MIR Corporation's Travel Blog:
Ancient Persia, Modern Iran

Follow along with MIR Corporation Tour Specialist Meaghan Samuels as she explores beautiful and enigmatic Iran on MIR's Ancient Persia, Modern Iran small group tour.

• Day 1: Arrival in Tehran
• Day 2: Tehran
• Days 3-4: Tehran, Bandar-e Anzali, Masuleh Village
• Day 5: Tehran, Yazd
• Day 6: Yazd
• Days 7-8: Yazd, Kerman
• Days 9-10: Kerman, Shiraz, Persepolis
• Days 11-12: Shiraz, Firuzabad, Yasuj
• Day 13: Yasuj, Isfahan
• Day 14: Isfahan, Tehran

April 16-17, 2008

We have an excursion to Firuzabad planned for today, where the remains of Ardishir Palace lie. Along the way we are able to see small enclaves of Qashqai nomads, with their distinctive tents set up at the foothills along the road. The Qashqai are nomadic pastoralists, mostly of a Turkic origin. We are also able to see many nomad groups traveling roadside with sheep and bundles and satchels fastened to donkeys. They are dressed in colorful patchwork clothing. Our bus slows to a stop so that we may scramble out for a closer look. The small groups move surprisingly quickly, and our glimpse is fleeting.

Ardeshir Palace is closed when we arrive, scheduled to reopen after the lunch hour. We return after our own lunch, and find we have picked a school field trip day to make our visit. Once again, the children are so friendly that they almost wouldn?t let us leave. They want to take our pictures as though we are a feature of the palace!

Upon our return to Shiraz, we pay our respects to one of the greatest Persian poets of all time and make a stop at the Tomb of Hafez. Our guide reads a piece from one of Hafez's legendary poems, "New Nightingale, New Rose."

The next morning we depart for Yasuj for a quick overnight before continuing on to Isfahan. On the road to Yasuj we explore the Circular City in Shapur and the rock reliefs on the bank of the river. We enjoy a picnic under shady trees by the river before continuing to Yasuj.

After dinner, most of us head to the outdoor smoke café behind the hotel. We each rent a waterpipe and purchase a small amount of flavored tobacco and head out to the traditional platform seats, which are set up with pillows. It is acceptable for us to sit with strangers, and so some of our group joined locals and struck up a conversation. Many other Iranians (men and women) came over to talk and share the waterpipe with us. Each person has their own mouthpiece, so that germs are not a concern. We try many different flavors as we chat with the new people we meet. Everyone is very welcoming and friendly.

Photos from this leg of the tour (click to enlarge):