اصفہان

The highway led us south through the beauty of the desert toward Isfahan.

Vast, untamed and beautiful. And the birthplace of so many legends and sagas which entertained women, men and children through the ages.

A highway rest area along the way to Isfahan. Our buses stopped to allow us to stretch our legs, and get some cappucinos and expressos. The guides and Sikander were always planning our next moves and looking out for the most enjoyable options for the group, I cannot appreciate them enough.

Azra and I were lucky in the roll of the dice. Our room is fit for royalty, a sitting room and bedroom decorated with beauty and taste, opening to the Chahar-Bagh.

An office nook with a garden view

The Abbasi Hotel (Persian: هتل عباسی, formerly known as the "Shah Abbas Hotel", Persian: هتل شاه عباس) is a hotel located in Isfahan, Iran. The whole complex was built at the time of king Sultan Husayn of Safavid about 400 years ago. Formerly known as the Mothers Inn caravanserai, it was built as a caravanserai to provide lodging for travelers.

Little did we know, this is the world famous Isfahan Square we will visit later today.

And soon after Isfahan square, the Chehel Sutoon Palace, this drawing showing how it looked originally. Images of the grandeur of Persepolis are evident here, though we won't realize it until much later in the tour.

Surprise, surprise. We're invited to dinner in the magnificient garden, we've never seen such well maintained shrubs, trees and fountains, blooming with flowers and bursting with fruit.

Unbelievable tastes in every bite, not spoiled by over cooking but delicious for the spices.

Of course, saffron ice cream, a timely introduction to the flavoring we would enjoy in many ways for the rest of the trip.

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After the luxury of Espinas Palace, I didn't know what to expect. We were delighted to arrive at Abbassi Hotel in Isfahan.

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The next morning, exploring the hotel on the way to breakfast, this hallway is lined with drawings of iconic structures in Isfahan.

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The breakfast hall, ah, the traditional Persian delicacies compementing the eggs in so many delectable preparations.

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Art and taste. We could spend the whole day admiring the decorations all over every hall and every hallway.

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Just a regular table for breakfast, are we spoiled or what

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As I look at the photos again and again, I find beauty and love on every wall, ceiling, column, window. It never ends, no matter how long you watch.

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Truly a garden.

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And then the garden itself.

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Perfect in every way, morning, evening or night.

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On the way to Isfahan Square, Farooq and I identify with Mirza Ghulam Raza Isfahani, خوشنویس، شاعر

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Walkikng toward the square, we had no idea of the size of the square, of the beauty of the mosques, of the delightful Isfahani carpets, saffron and copper handicrafts, only mentioning a few.....

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One of the many entrances to Isfahan Square.

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Masjed-e Shah – The Pinnacle of Safavid Architecture

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The Crown Jewel in the Naqsh-e Jahan Square was the Masjed-e Shah, which would replace the much older Jameh Mosque in conducting the Friday prayers. To achieve this, the Shah Mosque was constructed not only with vision of grandeur, having the largest dome in the city, but Shaykh Bahai also planned the construction of a religious school and a winter-mosque clamped at either side of it.

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Miniature painting in progress.

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A tour through an area used for renovation of the dome of the masjed. We'll see how perfectly curved porcelain tiles are crafted to fit the complex surface of the dome.

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Cotroversial for being inside a masjid, this progressive depiction of Jannah has animals among the trees and flowers.

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Exiting Masjed-e-Shah we pass through a huge, ornately carved gate.

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میدان نقش جهان and what better ride in a میدان than a horse driven carraige? We can see Ali Qapu Palace to the left and Lotfollah Mosque barely visible on the right.

Of the four monuments that dominated the perimeter of the Naqsh-e Jahan square, the Lotfollah Mosque, opposite the palace, was the first to be built

Most people did not have access to this mosque. Centuries later, when the doors were opened to the public, that ordinary people could admire the effort that Shah Abbas had put into making this a sacred place for the ladies of his harem, and the exquisite tile-work, which is far superior to those covering the Shah Mosque Photo courtesy of Reema Khan