New Year in Isfahan, Iran - Day 3 - The 30th of December 2019

I decided to spend the third day around the Zayande Rud river, which I had had the chance of seing filled with water the previous time. Irrespective of the almost dried course now it was still worth looking at, particularly because there's a rather unique beauty surrounding its shores as we walk along the endless paved ways lined with gardens and trees.  I stopped half way from the Se-o-se pol and the Khaju brigdes to have some zafron tea at a small and beautiful Teahouse located on another brigde.

I came across several couples, many of whom attempted to talk to me in English mixed with gestures, which made the solo walk a lot more colourful.

Before I made my way back "home", I stopped at the little cultural centre located in one of the brigdes, so as to buy a few books I then had to struggle to carry.

 

 

 

 

It soon became dark by the time I reached the Hash Behesht area, where many of the shops were on sales and where the Christmas season was still felt.

 

New Year in Isfahan, Iran - Day 2 - The 29th of December 2019

As the second day dawned I got ready to once more head towards the Imam square and meet Aly at the Museum Café overlooking the square. I ended up getting into a rather formal conversation with an Iranian family who asked me to take them some photos. I was soon fascinated by an amazing story being told by an old Irish traveller and which was being recorded by the Iranian news fairly close to where I was sitting and which I inadvertantly listened to.

 

 

The overall atmosphere which in itself was already very agreable became spiced by some zafron tea, some traditional cookies and an ice cream I was offered by the staff members. I had brought them some gifts, so as to thank them for the extreme kindness they always treated me. 

 

 

 

 

I wandered about the square as I waited for my dearest friend Aly, whom I was longing to meet again after she  overcame a health problem that was responsible for my own daughter's untimely death.

 

 

 

 

By the time we had updated our latest news it was dark and I once more wandered about the square waiting for Mostafa to finish his work and take me to his cousine's house somewhere in the neighbourhood of Isfahan to have dinner, for which I had been invited. 

 

 

I was happily surprised to meet Meri's daughter, who was looking after her following a medical intervention. Had I known she was still recovering and I would have refused the invitation. This is what makes Iranians a rather special and unique people, I believe, because despite their own circumstantial problems they still find space to think about the others and care for them, as if they were more important than themselves.

 

 

Dinner was splendid and so was the evening. By the time I left it was fairly late ... and I had the feeling we might have spent a few more hours talking, had I not forced myself to leave, in order to force her to rest in turn.

 

 

 

New Year in Isfahan - Day 1 - The 28th of December 2019

I haven't been writing since November last and as Nowrooz is approaching while the whole world is going through such a turmoil because of the corona virus I feel I should write down my feelings in regards to the Iranian people and the way I was once more welcomed by them over the New Year's period according to our calendar.


I reached Isfahan in the early hours of the morning with a suitcase filled with Christmas presents for the people I have been close to in Iran over the last years and who have always opened up their hearts for me. Once I spread the presents in multiple packs around the room I took a nap till the early afternoon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I wouldn't be seing Rohan, Romina and the cousins till late in the afternoon, so I headed to my favourite place in Isfahan (via Mirdamad) - the Imam square, close to which I had my special zafran tea with cardamon and other herbs prior to heading to one side of the bazaar so as to meet Mostafa and do some shopping at his jewellery shop.

 

 

Walking along those streets always gives me a sense of happiness, which is hard to describe and irrespective of the time of the year Isfahan is a place a regularly crave to be in.

 

 

 

 

After having had lunch in a fairly popular restaurant in the bazaar I inevitably headed back to the Imam square where I just sat for endless hours just admiring its beauty and the people moving about.

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By the time I walked back along Mirdamad it was getting slightly colder, particularly because the sun was no longer to be visible. Leaves were all over the pavements and a sense of Autumn filled in the air. I have never really enjoyed this season but "feeling" its different touch around here made me reconsider the poetry in it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The children were visibly happy with the presents they received, but so were some of the adults, which I particularly felt when they gathered around a photo album I had organized with photos depicting some of our best moments together in previous occasions. Two of the children greeted me with a red rose and a Christmas-like tree made out of a pine, which really touched me.

 

 

 

 

When I slipped under my bedcovers in the upper floor my heart had been filled with joy. I was then made aware that I had clearly made the right choice to travel back to Isfahan and  make my way back into this wonderful family..