http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Iran/West/Esfahan/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Middle East , Iran , West , Esfahan en-us Mon, 28 Dec 2009 11:56:36 +0000 Mon, 28 Dec 2009 11:56:36 +0000 We drove over 440km from Shiraz to Esfahan passing pastures and arid mountains resembling parts of Southern California. Although Iran has one of the highest accident rates in the world it is well developed in certain aspects. When buses or trucks travel between major cities they have to register with the police and get a GPS card with which the speed can be tracked. At gas stations refueli http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Iran/West/Esfahan/blog-447232.html Many people who travel to Iran have already planned to visit Isfahan as one of Iran trip highlights. I want to show you how you can plan an unforgettable walking tour of Isfahan visiting Imam Khomeini Square Imam Sq formerly known as NaqgheJahan Square. This oneday tour helps you visit the highlights of the heart of this tourist destination at the best time of the day and make the most of it. http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Iran/West/Esfahan/blog-439823.html Drag the last bit of Esafahan out and say it like this IssfaaahhaaaaAAANNNNNnnnnWELCOME TO ESAFAHAN SalamThe process of buying my 3euro four hour ticket to Esfahan was rather simple. I found the bus agency along the main road in Yazd made lots of gesturing actions and pointing at maps to obtain a ticket and find out where the bus was leaving from and at what time. Rocked up to the bus stop af http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Iran/West/Esfahan/blog-439610.html Been exactly a month since I last updated. Reason being was that I had been too caught up with school and such and well second year in university isn't exactly that smoothsailing. And the term's just started Nonetheless I shall try to meticulously update because I really really have lots of things to share with everyone so here goesThough the Iran adventure ended approximately 8 months ago http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Iran/West/Esfahan/blog-430086.html On the morning we left Cappadocia we were up bright and early at 5.30 am for camp breakfast at 5.45 and we were met by the most beautiful sight. Hundreds of hot air balloons going straight overhead. Cappadocia is one of the top five places in the world to do a sunrise balloon flight. It was a real WOW moment and we just thought ldquoHow lucky are werdquoWe had a long drive ahead that da http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Iran/West/Esfahan/blog-406527.html Juz prawie miesiac a ja nie opisalam ostatnich dni w Iranie. Skonczylam wieczorem przed kolacja w armenskiej knajpie gdzie potem spotkalismy MS naszego lokalnego przewodnika. Spotkanie z Mehdim zaczelo sie troche sztywno w sumie tak jak wszystkie nasze spotkania z lokalnymi ktorzy pozniej okazywali sie super mili. Ale po chwili od slowa do slowa dowiedzielismy sie ze jego rodzina od kilku http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Iran/West/Esfahan/blog-401760.html Zdjec nadal nie bedzie. W kawiarni internetowej zwanej tu coffeenet choc kawy nie daja maja cala garsc kabli ale nie chca zebym sie sama podlaczyla do komputera a jakos nie mam ochoty zeby sobie moje zdjecia ogladali. Jestesmy w Esfahanie. Zwanym Half the World. Jest tu drugi co do wielkosci na swiecie plac zaraz za Placenm Niebianskiego Spokoju w Pekinie. Wokol placu jest wielki bazar http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Iran/West/Esfahan/blog-395452.html Each day in Iran you start your day leaving your hotel as if you are a taxi driver. Not knowing where yoursquoll go where yoursquoll end up and which characters yoursquoll meet. Esfahan is no different. Many Iranian people holiday here because its one of the Islamic worlds finest cities. It definitely is the cleanest Irsquove seen.I decided to walk down to the river and felt safe enough t http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Iran/West/Esfahan/blog-377034.html The overnight bus to Esfahan is made easier by the fact that I steal four seats near the back of the bus and lie across them resulting in a great sleep for me but inconvenience for the attendendant who has to continually jump over my legs. I arrive in Esfahan and a brawl nearly ensues amongst the waiting taxi drivers once again proving that I am probably the most popular man in Iran. I check in http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Iran/West/Esfahan/blog-342890.html Esfahan fully deserve it's title The Diamond of Iran. Our hotel was right across the very congested and dangerous looking road from the Allah Verdi Khan Bridge which is absolutely gorgeous especially when it's lit up at night. There are also a lot of beautiful historic landmarks we failed to find on the first night look I wasn't navigating okay and a lot more that we passed including lovel http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Iran/West/Esfahan/blog-340785.html Some of the things I Liked in My Travels Around Iran Fresh olives sold in big jars I didn't buy any jars but did have Zatoon Parvardeh olives in walnut paste at a restaurant The cool weather as we drove closer to Masoulah and how the terrain reminded me a bit of California These wonderful cinnamon treats kolucheh bought straight from the oven Watching guys cut hay by hand and glad it wasn't http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Iran/West/Esfahan/blog-332321.html Or as they say in Farsi Esfahan nesfe jahan...As am sitting here in this most beautiful and welcoming of cities we find out that Israel is sabre rattling against Iran by carrying out military excercises in Greece. Here on the ground I have never been in a city more hospitable where people talk to you on the streets and buy you icecreams this happened today a young student girl bought me and Ri http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Iran/West/Esfahan/blog-289923.html Here I am in the middle of Iran in Isfahan. But first let me take you back to my arrival in Tehran at IKA airport because you have some catching up to do. Sitting on the flight wondering what was awaiting. The stories some people told women never travel on their own you will not be able to get about without a driver and interpreter and of course is Iran safe all are easily batted away wit http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Iran/West/Esfahan/blog-289902.html Crossing the border from Pakistan was no trouble at all and I was ushered through in less than an hour it was once I was in Iran however that things started to get more complicated. I was issued with an army officer and told that from now on for my own safety he would travel with me. This didn't make much sense because it is far more dangerous on the Pakistani side and I had no guard there but http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Iran/West/Esfahan/blog-287294.html 21st October 2007Well here I am in the Axis of Evil.Arriving here did not even feel half as scary as when I arrive in most third world countries.Probably because people are so laid back. Around a third of the staff at the airport were asleep at their desks. Even the Internet lady at this place was asleep when I got here.And also there was not a single tout or anybody else to bother me when I arriv http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Iran/West/Esfahan/blog-243209.html Tehran Esfahan Tehran. Twelve million people crammed into a city carved out of the desert and ringed by towering mountains. The only city Irsquove ever visited where you literally canrsquot see the ground as the plane taxis into land due to the intense hackinducing mouthdrying pollution. You can actually see the dense hazy layer hovering just above the buildings...And the traffic. Havin http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Iran/West/Esfahan/blog-220990.html Shiraz Persepolis Yazd Esfahan Kashan Tehran If George W. Bush wants to know where Iran is hiding it's nuclear facilities I can tell him. I have seen one of them on the A80 highway between Esfehan and Kashan. Iran is proud of itrsquos nuclear ambitions and makes no secret of where much of the work is taking place. After passing through I read that the president ordered the sites be o http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Iran/West/Esfahan/blog-203774.html My 54yearold Japanese mother was inspired by my recent Iran photos to take me on a motherdaughter bonding trip to Tokyo Disneyland. Why Because the mosques reminded her of Aladdin and she was eager to experience the 'Arabian Coast' of Disney Sea and go on the 'Small world' esque ride called 'Sindbad's Adventures'. After ice cream and wearing ridiculous Aladdin and Jafar hats we sat down for http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Iran/West/Esfahan/blog-195833.html Hey everyoneWell it's been a while since I've posted anything. Was just too busy I guess in my 3 weeks tour of Iran loving it hating it too cause of all the restrictions you're faced to especially as a woman picking up some farsi words very little getting to know and love the Persian culture a little bit more each and everyday.Iranian people don't like to be reminded that Arab language and http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Iran/West/Esfahan/blog-194937.html These words I hear about 50 times a day than there is the where are you from question and the what is your name or how are you... That I get about 20 times a day... I seem to stick out with my blond hair in this country... But it's all in good fun...While waiting for the Pakistani visa Vojta Czech traveller and I decided to take a break from Tehran and head down to Kashan for a day or tw http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Iran/West/Esfahan/blog-191611.html