My 19 Day Iranian Azerbaijan circuit - From the Caspian rives to Tabriz and Takht-e Soleiman - Day 15 (afternoon) - On the way to Takâb - The 23rd of May 2017

The rest of the afternoon was spent on our way to Takâb with a few sporadic stops to take photographs and breath in.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Upon reaching Takâb and just before having had dinner at the only local hotel we were lodged at,  Joëlle, Didier and I went out see what the rather "shy" looking village had to show us. I ended up buying an exquisite local coat, despite not being exactly my size.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My 19 Day Iranian Azerbaijan circuit - From the Caspian rives to Tabriz and Takht-e Soleiman - Day 15 (morning) - Marâgheh - The Nasir Al-Din Tusi astronomic observatory - The 23rd of May 2017

 

We headed towards the astronomic observatory built in 1259 by the astronomy-addicted Hulagu Khan at the behest of his Minister Nasir Al-Din Tusi, who was an astronomer himself, as well as a mathematician and a poet. Very little is to be seen of what once was the famous construction and one of the most prestigious during the Medieval times, which is siad to have housed 10 astronomers and a librarian, who was then in charge of a library allegelly containing over 40,000 books. Despite its look of a certain neglect it was somehow still impressive in its own way, taking into account the number of years it has been standing.

Mr. Rovillé.

 

My 19 Day Iranian Azerbaijan circuit - From the Caspian rives to Tabriz and Takth-e Soleiman - Day 14 (afternoon) - Marâgheh - The Verjuy Mithra temple cave ensemble - The 22nd of May 2017

We drove to Marâgheh and prior to checking in at the hotel visited a Mithraic temple cave located close to the local cemetry, where rituals are believed to have taken place and which was then being visited by quite a number of locals. Some of the inscriptions were worth being looked at, as well as the whole ensemble.

 

 

As I walked out of the caves ensemble I sighted some children and decided to get closer in order to talk to them and the family members they were with. I ended up having quite an interesting gesture-oriented conversation with the children's mothers, who seemed overly excited to get to know a foreigner who showed some interest in them.