Foto: The Blue Mosque of Tabriz (bron: Ronald van der Veer)
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 even five—rows side by side. Every small gap in the road is used. I see wide shopping boulevards. Large advertising billboards display special offers, but unfortunately, they’re written in Farsi. By looking at the texts, I can make out a few numbers. By late afternoon, I arrive at the hotel. At the bus station next to the hotel, I buy a bus ticket. I take the local bus into the city center. Men sit in the front of the bus, women in the back. I still have to get used to this separation. Everyone around me immediately wants to know where I’m from, what I think of Tabriz, and so on. They also help me find the correct stop for the Blue Mosque. The Blue Mosque was once the most important mosque in Tabriz. It gets its name from the use of blue tiles. The mosque dates back to 1465. During an earthquake in 1778, it was severely damaged. Today, the mosque has been restored and can be visited as a museum. From the mosque, I walk to the bazaar. Giggling girls shyly ask me where I’m from. Western tourists are a rare sight in this part of Iran. The bazaar of Tabriz is the oldest and largest bazaar in the Middle East. It covers nearly three square kilometers, making it one of the largest structures in the world. The Tabriz bazaar is also on the UNESCO World Heritage list. I wander for quite a while among the stalls. I take photos of proud shopkeepers in their little stores. I promise to send them the pictures.
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, ...
Persepolis
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 ...
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 ...