Day 234 25 September 2017
We came down to breakfast to find a full dining setting including table and chairs set up in the lobby just for us. Breakfast was a delicious local honey and cheese. Sareyn is famous for its honey.
After which a walk in the mist. Darius was our guide for the area beginning at small village that has existed since Zoriastrian times. From the village it was a beautiful misty walk across gentle hills and through farms to the Sareyn hot springs. Farmers and horsemen appeared out of the mist as we crossed the gentle rolling terrain, at times barely being able to see our travelling companions ahead or behind us.
Lunch was an all round wonderful experience. Great food, great company, fun, and a local experience as we shared food with Darius’s extended family. His mum and sisters had cooked a feast of many delectable dishes.
The afternoon was free time, others were going to the spa so first stop was one the many shops selling bathers where I was surprised to find men tending the shop and finding bathers for the women in our group.
With bathers purchased the group headed off and we ventured out alone in town with the aim of getting my phone fixed and finding internet access. The weather was cooler with a fine misty rain shrouding the town as we explored.
No luck with my phone which was not accessing data or calls despite a local SIM. In each shop we entered we found willing friendly help. Internet access was not a lot more successful however the Internet café and owner was so helpful and friendly we enjoyed our visit despite the slow connection.
As we wandered the town I was fascinated by the array of thick, heavy camel hair clothing, particularly a range marketed for horsemen and farmers. After a wander around the shops and chats with many we met along the way we headed for warmth and a snack.
I had seen little pots lined up in warming trays outside cafes. In the cool misty rain this seemed welcoming. We selected an inviting restaurant with multi coloured neon signs in Farsi and rows of large carpet covered daybed like areas to eat. Our first Dizi a lamb dish with soup, lentils, vegetables. Unaware of how to eat the dish we enjoyed it but wondered what to do with the implements supplied including a pestle like tool. Later on meeting up with the group at dinner we discovered Leila has arranged for us to have Dizi as a surprise dish for dinner. Now we discovered the “proper” way to eat it. Which included vitamising the contents of the mug with the pestle provided.
Back to the comfortable Hotel Matin for a much quieter nights sleep.
We had a joke within our group about hotels. Regarding the lack of specifics on the final itinerary from Wild Frontiers. Listing a hotel name with or similar after it. Confirmations were not forthcoming. “Whats the hotel tonight?” “Probably Hotel Similar”. Just another bit of unprofessionalism we now expected from the organising tour company!
