Things: April 2006

2006/04/30

Partial view from Ali-Qapu Palace. The dome far in the background is the great Jame-Masque of Isfahan. I'll post a few pictures of it as soon as possible.
Isfahan is a sister city with Xian in central China, Barcelona in Spain, Florence in Italy, St Petersburg in Russia, Iasi in Romania, Freiburg in Germany, Yerevan in Armenia, and Havana in Cuba.

Ali-Qapu Palace

View from the roof of the 2nd floor which is like a great balcony. You can see a small pool with fountain in the foreground and the great Shah-Mosque (now Imam-Mosque) in the background.

Columns of Persepolis

2006/04/29

Ali-Qapu Palace

The early 16th century Ali-Qapu Palace is a 7-storey masonary structure. The canopy over the second floor was added later so that provide a more impressive gesture from the square and -may be- make it more comfortable while the king stayed there watching people in the great square (Naqsh-e-Jahan or Imam Square) in formal ceremonies. The palace and the square are listed in the World Heritage Organization monuments.

2006/04/28

Ali-Qapu Palace

2006/04/27

Rainbow

I tok this photo on the way back from Ardestan to Tehran. Ardestan is a small city in central Iran near desert.

2006/04/26

Two friends!

2006/04/25

Just a tree

The black form of the tree against the bright background of the sky catched my eye. It was a big tree which I saw in the middle of a road which goes through a jungle. How respectful it is!

They take news!

2006/04/23

African ficus

I don't know the name of this flower in English. We call it here 'African Ficus'. It is a kind of lilac. I love its smell.

My roses [3]

I am heading for Shushtar tomorrow. It's a historic city in south of Iran. It's very hot. I'll try to take a few pictures after my meetings.

My roses [2]

My roses [1]

These are my roses.

2006/04/21

Another orange on a tree

The place we usually stay on our vacations is in the middle of several citrus gardens. I have lots of pictures of them.

Wild flower under rain

2006/04/20

Naqsh-e-Jahan Square, Isfahan

This is the great square made by Safavid kings in, the then capital of Iran, Isfahan in 16th. There's a special monument on each of the four sides of the square. Sheikh-Lotfollah mosque is in the right, Ali-Qapu Palace in the left, Qeisariieh Bazzar in front and Shah Mosque in behind.

2006/04/19

Si-o-Se-Pol, Isfahan [3]

The view of the river from Si-o-Se-Pol at sunset. When standing here, you'll soon understand that the world behind you (the deck of the bridge with people walking on it) and the world which is in front of you (the landscape and earthscape) create different but harmonious musics. Si-o-Se-Pol is very musical, a temple for the goddess of music may be. In the past years master vocalists with their pupils used to come here. Each one had his own bay for singing and enjoying the temple of music. It's almost a forgotten tradition now.

Si-o-Se-Pol, Isfahan [2]

If you look at the previous post you'll see a long arcaded space which makes the external facades of the bridge. People come here to enjoy the river ... it's music, view, fresh air, etc. This is the view of the space for viewing and meditation. The arches make each single bay a more-or-less private space while people can go through.

2006/04/18

Si-o-Se-Pol, Isfahan [1]

A very beautiful bridge over Zayandeh-Rood (Zayandeh-River) in Isfahan from 16th century. "Si-o-se" verbally means "thirty three" and "pol" is the Persian word for "bridge". So the meaning of the name is: a bridge with thirty three bays.
Unfortunately I couldn't take picture sooner in the day when light and shadows are very exciting.

2006/04/17

Hasht-Behesht Palace, Isfahan [4]

Another view from the interior of the palace.

2006/04/15

Hasht-Behesht Palace, Isfahan [3]

Thank you all for the nice comments on my Hasht-Behesht Palace posts. This is an external view of the palace. The palace was originally in a garden. Now -as you see- the royal garden is changed to a public park. The picture is not very well but gives a general impession of the palace.