March 30

We headed for Tehran this morning, with a stop at Abyaneh. This village has been inhabited for at least 5000 years. The people who live here dress in traditional clothes for all the tourists (of which there were many).

There were oasis-type places where traders could stop over.

Beautiful, but unusual cone-shaped mosque

Door in Abyaneh

Village of Abyaneh

Canal water source in Abyaneh

Village of Abyaneh nestled into the hillside

Mosque in Abyaneh

Shahid, Cathy, me, and Megan with women in traditional dress.

They sold various dried fruits and green almonds (rather bitter with only a slight almond flavor and best with salt). From there we went to Karshan were we visited another mosque that is also an active religious school

The mosque

Looking down into the religious school area courtyard. We were not allowed below.

Again, the symmetry and the blue, blue sky.

and a mansion from the 1850s that had belonged to a local carpet merchant. It was beautiful and incorporated courtyard gardens, as all architecture from years ago seemed to do here.

Entrance to the historic house in Kashan

Main courtyard in the mansion

Rooms open out to the courtyard

Down to the basement

Our guide Ali (left) and Glenn looking up from a courtyard

Talk about vaulted ceiling!

Mirrors make it seem like stars inside

Vast courtyard in a giant mansion

Another courtyard inside the mansion. I think I remember this is the “servants’ courtyard.”

Yet another courtyard!!

Stained glass!

Still another courtyard

Following that we visited the historic Fin Gardens.

Fin Garden

Inside one of the structures of Fin Garden

Such color, beauty, and attention to detail!

Fin Garden

Coins and bills at the bottom of the pond with all the fish.

Fin Garden

Wall surrounding Fin Garden

Tehran was a surprise to see as it is surrounded by snow-covered mountains. The tallest peak is about 5,000 meters (almost 16,500 ft.).

Sunset as we are nearing Tehran.