Esfahan
Beautiful Esfahan, I don’t think anywhere else in Iran will come close for me as Esfahan. You cannot fail to be wowed by the imam square. With two mosques and a palace and portal gate leading to the Bazaar. Yes it is huge, we got to look at it on our first evening and got some lovely pics of everything all lit up and the fountains spraying lovely cool water. The square was full of Iranians and their picnics and ice cream parlours like a Sunday afternoon in England, browsing the numerous stalls that line all sides of the square.
Next day we sorted out Laundry (approx £7 well we did have a little lot and we got done a little). We got our Iran cell sim card sorted(cost. us 7000rial) After that we had to go and do a bit of bag shopping as my backpack developed a small but significant tear in the side and I didn’t fancy having all my pants exploding out in some Iranian street anytime soon! After some searching I found a great bag stall down an alley on the way to the square by the money lenders and shoes shops, I couldn’t believe the price, I paid out the equivalent of £23, I had paid some £55-65 five years ago for my backpack from Blacks! This is like a wheelie bag, but better, it also changes into a Backpack when needed, and access is better through the top. We arranged to pick I up on the way back to the hotel as all shops seem to stay open until 10.00pm.
We had time to grab some lunch from a great “Hole in the wall” eatery as we call them, just outside the entrance to the square. Then set off for the Kilpaka Palace in the square. Well six flights of stairs later and you are greeted by an amazing view of the square. Unfortunately, but necessary was some restoration work being done to the outside of the upper level of the palace, along with the adjacent mosque. The Music room on the upper floor is definitely worth the climb, a method of managing acoustics that would look divine in any concert hall!
We visited a few of the mosques mentioned in the LP and some that were not! All were very cheap to get into. You must not and cannot go to Esfahan without visiting the Bridges of Esfahan of which there are 11, some you can walk on and around and others are more road bridge than people bridge. Many Iranians of Esfahan walk and visit these great bridges and there are easy and beautiful paths and gardens along the river walk.