Today is Sunday, April 27th. We woke up rested and ready for a new sightseeing day. Our hotel served a very nice breakfast buffet which we enjoyed in the company of a few of our fellow travelers. I had not talked about our companions so far because we had just met. I now can say that this group is the best. We all get along very well, everyone is happy and most are on their first guided tour even though they are all so well traveled. I already recognize the witty and funny ones. I can tell that we will have a ball on this trip.
We left the hotel around 9a.m.to go to the Sa'adabad Palaces and Museums. It was originally inhabited in the 19th century by Qajar monarchs. The former Shah enlarged the complex as a summer home for his family. The land is immense with many buildings that, at the time, would have lodged all the relatives coming to visit during the summer months. One can only imagine the quality of life enjoyed by all.
Our guide Ata is the nicest and most knowledgeable young man ever. He, like a true Iranian, is kind and warm and tries to indulge us by meeting our every wish. On our way out of the palace, he took us to a little shop and bought us all a typical local noodle dish. These noodles are fine, sort of like coarsely grated coconut, frozen and bathing in a rose water syrup. One can add lemon juice to it. We ate it with a spoon like a sundae. It was different and quite refreshing.
Now, we are off to the Carpet Museum. The architecture of this building resembles a carpet loom. The galleries introduce us to the famous art of Iran, identifying the patterns of the areas where they are woven. Once again, Ata is there imparting his knowledge and making us see and understand stories depicted in these carpets, something none of us would have understood just by looking at them. The people of Iran are so accomplished. Even their carpets depict their incredible culture.
After all this, we went for a late lunch to the Ferdosi Hotel, a large dining room full of people having a good time. There was a live band there and there was a table full of women who, I think, were having some kind of school reunion. Their hands were dancing to the beat of the music. As we passed by their table, with big happy smiles on our faces, they invited us to participate in their good time. The food was more than plentiful and we all ate to our hearts delight. There was an array of different rices and bread, many kinds of kabobs, eggplant dishes, all kinds of bean dishes, and so much more. They also had a very good flan and an assortment of fruits. This late lunch will do us till we reach Shiraz since we are flying out of Tehran this evening.
We are not yet done, the day is just started. After lunch, we were taken to the National Jewels Museum. This place is more than anyone can take in. The museum is really a gigantic safe filled to capacity with more precious stones than I thought possible. Umbrellas with their handle completely encrusted with diamonds, sword with their scabbard completely covered with diamonds and other precious stones like emeralds and rubies. There was even a chastity belt full of diamonds and an immense globe covered with dazzling precious stones of all kinds. I could go on and on, it was mind boggling to see so much priceless stones housed under one roof. Just too much to absorb.
Later that evening, bushed, exhausted but still laughing and having a good time, we went to the airport on our way to Shiraz.
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