Day 46. Sarein - Masouleh
It seems funny being on someone else’s timetable but for the next two weeks we are. Out the door at 7:30 and breakfast at a nearby hotel. On the road by 8. Long day today.
We have done almost 600ks, it is 9:30 and we are knackered. The van is ok but not exactly plush. Some Chinese brand with apparently Mitzi running gear but at almost 400000ks its a bit loose.
The countryside is amazing and varied with a mosaic of farmlands with areas of different crops and some areas ploughed and waiting for seed. Then up an over a mountain range with more crops and then a desert like landscape of incredible colours and textures.
The photos and and phone number requests continue every time we stop for tea or to visit an attraction.
I said to Robyn, I hope these people don’t think we are someone famous, they will be sadly disappointed.
Our first stop was Zanjan where we visited a mosque and a bazaar which was very cool, literally due to the clever ventilation of the corridors. The air is drawn in and naturally ventilated through some clever openings in the roof. Lots of bling, Maura you would love it.
We then visited the museum which housed many many artifacts from the surrounding area including stone tools dated to 300000 years ago! Incredible. There is also an exhibition of 3 well preserved mummified corpses, discovered in a salt mine in the 1990s. These poor souls are thought to have perished in a mine collapse 2500 years ago. They are colloquially known as the salt men.
We then drove to very large mosque the dome of which is often compared to St Peters Basillica in size. Unfortunately this mosque was badly damaged in an earthquake and is held up by an impressive scaffolding system and is awaiting restoration. The usual photos were taken with locals and one kind man explained to us a little bit of Persian history covering various invasions and the influences these had on the the culture.
He and his family then invited us to stay with them in Tabriz and he would show us around. If only we could!
Lunch was a truck stop, rough as guts on the outside, surprisingly nice on the inside and the food was delicious.
Our guide Hossein has looked a little tired today and so during lunch I offered to take a spell at the wheel thinking he would politely decline, on the contrary he almost threw the keys at me.
Turned out to be a real treat as I got to drive on good tarmac about 120km over an amazing mountain range with hairpins galore and views to die for. Robyn thought she was going to die on several occasions when I strayed (she says) too close to the edge.
The driving here is certifiable, not one person here would have a license after 1 day in NZ. Robyn put it best. Its like watching a game on the play station except you’re in it.
I really can’t find the words to describe it except manic. Its 10/10ths all the time with overtaking manoeuvres that just makes you put your head in your hands.
Tomorrow I’m going to GoPro some of it.
Tonight we have an apartment in a holiday destination high in the hills. It is in a deep valley and we can hear a river running. It was dark when we got here so will explain more tomorrow.
We have done almost 600ks, it is 9:30 and we are knackered. The van is ok but not exactly plush. Some Chinese brand with apparently Mitzi running gear but at almost 400000ks its a bit loose.
The countryside is amazing and varied with a mosaic of farmlands with areas of different crops and some areas ploughed and waiting for seed. Then up an over a mountain range with more crops and then a desert like landscape of incredible colours and textures.
The photos and and phone number requests continue every time we stop for tea or to visit an attraction.
I said to Robyn, I hope these people don’t think we are someone famous, they will be sadly disappointed.
Our first stop was Zanjan where we visited a mosque and a bazaar which was very cool, literally due to the clever ventilation of the corridors. The air is drawn in and naturally ventilated through some clever openings in the roof. Lots of bling, Maura you would love it.
We then visited the museum which housed many many artifacts from the surrounding area including stone tools dated to 300000 years ago! Incredible. There is also an exhibition of 3 well preserved mummified corpses, discovered in a salt mine in the 1990s. These poor souls are thought to have perished in a mine collapse 2500 years ago. They are colloquially known as the salt men.
We then drove to very large mosque the dome of which is often compared to St Peters Basillica in size. Unfortunately this mosque was badly damaged in an earthquake and is held up by an impressive scaffolding system and is awaiting restoration. The usual photos were taken with locals and one kind man explained to us a little bit of Persian history covering various invasions and the influences these had on the the culture.
He and his family then invited us to stay with them in Tabriz and he would show us around. If only we could!
Lunch was a truck stop, rough as guts on the outside, surprisingly nice on the inside and the food was delicious.
Our guide Hossein has looked a little tired today and so during lunch I offered to take a spell at the wheel thinking he would politely decline, on the contrary he almost threw the keys at me.
Turned out to be a real treat as I got to drive on good tarmac about 120km over an amazing mountain range with hairpins galore and views to die for. Robyn thought she was going to die on several occasions when I strayed (she says) too close to the edge.
The driving here is certifiable, not one person here would have a license after 1 day in NZ. Robyn put it best. Its like watching a game on the play station except you’re in it.
I really can’t find the words to describe it except manic. Its 10/10ths all the time with overtaking manoeuvres that just makes you put your head in your hands.
Tomorrow I’m going to GoPro some of it.
Tonight we have an apartment in a holiday destination high in the hills. It is in a deep valley and we can hear a river running. It was dark when we got here so will explain more tomorrow.
Maybe you could take the wheel Robyn!
ReplyDeleteFascinating meeting so many interesting people.