motodraconis: (Cup of Tea)
[personal profile] motodraconis
Here's me at the former US Embassy, or as it is called on the local maps "the US Den of Espionage."

Former US Den of Espionage

As I was posing, a group of Iranians drove past on their motorbikes and pissed themselves laughing.


So, we started and ended the tour in the capital Tehran, and below are pics from the first and last days of the tour, begining with UNESCO World Heritage Site, 19th Century Qajar era Golestan Palace.

Golestan Palace - Tehran

Golestan Palace - Tehran

Photos were not allowed inside the main palace, so the next 4 photos I got from google images...

In picture: A look into Golestan Palace in Tehran

We were told that mirrors were shipped in from Europe, but by the time they arrived in Iran, most of them had smashed in transit. So... waste not want not, the pieces were cut up into mosaic shapes and used anyway.

In picture: A look into Golestan Palace in Tehran

With spectacular results. You felt as if you were inside a diamond!

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"Formal reception with the Shah of Iran at Golestan Palace in 1975"

IMG_0366

One of the first shocks of Iran is that despite being a famously muslim country, figuative art (both old and new) is in abundance. Check out these boobie ladies.

Golestan Palace - Tehran

Even more surreal, was how much the tiles reminded me of Portugal, complete with illustrated European scenes.

Golestan Palace - Tehran

Interior of a side building...

Golestan Palace - Tehran

THIS WAS JUST THE FIRST DAY! We emerged reeling in "shock and awe" of the more delightful, culturally inspiring kind.

Now phasing across time to the end of the tour, returning to Tehran, and stopping off at the (still not quite finished) Holy Shrine of Imam Khomeni.

Holy Shrine of Imam Khomeni

Wait whut? WHAT HAS HAPPENED HERE?

Holy Shrine of Imam Khomeni

Panic over, it's just full of men snoozing. Apparently, people used to bring picnics here before anti-Daesh (anti-ISIL) terrorism security had to introduce scanners and ban bags.

Holy Shrine of Imam Khomeni

Children run around playing and the whole place is deliberately chilled out and almost playful, speaking of which, I had a bit of a giggle with these duster ladies.

Holy Shrine of Imam Khomeni

Ladies (and gents) patrol with dusters to keep the place spick and span, after being clocked (grinning) taking photos of them, the ladies approached me. I had no Persian, and they had no English, but I think they asked me if I was French, which I confirmed by mentioning Paris, which went down very well. I indicated that I needed a bit of dusting myself they dusted me down chortling and laughing. I felt blessed!

Here's me... muffled in a chador. As well as having to wear a hijab at all times (and covering legs and arms) chadors are provided at some mosques and shines and one is expected to fully muffle up.

Holy Shrine of Imam Khomeni

I'd not mind... but the blokes are under no such restrictions of dignity, many slopping about in scruffy jeans and ratty t-shirts. This bloke wore his jeans half-mast - showing his gigantic grandad Y-fronts to all and sundry. "Sister, look to your hair, Brother, look to your eyes." My arse! Or rather his arse. BAH!

Holy Shrine of Imam Khomeni

We rounded off our trip with a quest to find the former US embassy. As it happened, we had 2 Americans in the party, though we were all agog to see it. Photos of the murals are feasible, but the interior is now an army base so photos of the inside are not recommended.

Former US Den of Espionage

Former US Den of Espionage

Former US Den of Espionage

Former US Den of Espionage

Former US Den of Espionage

For the Americans, this was one of the highlights of the trip!

And so, winding back time, after Day 1, we got up very early Day 2 to drive to the Domestic Airport to take a flight to Shiraz, thus I was only able to grab a snap of the famous Azadi (Freedom) Tower snapped at dawn from the window of our speeding taxi.

Window view - Azadi Tower (Freedom) Tower

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