Saba and I set off fairly early in the morning to Soffeh Mountain, which overlooks Isfahan and is located just South of the Zayenderud river. I finally understood Iranians' love of nature and the absolute need they have to be in almost permanent contact with it.
It was cold and I had no particular intentions of leaving the home until Saba suggested we took advantage of the morning breeze to breath in some air and admire the view from up there. There seem to be quite a few different opinions as to the name of the mountain - whether it derives from the Arabic word "sofa" (meaning stone bench or raised platform) to a mystical music called "Mir Ali-ye Soffee) or even the Iranian word "Safa" meaning pleasantness and enjoyment.
Unconcerned as to which the most adequate linguistic approach might be we treaded those paths, filled with Iranian families doing what we were just attempting to actually do - to take advantage of the beautiful scenario and breathe in.
As we made our way down so as to catch a taki to take us back into town we came across a statue depicting a mountaneer which prompted me to think how lucky Isfahanis actually are ... they have everything they need to be happy (at hand)... including a mountain they can climb onto ...
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