,Hi Sohrab
Time has flown since Chester Civic Society Group returned to Chester. It was a truly wonderful trip beautifully guided by yourself and we do hope things are/will be working out for you as you hope and that we will see you in Chester at some point
Every best wish for your future
,Elizabeth B
After a two week trip to Iran; Eva has expressed her gratitude
Salaam Sohrab thank you for the poem. I look forward to reading the poems in the book soon.
I so enjoyed my trip through Iran, not in the least thanks to your amazing knowledge and sharing it with us. I think we all agreed that the trip without you would not have been half as good or enjoyable.My best memories, apart from all the amazing mosques, was the friendliness of every single Iranian we met.
Good luck with future tours. Eva
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Great to hear from you dear Eva,
I enjoyed reading your comment on our trip. Indeed, it was such a memorable journey for me, too. I wish it was longer. Iran has a lot to offer. Who knows, you might come here again for second time and it would be an honor being your guide.
Once again, thank you for taking time to write to me and looking forward to hear from you more often.
Yours sincerely,
Sohrab Khoshtinat
Last Day in Isfahan
Breakfast was easy for the three of us. We decided it wouldn’t rain. We took the car to the 33 bridge architecture with 33 arches that traversed the Zayandehrood river that has been dry 6 months of the year from drought, today it flow in Isfahan and I love. A glorious green parkway flanks each side with people of all sorts. A set of powerful sculptures are growing as Isfahan asserts its lead role in Iran as an art mecca. We saw a flute player sculpture and a high copper sculpture with a pair of giant 6 to 8 foot tall hands in brown steel. The cool breeze from the river, shadow from the sky and perfect temperature touched us. Our next step was the palace of King Abbas set through an arch entry at the head of a long pool
Exploration of Isfahan
Today we began our exploration of Isfahan. We visited a large park within the Imam Square (Naghshe Jahan or half the world) built in the early 1600 by Shah Abbas. The courtyard 512 by 163 meters was the largest of its kind in Iran and the second largest in the world adored for the brilliant and monumental structures that Shah Abbas ordered during his reign
Shiraz
An ok breakfast in our Homa hotel, and off to see Shiraz for the first time today. Our first step was the Citadel of Karimkhan, from 260 years ago. Shiraz had had a turbulent history rising from the central capital of Iran suffering economic failure and contraction after all of the centuries. Kharimkhan Zand established the capital here based on kindness, non-militarism and cultural values. In Shiraz we visited the twin cylindrical three story brick fortress surrounded a lovely garden and water pool
Yazd
Our room ceiling was such an elegant brick dome set with angled and elevated set of bricks and diamond shape zenith and arches on each of the rectangular parameter zone that umbrella our room’s walls. The blue, red, and yellow stainless glass windows frame surrounds a glass curtain covered little window that could be open for air
Another day in Tehran
On the next day, after breakfast we began our day starting with Iran National museum, the two large building complex was divided between the Iran Bastan museum with artifacts began at the dawn of civilization and we’ve been through even more interesting and beautifully displayed organized, distinguishing each historic period pre- Alexander 330 BC to 700 BC and the rise of Cyrus and Darius, the Achaemenids. We’re slow shown through seminal sculpture great but limited rebalance of colonial archeological removal to England and France of major and massive inventory still held tightly by the west. The sophistication, monumentality of the exhibits had to be a national and museum science pride only superseded by the spectacular world class tour through the second Islamic museum.
Last year, in 2016, Dr. Bronston and his wife visited Iran for two weeks. I was proud of being the fellow traveler of this sweet couple. Their observation was such a treasure for me. I express my gratitude to him for sharing his viewpoints about this trip.
Here's his travel memories.
As we arrived from Emirates to the airport in Tehran; a flood of warm curiosity engulfed us from passengers around us. The passport control line was almost crowded and Tehran airport baggage claim felt like a normal jam around the baggage belt. On exit our tall and welcoming tour guide engaged us and we were in the car for a relaxed and rich conversation one hour to our lovely ornate hotel.