Isfahan

Naqsh-e Jahan Square

We visited this square Friday morning, while waiting for our hotel rooms to be ready.

Lotfollah Mosque

At the Sheikh Lotf Allah Mosque, again a mobile had to suffice for record-keeping.

On the street

After lunch on Friday. We saw various political banners around Iran. The English text on this one reads, ‘To obey our leader—Imam Khamenei—is the secret of our power and persistence.’

Chehel Sotun

The Forty-column pavilion.

Royal Mosque

The Shah Mosque is the other, public, mosque on Naqsh-e Jahan Square. I went first by myself, before taking the nap that the others had had in the morning. (This mosque would seem to appear in a video of the Stranglers' Golden Brown, 0:17–0:21.)

Si-o-se Bridge, Armenian quarter

The Si-o-se Pol took us over the dry Zayandeh River to the Armenian quarter of Jolfa, where we had dinner. The dome is that of the Armenian cathedral.

Friday Mosque

On Saturday morning we visited the grand old Jameh Mosque, northeast of the Naqsh-e Jahan Square. I have seen a number of mosques in Turkey and now Iran. This was the only mosque where a current political leader's portrait could be seen (along with that of his predecessor). A local worshipper said this was not good.

Bazaar

It was possible to walk between the Friday Mosque and the Naqsh-e Jahan Square through the bazaar.

Royal Mosque

We all then visited the Royal Mosque, Saturday afternoon.

Lunch

We ate at a tourist restaurant on the Square. The text accompanying these illustrations read, in English,

suppose no existing thus enjoying, lo
since our desting is demolishing, lo
Sit beside a sweetheart with kindness, lo
O' Khayam be joyful of your drunkenness, lo

We went for coffee at the cafe advertised on the red wall. Ayşe and I had seen the white figures being painted there in the morning.

Hasht Behesht

Another beautiful palace.

Bridge and Armenian Cathedral

Sunday morning, Ayşe and I walked back to the Armenian quarter to see the cathedral.

Then we all caught a late-morning bus to Shiraz.

Next: Shiraz