Jumping over Joob (Gutter)

There was a massive snow in the North of Tehran today….and I only thought, at least it’s not as massive as the snow in the Northeast U.S. !! I saw Times Square, with only one taxi going through. Otherwise, Life in Tehran has been kind of slow. There has been a holiday recently – it’s called the Eid of Qorban – or a Celebration of Sacrifice, where Abraham’s offering is commemorated by somehow slaughtering sheep. I hope someone explains this better to me one day. All I know is that I have seen three images – all fitting together. I saw two sheep standing on a street corner looking very peaceful. When I returned home (this was two days ago) I saw a neighbor two houses up with a knife in his hand and a sheep without a head below his arm – still squirming. Today I saw a sheep – again without a head – hanging from a lightpost on a street corner – just recently beheaded being skinned. A man was pulling off so neatly its fleece – and remarkably, I managed to retain my lunch. I immediately thought of my ancestors who probably did this work so often that they didn’t think twice about it.

Hi Again. Here is a series of pictures from the Armenian Club - a secret Tehran restaurant open only to Armenian Christians and foreigners - where you can eat joyfully sans hejab.  

I had a birthday party. 

Another Great Building Design!

The mural on the side of a building right next to the Armenian Church...

Don't Shoot, America!!

This is the wall of the former US Embassy in Tehran. It has great murals and paintings all over the compound's walls. I think I look a little too happy in this picture, don't you? And fortunately, I'm a little too short, so the fire will miss my head! Yipee! Better luck next time ...

About THIS Blog

Hi Everyone

I just wanted to say that I really hope this is a useful blog. I am writing it so that all of my friends and family can experience my travels exactly the way they are. I don't have an agenda, and I don't want anyone reading this to think that I don't respect the people or cultures I encounter on the way. I am not intentionally sarcastic and never degrading. I always try to think of my subjects - of both photographs and writing. Thus, in this regard, the only person you can see photographed on this website is MOI. Please send me any suggestions you might have along the way.

Iranian Money Display - In front of Our Kitchen

This is the display of Iranian money made for our apartment by a friend. it has some of the Bills in ascending order. The largest here is equal to a bit over one dollar. I believe the largest bill generally is around $2.20. I have decided not to post that on the money train,... I'd rather spend it!

Today I went to the Friday bazaar and found for Johnny 5 a "crystal" tasbi. I had to bargain a little. Hope you like it Johnny 5. 

The Tehran metro is very clean - and very fast. Only the problem of too many people.  

The Armenian church has a beautiful tree in the front. 

One Armenian Church of Tehran at Christmas

Today I visited the Armenian orthodox church. It was the Christmas holiday and they had lovely decorations. The guards were not very open to allowing photographs. Armenian is a lovely language, although I can't understand the services very well.

A small Vacation towards the South

Hi.

Below are a only a few pictures that I took when I went on a trip to Yazd and also the Persian Gulf. However, this was the time that I changed websites and I didn't repost the photos of the Persian Gulf - when I visited the Islands of Qeshm and Hormuz. I may eventually re-post all of the old photos. However, below you can see just a few photos of Yazd - a great traditional city in the center of the country.

A Painting...

Here is a beautiful Iranian painting found in the best and most expensive bakery in yazd. (at least I think it seemed as much) The painting shows the two supreme leaders, as well as the current President. Khatami will have finished his two terms in office this May or June, is it? President Khatami is always painted or photographed with a huuuuge smile.

A Mix of Old and New

The Yazd Internet Cafe sign next to the traditional architecture made all of us laugh.

Yazd has beautiful religious architecture 

Iran is a beautiful country with a traditional style of architecture that can make make eyes eternally happy. In the inner parts of traditional buildings and houses, there is a nice courtyard, usually with a nice little pool of water - where fishes can swim among pretty water flowers. This traditional courtyard has been renovated -- it is located in Yazd -- and now belongs to an art museum. 

An older part of the city of Yazd - It appears to the rear of some buildings -- quite an entrancing city! 

On a staircase in Yazd 

New Blog

Welcome Back to my friends who like to read about my travels. I am experimenting with a new blog page, because my previous one was blocked.
Today I went to the "Friday Bazaar" for the second time -- I spent three hours walking around the unpolished silver and the thousands of metres of fabric imported from India. I picked up a present for Zahra, on her request -- and bought myself a very cheap necklace. Everyone bargains at this bazaar - however, I am too shy and my farsi is too bad -- so I am probably paying twice the necessary amount for everything I get.