Shiraz

After travelling for one month in Iran, we can definitely say that it is the country with the greatest hospitality of all the countries we've visited so far. It was such a delightful pleasure travelling through Iran that we consider this country with its people, its history and culture as well as its food as one of the highlights of our world travel.

Even though we didn't agree (just like many of the young Iranians) with a lot of the governmental decisions, we felt very safe and secure during our travel. Unfortunately most of the Internet sites were blocked, which prevented us from updating our blog.

Our journey started in Shiraz, the hometown of the most famous Iranian Poet Hafez (also called Hafiz which means 'a person who learned the Quran by heart'). Shiraz is considered as one of the oldest towns of ancient Persia and it is said that its people are the most laid-back of all Iran.

Near Shiraz lays the ruins of ancient Persepolis, the more than 2500 years old showcase model of the ancient Achaemenid Empire's pomp and wealth. Not far from here is Necropolis ('Naqsh-e Rustam') the burial site of four of the most famous Persian rulers: Darius II, Artaxerxes I, Darius I and Xerxes I.

The city Shiraz offers a lot of diversity, from lively bazaars to colourful mosques and shrines. We booked a few days at a Homestay to get an introduction to the Iranian culture and culinary delicacies.

The back of the once so magnificent entrance Gate of All Nations leading towards the Army Road.

At the time, guests from all over the world were invited to Persepolis with the aim of impressing them by its splendour and greatness.

300 years B.C. Alexander the Great invaded Persia and destroyed mostly everything of its main symbol: Persepolis.

Two of the four graves in Necropolis.

'Nasir-ol-Molk Mosque' or Pink Mosque was built during the Qajar Era (in the 1880's).

The Persian architecture is famous for its very colourful mosaic tiles.

During summer time, people gather together in the courts to discuss together and find a little shadow.

Some impressions of the streets of Shiraz.

To enter the Shāh Chérāgh Shrine (the tombs of two of the sons of the 7th Imam and brothers of the 8th Imam) Estelle had to rent out a Chador.

Its Dome is considered as one of the finest of whole Iran.

To enter the shrine, we were accompanied by a representative of Foreign Affairs.

We had the chance to visit a primary school in Shiraz. On the picture is the director of the school and Behnam, our Homestay host who helped us as a translator. One particular thing about the (only boys) school was the fact that after every 45-minutes lesson, was a 10 minutes break, where all the boys could leave the classroom to play in the courtyard (which according to us didn't contribute to a better concentration or calmness of the pupils).