Yazd
Desert city with famous wind catchers in Iran
Month: May 2008
Persepolis and Shiraz
Winding bazaars in Shiraz and the ruins of the ancient Persians in Persepolis (Iran)
The Ziggurat of Choga Zanbil
As you know, in the Mesopotamian plain, human civilisation rose from the mud that the rivers Euphrates and Tigris yielded for this purpose. Now the present time is not very suitable for visiting the ruins of Babylon or Ur, which are situated in Iraq. However, on the edge of this plain, not far from the … Continue reading “The Ziggurat of Choga Zanbil”
Takht-e Soleiman
Antique ruins at a strange karst spring
Kebab … Iran for vegetarians
Food in the Middle East is pretty meat-dominated, so if you are travelling with a vegetarian, it can be quite exhausting to get something to eat. For example, you walk for hours through the alleys of a Turkish bazaar, with delicious shish kebabs and köfte roasting left and right next to tomatoes on a charcoal … Continue reading “Kebab … Iran for vegetarians”
Entering Iran
When we arrived at the border in a minibus (coming from Dogubayazid), there were several busloads of Iranians on the Turkish side, jostling, shoving, shouting and swearing around the two open counters, waving their passports…. It took hours until we finally got the exit stamp in our passports. I was a bit annoyed that today … Continue reading “Entering Iran”
Lake Van
Around the lake in Eastern Anatolia
Nemrut
A strange royal tomb from antiquity in Anatolia (Turkey)
Cappadocia
Fairy-tale volcanic landscape full of old churches (Central Anatolia, Turkey)
Istanbul
Istanbul serves us as a gentle introduction to the Middle East, after all, this city still has one foot in Europe. A fantastic backdrop of domes, minarets and water, but also a vibrant nightlife, hardly any headscarves… Hagia Sofia (6th century) is also a good historical introduction, as it is the architectural model for many … Continue reading “Istanbul”