Isfahan, Iran

Isfahan turned out to be my favorite city in Iran during my visit, I found it so pretty with its numerous tree lined boulevards that made for pleasant walks around the city. Isfahan is one of the top tourist destinations in Iran and it was actually one of the largest and most important cities in central Asia. The city has a long history which I will not get into, but I will highlight the main things I got to check out.

Naqsh-e Jahan Square - Also known as Shah or Imam square was built between 1598 and 1629 under the directive of Shah Abbas who decided to move the Persian Empire's capital to Isfahan. The square was designed in order to create an area where national events could be held. According to sources, the Shah's strategy was to centralize the power structure of Iran, so the main idea of the project was to reflect all the components of power. The mosque in the square represents the power of the clergy, the imperial bazaar represents the power of the merchants, and the palace represents the power of the king.

Khaju Bridge - Historical bridge built is 1650 by Shah Abbas during the Safavid period. The bridge serves as a social meeting place and at night you can find people hanging out or listening to music from street performers, it is a perfect example of Persian Architecture.

Vank Cathedral - An Armenian church located in a beautiful neighborhood known as Jolfa. The church was built in 1606 and its architecture is a combination of Persian and Armenian influence. It is worth a visit and there is a museum adjacent to it where you can learn the history of Armenians in Iran.

 

Jolfa Neighborhood - One of the most densely populated neighborhoods in Isfahan and is home to Armenians who live in the city. During the Safavid period (1501 - 1736), Shah Abbas ordered thousands of Armenians to move to Jolfa because they were very good in the silk trade and the Shah believed that their knowledge would benefit Iran. The neighborhood has a hip vibe to it and worth checking out, unfortunately it was raining so I couldn't take as many photos as I would have liked.

Lastly, here are some random photos I took during my walks around the city. I like cities where nature is incorporated in the planning, that's why I was so in love with the numerous tree lined streets that I saw in Isfahan.

How cute is this ATM?!

That's it folks! although the weather got rainy in Isfahan, I am glad that I was still able to walk around the city and get a feel of it. It really is a pretty city, and I can only imagine how much prettier it looks when the sun is out in its full glory, and everything appears bright. After an enjoyable two days in Isfahan, it was time to move on to the next city.

Kashan, Iran

After leaving Tehran, the next stop was supposed to be Qom but there was a change in plans so I ended up in the city of Kashan. A city said to have been a favorite of Shah Abbas who was a king in the 16th century responsible for a lot of Iran's one architecture. The following were the main sites I got to check out.

Fin Garden - A historical Persian garden that's a popular attraction in Kashan, it's actually a UNESCO heritage site. The concept of a Persian garden dates back to the time of Cyrus the Great (around 6th century BCE) and the idea was to mold the perfect example of paradise on earth. Persian gardens have influenced other garden layouts in different parts of the world such as India and Spain.

Tabatabaei House - A perfect example of a historical house in Kashan, this house was built around 1880 and it belonged to one of the most affluent families in Kashan. The house is open for public viewing for a small fee and it is definitely worth checking out, the details are very impressive.

Borujerdis House - Another historical house in Kashan with an interesting story. This house was built in 1857 by a merchant who fell in love with a girl from a rich family, the girl happened to be Mr. Tabatabaei's daughter, remember the first house I mentioned above? yup! she belonged to that family. The rmerchant built this house in order to impress the girl he was in love with, he did end up marrying her and it took 18 good years to complete this house. The house is beautiful, these photos don't really do it justice.

Sultan Amir Ahmad Bathhouse - A traditional bathhouse that not only served as a place to cleanse one's body, but also socialize and discuss current events. 

At the rooftop of the bathhouse, the glasses you see on the domes were meant to let in light but no one can see through them, ensuring privacy.

Just look at these beautiful arches, loved them!

That's it folks! although I spent only a day in Kashan, I had a good time appreciating some of the city's highlights. The following day, I was on my way to another city for a new adventure.

Tehran, Iran

My arrival into Tehran was pretty uneventful and at the airport, everything went smooth with immigration. After checking my passport and electronic Visa, I was warmly welcomed into the country this definitely set the tone of my visit. I arrived at 5:00 am in Tehran and after settling in and meeting my tour guide, I was ready to hit the ground running.

Tehran is the capital of Iran and is the largest city in the country with a population of almost 10 million people. That being said, just like any other large city in the world, it is busy and bustling with life.

On day one I visited the Niavaran Palace Complex which was the residence of the last king of Iran, Mohammed Reza Pahlavi. 

Took a good walk around the city just soaking in the vibe and sites.

Visited the former US Embassy, which is now a museum. This is where Iranian activists in 1979 broke into and captured the Americans working there. They were held hostage for 14 months before being released.

I really had a good first day and got such a good vibe in general, After a few hours jet lag started creeping in so I retired back to my Iranian host's house in Tehran. I was treated to a nice welcome dinner and I got to meet their family, everyone was so lovely and I had a great evening before jetlag got the best of me.

On my second day in Tehran I did more exploring by visiting The Grand Bazaar

While at the Grand Bazaar I got to visit the smallest tea house in the world. It's been passed down the family and is actually a pretty popular spot to visit in the bazaar. I didn't know which flavor to choose so I just asked the owner to make me his best tea and it did not disappoint. 

Checked out the beautiful and very colorful Golestan Palace, built in the 16th century it is one of the oldest historic monuments in Tehran. Definitely worth a visit!

My final site before leaving Tehran was the Azadi Tower, formerly known as Shahyad Tower. It was built in 1971 to commemorate the 2500th anniversary of the Persian monarchy. During and after the revolution in 1979 which ousted the king, the tower become a symbol of freedom.

That's it folks! my stay in Tehran was really good, and I was excited to continue my adventures to the next city.