MONDAY 8TH NOVEMBER, 1976
“Went into Esfahan with Sally, Fran, Heidi and Di. Stood in road trying to waylay taxi – eventually piled into one with a police officer – got to Maiden Shah. Bought Xmas card [still have it somewhere]
Went round Lady Mosque – blue tiled frontage like Shah Mosque, but inside was enclosed. Beautiful too (though not the charm of Shah Mosque).
Then Sally, Fran and me headed for bazaar – lovely stalls of printed cloth, metalwork, jewels, inlaid boxes, ivory miniatures and silver boxes. Standing at one stall, a nice young Iranian came up to us and asked if we’d like to see some printing; so he led us out under an archway into a square and up some uneven steps to a little workshop where 3 blokes were sitting on the floor with bales spread in front of them. They were using 400 year old wooden printing blocks, placing them on cloth very accurately, and bashed them down with bits of leather strapped to their wrists.
Bought lots of things in bazaar – two silver plated pill boxes with little pictures on, enamel earrings, enamel cigarette holder, mirror with shell picture on , two pieces of printed cloth. Wandered round local part of bazaar – cloth stalls etc – one stall selling rough wooden trunks and tuck boxes covered in furry material in bright red and secured with sticky tape with pepsi cola written on – amazing sight!
Found entrance to Islamic University – looked in through archway to gardens beyond – priests in long robes and turbans wandering in and out; not allowed in but took photo.
Eventually got out of bazaar (much nicer than Istanbul, nicer things and less hassleing). Outside bazaar saw a real Biblical figure of old man with white beard, turban and flowing robe on a white horse riding into the bazaar – groped for camera but too late!
Went and bought pickles and a kebab and tomato in huge flap of bread and ate it on lawn of the Maiden – met up with Heidi, Di and Pam (big). Little boys gathered and bicyclists stopped to watch us struggle with massive sandwiches. Started throwing stones. Jan turned up. All went for a cold banana milkshake and ice-cream!
Di, Heidi, Pam, Fran and me having kebabs on Maiden Shah
Jan went to Lady’s Mosque (Sheikh Lotfollah) while I headed for toilet of Shah Mosque. Man directed me there and then asked if I’d like to see upstairs. All very secretive – we lurked around post until no one there then he unbolted a little wooden door and went up dark stairs to the roof, then up further stairs to bottom of minarets – refused offer of going up further. Great views over town and mosque. He said not to tell because we weren’t supposed to go up!
Met up with Jan – wandered down shops of square – bought salt and pepper holders on little silver-plated tray and little enamel cufflinks. Not a rial left! Met Chris and Nikki – gave up waiting for bus so hailed a taxi. Dropped us in little back street – couldn’t quite remember where campsite was so wandered a bit; lots of veiled women.
That evening went in again with Jan, Di, Heidi, Fran and Chris; all piled into taxi to Maiden Shah. Others wanting a taxi stopped one and car went into the back of it – stood there arguing, oblivious to passengers! Maiden Shah really beautiful at night – lamps all round square and domes of mosques floodlit and reflected in middle pool. Square very quiet and deserted. Walked up to Shah Mosque and saw illuminated front. Then made our way to the main street and walked about – various workshops still in action and a few shops too, but most of town seemed to be dead.
Passed Shah Abbas Hotel – incredibly posh reception rooms and entrance – outside styled in arches almost like a mosque. (Others who went there were locked in for 2 hours refusing to pay extra for drinks! Police in etc).
Taxi back was hair-raising; bloke rushed through red lights avoiding various vehicles; then weaved his way, at the rate of knots, in and out of different lines of traffic! Bond style! We kept telling him we’d get off at certain spots but he kept on till the turning to the campsite!”
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