Iran: Day 3

12/01/2012

Today was a great day!  My cousin and I walked to two malls (very similar to American malls, except the stores are smaller and much more specialized and there are no department stores).  Also, beware if you are buying name brands in Iran.  Although the store sign says Louis Vuitton and they're charging an arm and a leg for the cute bag you like, it's highly unlikely that the purses in the store are actually Louis Vuitton (same goes for any other name brand... they're all highly suspicious).  The boys were interesting... I heard a lot of MashAllahs (thank God, used for a gift from God i.e. good looks) as we were walking around. 

Later Mohammad's family and I traveled to Bafru (a smaller town 45 mins outside of Yazd). First we went to Madar Bazorg's house (Mohammad's Father's Mother's house) and then to Agha's house (Mohammad's Mother's Father's house).  I met so many people it was hard to remember all of their names!  Yazd is a very conservative city, but Bafru is even more conservative.  Almost every woman (maybe 99%) wears a chador (an all black long coat/dress that covers everything but a woman's hands, face, and feet).  Madar bazorg is a SUPER loving and sweet woman!  I love her so much!  And Agha seems a bit formal and serious at first, but then he opens up and is quite playful especially around children!  At Agha's house one of our Uncles made fresh pomegranate juice for me by compressing the pomegranate in his hand! 

I was given many gifts and one of my favorites are the goli narges (Narcissus/daffodil flowers) from Agha's baq which smell so good (I saved some to bring home and they still smell wonderful to this day!).  After the formal meetings we headed to an Uncle's house for dinner and I met even more relatives!  Another interesting note... there is no such thing as casual clothes in Iran!  Every male wears a suit or slacks and button up unless they are on their way to bed!

On the drive to Bafru we pass by these illuminated street lights.
LED lights have arrived in Iran and the Iranian's LOVE them!
Almost every major street in every city (big or small) has some sort of decorative lights.

Madar Bazorg and Me!  Can't you just tell we love one another?

The baby!  He did not want to go to anyone but his Baba!  BTW - that is a cucumber on the bottom right.  Cucumbers are eaten just like any fruit in Iran.  It's like having an apple in the U.S.  They just slice them and eat them right up!

Most of the welcoming crew!
(women to the left are wearing chador)

Madar-joon, Mohammad's Father's Mother, Me, and Baba-jan!
Baba looks a lot like his mother!

Agha's house.  And the infamous pomegranates and abi anar maker!

Goli Narges from Agha

A few of us at dinner.  Agha insisted we sit next to each other
and he made sure I was the first to be served (yes, I was treated like a princess).

Agha, Baba, and Uncle looking at old photos

The kiddos!  The little boy was just too cute!

He loves me!