrete, but we enjoyed the many museums and the monumental bazaar.

Iran is the only country in the world governed by its Shiite clergy

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We had to change some Euros into Iranian Riyals at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini Airport.  This is what €375 looks like in Iranian Riyals (IRR 15,450,000)

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Our first meal at the Alborz Restaurant (Tehran’s best kebab restaurant) with Amir from Tehran and Johann from Sweden cost us IRR 2,600,000!

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The entrance to the Tehran Bazaar

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The bazaar was massive with a labyrinth of stalls and shops clustered according to the products they sold

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One of the many mosques adjacent to the bazaar

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Hanging out at the Dessert Shop with delicious carrot, pistachio and saffron ice cream

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Artefacts recovered from Persepolis in the National Museum of Iran

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The tranquil Park E Shahr gave us a much needed break from the noise and traffic of Tehran

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The snow covered slopes of Mount Tizin, a favourite with skiers, are clearly visible from the city centre

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Some of the glorious mosaics dotted around the city centre

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A young couple with their house on the main road

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The Sephasalar Mosque is the largest mosque in Tehran, with an entrance, multiple minarets and domes lavishly decorated with floral and calligraphy mosaics.

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It’s hard to distinguish the murals from the real thing sometimes

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We spent a morning visiting the Golestan Palace Complex

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Marble throne protector

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Royal emblem of the Pahlavi dynasty

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Iranian art comes in many forms

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Tehran’s overcrowded metro

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Murals on the walls of the former US Embassy, now known as the US Den of Espionage and occupied by a militia group

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Our favourite exhibits at the National Carpet Museum

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How carpets used to be made….

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Yes, these are carpets too!

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The streets of Tehran were peppered with nationalistic, political and religious propaganda

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Sign outside Bank Melli branch

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