Day 235 26 September 2017
Leaving Sareyn we drove out past snow-capped mountain range the Alborz range with Mount Sabalan at around 4800metres the most prominent.
The Shahr Yeri site and temple was an extra stop and particularly memorable. A recent find and still being excavated. At approximately 3000 years old the temple is thought to have been used to practice rituals. Thought to be a temple for a community where each member had a stone statue in the temple – women distinguished by carved long hair which also showed the leader of the group was a female. None of the statues had mouths except the large stone of the female leader. The site is not yet fully excavated but extraordinary. The ancient road in had huge monoliths over the entrance and the road still visible.
Walking on we came to a hill top with views down the steep ravine into a green and irrigated valley. As we stood on the cliff edge Darius and Magid demonstrated a song and dance with much hilarity.
As we returned to the bus we passed a small Nomad village. Laila disappeared inside one on the tents chatting with the occupants and returned with a very tiny, very new baby and her young Mum. Awe at the resilience of the Nomad family and those young women birthing and raising children.
And on to Meshkin Shahr where we would stay the night. Firstly a walk out to the suspension bridge slung high over a ravine. A lovely walk along tree lined road passing a group of young apple pickers excited to have a visit and gifting a fresh red apple to each of us.
The suspension bridge included all kinds of entertainment, stalls, and activity including Ziplining. As we gathered to cross the bridge shouts from above showed Magid and Darius swinging across the sky on the zipline.
As we drove back it was here we coined the phrase “NQF” – for the many buildings across Iran that were Not Quite Finished. Wherever we went – cities, villages, countryside the consistent was buildings almost but not quite completed many inhabited some were left standing empty.
That night after a memorable day came our least memorable meal – meatballs that were large, mouth-sticking and none too appetising. Some had chosen Pizza which despite ribbing about not eating local proved to be a good choice!
