**We’re currently enjoying the end of 2012 with my family in Oklahoma before we move to San Diego in January. Here, I get back to my last few posts about my six-week backpacking trip through Iran.**
One of my major goals in blogging about Iran is to show our readers the
real Iran — the one not depicted in the news and the one so few are
familiar with. I mean, would you have ever guessed early traces of wine
came from Shiraz? And that Iran is home to a poetic, laid-back city like
Shiraz? Well, my open love letter to Shiraz
continues now. Here, I share with you the nine places — ones with
history, culture and stunning nature — that everyone should know.
Aramgah-e Hafez or Tomb of Hafez. Look at the
books in an Iranian’s home and you’ll almost always find a book of
Hafez’s poems. Hafez, who lived from 1325-1389, is one of Iran’s most
beloved poets, who frequently penned verses of the mystical nature. His
tomb, an octagonal structure with a beautiful tiled ceiling, is a
pilgrimage site for many.
My friend introduced me to this man who spends a lot of time at the
tomb. He loves Hafez, but funnily enough, he told me hasn’t read much of
Hafez’s works. He relies instead on the spiritual connection and force
he gains when he holds the books.
Aramgah-e- Shah-e Cheragh. This mosque is set in a
beautiful courtyard that’s a perfect place to just “take it all in,” but
the real draw is the retina-blinding mirror tile work inside. I
challenge you to find a glitzier holy site.
Qalat. This ancient village located 45 minutes from
Shiraz is a popular weekend getaway for Shirazis and for good reason
thanks to mountains, waterfalls, pomegranate trees and hiking trails all
to be enjoyed while sipping exotic teas, drinking
sharbats
(sweet herbal drinks with health benefits) and smoking hookah. I mean,
it doesn’t get much better than barbecuing kebabs next to a waterfall.
There are even a couple of small modern art galleries!
Citadel of Karim Khan. This picture doesn’t really do
the citadel of ruler Karim Khan justice, but trust me when I say it’s
huge. It was built in the mid 1700s and features a lovely courtyard with
a pool and fruit trees inside.
Bathhouse. You can either take a shower yourself or
have one of the workers scrub you down and give you a massage. It’s less
homoerotic than you think! It’s actually a traditional bathhouse where
the massages are more in the vein of painful and muscle-wrenching than
relaxing. I couldn’t snap a lot of photos at this place — I’m sure you
understand and also, not sure you’d want to see that anyway — but I did
manage to get a shot of my guy.
Tomb of Cyrus. Cyrus the Great, considered one of the
greatest leaders in Persian history, was the father of the Persian
empire when it was established 2,500 years ago. His 30-year-rule
established the Iran that stands today, and his tomb can be seen in
nearby Pasargadae which was the first capital of the Persian empire.
Persepolis. If you haven’t heard of Persepolis,
well…shame on your world history teacher. The ancient city, dubbed a
UNESCO World Heritage Site, dates back to 500BC and is filled with
spectacular relics from the grand Achaemenid Empire that rival the more
commonly known sites of ancient Egypt. What you can see now are remnants
of the once glorious palace and the bass reliefs, which are still in
quite good condition.
Rock tombs at Naqsh-e Rostam. Another relic from the
Achaemenid Empire in Persepolis, the grand rock tombs, which allegedly
house four great kings (only three are pictured below). It’s a beautiful
site made all the more grand by its setting on a high cliff.
Zurkhaneh or house of strength. This 3,000-year-old exercise is, as Lonely Planet
calls it, “a mix of sport, theater and religion.” As a leader pounds on
a drum while reciting verses from the Persian epic, the Shahnameh,
men stand in a circle, performing various feats of strength. Back in
the day, when the zurkhaneh was frequented to prep for battles, weights
would be covered in spikes; the equipment is a little less austere these
days. You can usually watch for free, as it’s open to the public, and
while local women aren’t often seen there, Western women are welcomed.
Source: http://newyorktonomad.com
