Foto: The ancient gateway of Persepolis (bron: Ronald van der Veer)
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 English, he tells us about the history of Iran and the Persian Empire on the way to the site. He speaks about Darius I, who built the city of Persepolis in southern Iran. Darius the Great was King of Persia around 500 BC and related to the earlier king, Cyrus. The original name of Persepolis was Parsa. Persepolis is the Greek name and means “city of the Persians.” When we arrive at the archaeological site, Amin leads us into Persepolis via the grand stairways. We walk past the columns of the former palaces where Persian kings held their audiences. Much of the stone reliefs have been well preserved. At the central staircases, carvings depict all the subject nations presenting gifts to the king. Of all the ruins, the Palace of Darius and the Gate of All Nations are relatively the best preserved. Unfortunately, this part is currently under renovation and not accessible. The tour ends at the museum, located in the fully restored Queen’s Quarters. The museum gives a good impression of what the entire palace complex once looked like. Finally, we climb a nearby hill for a panoramic view of the ancient city. According to legend, the city fell into decline after being conquered by Alexander the Great. Later mudslides from the hill buried many of the reliefs in sand, which helped preserve them from destruction.
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, ...
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 ...
The desert city of Yazd
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 ...