Abyaneh & Maranjab
Trip Start
Apr 10, 2011
1
7
21
Trip End
May 24, 2011
Abyaneh, Iran
Monday, April 18, 2011
I visit Abyaneh with Reza, a friendly driver recommended in LP and by the hotel. Along the way we pass Natanz nuclear facility, no photos allowed, though I see nothing particularly interesting other than some buildings and parked cars. Interestingly there is a bus stop nearby. In Abyaneh women dressed in traditional costume sit picturesquely along the path, selling dried fruit. I see another of the ubiquitous school groups on tours of famous sights. Most seem to be girls and look adorable in their pastel-colored coats and white head scarves. Many will practice their English on me. This encounter in Abyaneh proves quite amusing. A girl asks me if I like Abyaneh, Wanting to be polite, I exaggerate and say Abyaneh is beautiful and lovely. She says she "hates" Abyaneh, which is "ugly" and "awful". Hilarious.
Later in the afternoon I visit Maranjab desert with Reza's brother. He brings along his daughter and nephew for the ride. They were silent during the long, bumpy but have lots of fun at the caravanserai and salt flats. Totally unexpectedly their father brings along water, tea, a selection of sweets from around the region and a watermelon. We have a picnic at the caravanserai and later the salt flats The salt flats were one of the highlights of the entire trip. One major interest in visiting Iran was the historical sites and cities and I was pleasantly surprised by the varied beauty of its landscapes and the warmth of its people. This trip combined all three elements.
