The city of towers – Yazd – is about 400 km away. We prefer to drive side roads rather than the big highways with sometimes endless convoys of trucks. Our first stop is the Khara Desert, also known as the Varzaneh Desert. We stay here for two nights in the silence of the desert. Silence is simply good for us and once you have enjoyed it, it can be really addictive. As we dig into this sand/gravel mixture a little, we let out some air at the back.
Our route takes us past the rural town of Varzaneh , which is known for the largest pigeon tower in the country. The route to the Kaninchen caravanserai is even more lonely. Hardly any vehicles, and if there are, they are from nomads.
Rabbit caravanserai
The track and later a paved road lead steadily upwards until we reach the highest point at 2800 m above sea level. sea level. The mountain scenery is fantastic, but unfortunately there is a lot of haze everywhere, so it is difficult to edit the pictures in such a way that you can see the mountains unhindered and the picture still makes an authentic impression.
In 1272, the famous Venetian trader Marco Polo traveled through the province of Yazd. Yazd became important in 1907 when Russia and the British Empire agreed on a common border of interest. North of Yazd, Russia is to have priority, south of it England.
What is fascinating about Yazd is the mud-built old town, some mosques and, above all, the highest cooling towers (chimneys) in the country.
When we arrive in Yazd, we first have to fill up our water tanks. Fortunately, we find a random niche in a park near the water tap.
We rarely visit museums. But the name “Light and Illumination” promises to be an interesting museum. However, not in the way we think, because the name seems a little confusing, as there are floor lamps, candlesticks and mirrors, etc. on display. But from a photographic point of view, we like the museum and in the end we are absolutely thrilled.
During our visit to the exhibition, we meet a Persian family with the most beautiful twins that I was allowed to photograph (yes, of course I asked).
During our visit to the exhibition, we meet a Persian family with the most beautiful twins, which I am allowed to photograph (yes, of course I asked).
A museum employee guides us through the museum. He also explains the history behind the exhibits. We learn that the exhibits are mainly from the Shah of Persia. Many of them were valuable gifts from diplomats from other countries, many of them from France and a single, tiny one from Switzerland. But he comforts us and says that many of the exhibits in the watch museum in Tehran come from Switzerland.
There is also a picture with our sampathic guide “Sepher” at the end, which clearly shows how “enlightened” we are now.
We can park our vehicle opposite the “Seidenstrassen-Hotel” directly in the old town. So we can stroll through the old town without any trouble.
First we go to the striking Friday Mosque, built in the “Azari style” around 1200 AD. was built and enlarged again and again. It is still in full operation today as a large congregation mosque.
Then it’s off into the maze of alleyways and finally up to the terrace of a coffee house in the old town, from where you have a great view. The many and impressive cooling towers are striking, through which the hot air is drawn upwards like a chimney and cooler air is drawn in, and the slight draught also promises cooling.
Yes, and the last picture in this section is called“The four nurses“. On the roof terrace, three women take an interest in us and it turns out that all three work as nurses.
And as our MAN is only a few steps away from the night-time action, we take another tour of the Friday Mosque, the bell tower, the Hazireh Mosque and the Seyed Addin Mausoleum after sunset.
Our guide at the “Light and Lighting” museum has been married for a year. The conversations during the tour are so open, natural and interesting that we really like this young man. Normally, tourists in Iran expect to be invited by Iranians. We turn the tables on this newlywed couple and invite them to lunch in the city.
Both studied “Conservation and Restoration of Historical Artifacts” at the University of Isfahan. He then completed a Master’s degree in non-organic archaeometry and is currently working on his doctoral thesis as a Doctor of Phylosophy.
His wife, on the other hand, has developed more in the artistic direction: she is a painter and restorer of works of art.
Together we spend a lively, interesting afternoon. They order several typical menus, all of which we can sample, and the afternoon is like an enjoyable training session for us. Yes, and we take them both to our hearts.
