We walked along the empty (because of it being Friday afternoon) bazaar galleries until we reached a very colourful area with quite a few small houses right behind the Maydan-e-Iman we would get back to late in the evening.
Massoud proposed half an hour relaxation break at the hotel to have a shower and change (we had been out in the sun all day long) before visiting a merchant's considered among one of the best carpet and rug dealers.
As we reached the hotel outskirts I started noticing quite a few family gatherings in the stretches of grass along the parks, with some lying down on carpets as others were making tea or having pick-nick like meals. Upon having asked Massoud if there was anything going on I was told that was typical of Iranian familie - to gather in public places, particularly parks and irrespective of the time of day, though more commonly in the evening (I didn't know then that that evening I would be into a "surprise" answer to the question I had prompted).
As we reached the hotel outskirts I started noticing quite a few family gatherings in the stretches of grass along the parks, with some lying down on carpets as others were making tea or having pick-nick like meals. Upon having asked Massoud if there was anything going on I was told that was typical of Iranian familie - to gather in public places, particularly parks and irrespective of the time of day, though more commonly in the evening (I didn't know then that that evening I would be into a "surprise" answer to the question I had prompted).
Although I was not particularly interested in buying any carpet or rug and despite having been exposed to similar types of explanations before (In Turkey, Rahjastan and Uzbekistan to name just a few) regarding carpet weaving I must confess that was the most interesting and complete explanation I was ever provided with, not to mention the mesmerising feeling I had in regards to the marvellous pattern variations and colours of most of the carpets we were shown.
On our way to dinner Massoud made sure to take us across the enormous public square filled with Iranian family gatherings on every stretch of grass (public square lawns). Said to be three times the size of St. Mark's square in Venice Maydan-e Iman was in dim light with all of its monuments floodlit. We were speechless ... there is no way one may be able to describe the surrounding atmosphere ... I regreted not having brought my filming camera once more, though I managed to take some photographs.
We had a typical Iranian cuisine dinner at an open patio restaurant overlooking the Iman Square, which was quite an interesting experience to finish an equally interesting day.
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