Iran: Day 10

12/08/2012

Today was another super busy day!  In the morning my Aunt made kaleh pache (lamb's head stew).  I know for you Americans this sounds ABSOLUTELY disgusting, but, trust me this is a delicacy and common breakfast dish in Iran.

Kaleh Pacheh - includes the lamb's eye socket, tongue, cheek meat, and brain.

Getting ready to leave for Baba's house.  Love their beautifully designed baq che.

Once we were done eating my aunt and uncle drove me back to Baba's house where a tour guide came along with one of my sweet cousins to pick me up and take me around the city.  We visited a very beautiful garden known as Dolat Abad.  Dolat Abad Garden includes a palace and the tallest wind-catcher (badgir) in the world.

Badgir (wind catcher).  The oldest A/C in the world which is even strong
enough to serve as a fridge throughout the hot summer months.

The charming entrance sign

Our tour guide inside the banquet hall.  

Our first glimpse of the garden

The pomegranate baq inside the garden.  I just love the light!

How exquisite the windows.

And the ceilings, just so wonderful!

Look at the view!

The "tourists" 

A wonderful horse!

so beautiful!

Next we drove around to the other side of the palace garden which contained two very old houses and one huge reflection pool.  On the way to the other side of the garden we saw an interesting sight on the street...

Notice there are NO LANES.  Did you happen to see the truck piled as high as can be?

The traditional door with unique knockers for both male and female.

Us in front of one of the older houses

The archways are my favorite.

We next traveled to Iskander (Alexander the Great's) Prison!  History says that when Alexander the Great was conquering the Persian Empire, the elites rose up against him.  Alexander took these elite's captive and as he was passing through Yazd, he imprisoned them in a dungeon inside this domed building.

The entrance to Iskander's prison

Once inside...

There are also ancient artifacts inside like this drawing.  

The lower levels have been turned into cafes and sitting areas.

There is also a small museum of tapestries which are still used, bought, and sold.
This type of tapestry is unique to Yazd.

I love all of the fountains... there is a continuous sound of running water.

We also visited some very old mansions which have become hotels.  Once we told the concierge that I was visiting from America, he insisted on giving us a private tour.  He even opened the V.I.P. rooms for me!  There was a great bird in the hotel who would say Nakon "stop it" if you tried to bother him.

The covered courtyard

Mr. Nakon

In the V.I.P. room which has been decorated in the traditional style.

The wonderful ancient streets of old city Yazd.

The pictures and mirrored accents are inlaid in the ceiling

I love the mirrored inlay

Traditional knockers

Tradition knockers

Yes, people still drive down these narrow corridors

So beautiful!

I finished off the night with a wonderful invitation to one of my sweet cousins' houses.  She prepared such a wonderful evening for us!  It was a girl's night and we had great fun!  She is an amazing cook and I truly enjoyed my time with her.  I miss her so very much!

The enchanting garden outside her apartment

My sweet cousins amazing ice cream display!