En route to the airport a double rainbow was a good omen to soothe out worries about the trip.
A view from our room: the hills surrounding Tehran. Murtaza revealed that elevation gain inside the city is 2500ft. Zahid was up early the next morning to go a little bit up one of the hills.
Fresh flowers decorating the lobby of Espinas Palace.
A great view of Tehran from the hotel entrance. We enjoyed this view many times and at differnt times of the day during all our tours and dinners over the next 3 days.
Espinas Palace hotel lobby
Espinas Palace hotel lobby
Expinas Palace Hotel.
The Milad Tower (Persian: برج میلاد Borj-e Milād), also known as the Tehran Tower (برج تهران Borj-e Tehrān), is a multi-purpose tower in Tehran, Iran. It is the sixth-tallest tower and the 24th-tallest freestanding structure in the world
Negarestan Garden is one of the significant historical and cultural sites of Tehran. Being located in the city center
Decoration inside Cafe Tehroon, spice jars for the delicious food served to us.
Our first day and little did we know how much we would appreciate and respect this guide, Sobideh, for the rest of the trip and forever.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site. The lavish Golestan Palace is a masterpiece of the Qajar era, embodying the successful integration of earlier Persian crafts and architecture with Western influences. The walled Palace, one of the oldest groups of buildings in Teheran, became the seat of government of the Qajar family, which came into power in 1779 and made Teheran the capital of the country. Built around a garden featuring pools as well as planted areas, the Palace’s most characteristic features and rich ornaments date from the 19th century. It became a centre of Qajari arts and architecture of which it is an outstanding example and has remained a source of inspiration for Iranian artists and architects to this day. It represents a new style incorporating traditional Persian arts and crafts and elements of 18th century architecture and technology.
Notable professors in the history of Tehran's universities.
The city center is also a hub for cultural and music schools.
Tourist photos :-)
Tourist photos :-)
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The Golestan Palace (Persian: کاخ گلستان, Kākh-e Golestān), also transliterated as the Gulistan Palace and sometimes translated as the Rose Garden Palace from Persian language, was built in the 16th century, renovated in the 18th century and finally rebuilt in 1865. It is the former official royal Qajar complex in Tehran.
The oldest tree in the Palace
Qajar dynasty hospitality today!
The Edifice of the Sun is considered the most stunning structure of the Golestan Palace.The idea of building a tall structure came to Nasser ed Din Shah who wanted a structure from which he could have panoramic views of the city.Designed by Moayer ol Mamalek, construction on this building began in 1865 and was completed two years later. Its architect was Ali Mohammad Kashi.The building has two identical towers. The exterior views have multiple arches, intricate tile work and ornate windows. This building's two towers are in fact small versions of the Safavid viewing palace of Ālī Qāpū in Isfahan.
The Mirror Hall is the most famous of the halls of the Golestan Palace. This relatively small hall is famous for its extraordinary mirror work. The hall was designed by Haj Abd ol Hossein Memar Bashi (Sanie ol Molk). Yahya Khan (Mowtamed ol Molk), who was the Minister of Architecture, was a consultant for the designer
Salam Hall
Museum of GiftsThis building is located under the Salam Hall. It is a part of the first Iranian museum, which was built by Mohammad Ebrahim Khan Memar Bashi.Under the reign of Nasser ed Din Shah, this building was used as a warehouse for the chinaware and silverware which was dedicated to Qajar kings.By time of the Pahlavi dynasty, this warehouse was turned into a museum to expose the rare gifts which were given to the Qajar kings.
Today, in addition to the gifts, some rare objects are kept at this museum, including:Helmet of king Ismail IBow and arrows of King NaderArmband of Fath Ali ShahThe collection of Qajar SealsAgha Mohammad Khan's crownA decorated ostrich egg
Diamond Hall (Talar e Almas)The Diamond Hall is located in the southern wing of the Golestan Palace, next to the building of Windcatchers. It is called Talar e Almas ("the Diamond Hall") because of the exceptional mirror work inside the building.The construction of this hall dates back to the time of Fath Ali Shah. Nasser ed Din Shah renovated this hall changing its appearance and replacing the hall's ogival arches with Roman ones. He also ordered the walls covered with wallpaper imported from Europe. As the basic structure dates back to the time of Fath Ali Shah, it is only apt that this hall should be devoted to the exhibition of art and handicrafts from that period.
A tea corner visible while we walked back to the coaches, but not time to stop and enjoy. Besides it was our first day and we were a little shy yet!
Tehran, on our return from the first day's outing.
Dinner at the Expinas Hotel, second to none.
During the stroll after dinner.
Sky Lounge, the top floor of the hotel.
Day Two. The walk to Husainiyah Jamaran
Mulberry, Chinar and Elm trees everywhere.
A short, pleasant walk, in perfect walking weather to our next gustatory experience.
Where Rustam trained. (LOL)
Khan Bashi Traditional Restaurant
Tajrish became the summer resort of Imperial Russians, British and French. There are several Qanats (underground water channels) in the district and it is at an elevation of 5332 ft above sea level.
The red chandelier is a tribute to the martyrs of the war and the green chandeliers represent Islam
Poppy kernels from which poppy seeds are removed for baking
Extracting oil from nuts
Shohada-e-Tajrish Hospital, a charity hospital.
In a shopping mall at Tajrish Square
Trying to piece together the accidentally shredded PIN for our debit cards.
Dinner at Espinas Palace once more, there can never be enough Challo Kebab, nor the eggplant!
The real reason we all came to Iran, the CME early on Monday Morning. Dr. Salman's talk on CHF was filled with new and upcoming meds and strategies.
The complex traces its origin to a garden in the region of Niavaran, which was used as a summer residence by Fath-Ali Shah (1772–1834) of the Qajar dynasty
The Niavaran Palace Complex (Persian: مجموعه کاخ نیاوران – Majmue ye Niāvarān) is a historical palace complex situated in Shemiran (northern Tehran), Iran. It consists of several palace buildings and monuments dating back to the Qajar and Pahlavi eras
It served a variety of purposes for the imperial court including as a home for the Shah and Empress as well a place to entertain visiting foreign heads of state. On New Year's Eve 1977, the reception and state banquet for US President Jimmy Carter took place here
Private library of the Niavaran Palace Complex is a historical complex remaining from the Qajar and Pahlavi periods.
The library was established by Empress Farah and consists of about 23,000 books, mostly in the Persian and French languages, and specialises in books related to philosophy.
A furnishing store in the building
The street map of Tehran covers this massive wall
Waiting for the elevators
Pomegranate, rose-water and barley?
Taleghani Park leading to the Tabiat Bridge
Sories from Shahnameh depicted in modern art.
The Tabi'at Bridge (Persian: پل طبیعت, lit. 'The bridge of nature') is the largest pedestrian overpass in Tehran, Iran. The 270-metre (890 ft) bridge connects two public parks — Taleghani Park and Abo-Atash Park — by spanning Modarres Expressway, one of the main highways in northern Tehran
Sobideh wants to drive us
The Azadi Tower (Persian: برج آزادی, Borj-e Āzādi; "Freedom Tower"), formerly known as the Shahyad Tower (برج شهیاد, Borj-e Šahyād; "Shah's Memorial Tower"), is a monument located on Azadi Square in Tehran, Iran. It is one of the landmarks of Tehran, marking the west entrance to the city, and is part of the Azadi Cultural Complex, which also includes an underground museum.
