When we get to Tabriz, we don’t know where the hotel is. We teasingly stop outside a 5-star hotel to ask for directions. I decide to take a picture of the hotel, but trip on the steps getting back into the truck, and break my camera, so this is my last picture for a while. We get guided to the hotel by a young pretty Iranian lady, who is wearing a thigh length coat over her trousers and modest top, with her headscarf lying halfway back on her head. Our ladies are feeling quite resentful of their long thick black tents now.
On arriving at Tabriz, I visit the local bazaar in which there are lots of shops selling dresses that women can’t possibly wear in public. Also, narrow though the bazaar allies are, numerous motorcycles and mopeds ride through them.
In the bazaar, we are invited to visit a mosque down one of the alleys. We are enthusiastically but incomprehensibly guided around this mosque, which is being rebuilt from an old one of which they are still excavating some remnants. We do understand that lots of people will be in the mosque at sunset for food. We are here during Ramadan, so no food or water (or cigarettes!) should be consumed during daylight.
Cars in Iran mostly predate the revolution or at least the models predate the revolution but were still being made for Iranian customers. This means that there lots of roads with long rows of mechanics’ workshops. Car that don’t predate the revolutionary period are mainly French.
For the meal, I ask the hotel staff to recommend a pizza place, so I can get my Iranian pizza test in early. He sends me to the ‘Modern Taverna’ which serves…..Kebabs. It turns out the hotel is sending everyone to this restaurant so presumably there is a link.
Lots of people say hello to us, but ‘where are you from?’ is about as far as any conversation goes.
I am looking to buy a replacement camera, but with sanctions it is improbable to find any place that will take my credit card.
Walking around, Jen, our young Leeds lass, gets lots of male attention. We agree that I will not sell her for anything less than 15 camels.
Generally the women of the truck are indeed overdressed. The younger generation of Iranian women tend to wear a tunic to thigh level. Headscarves are coloured, but not too bright and definitely not red. Big sun visors also seem to be in fashion.
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