Sheikh Safi’s Mausoleum

Leaving the lush Caspian coast we headed east, passing close to the outlook posts on the Azerbaijan border, eventually climbing steadily through densely wooded hills till we got over the pass. The other side was very different- hills with no vegetation and an arid plateau.

After 3 hours and 120 miles we reached Ardabil, a pleasant town where we stopped for a few hours to visit the UNESCO site of Sheikh Safi’d Mausoleum. The shrine is known for its blue tiled domes of the mausoleum which are reached by walking through seven rooms that represent the seven stages of Sufi mysticism. We rooms had been restored but the walls were beautiful.

We also saw the replica for an enormous carpet originally here but now in the V & A.

We had lunch in a local restaurant where I resorted to having minced lamb kebab. Desperate times. It was that or rice again.

The rest of the journey to Tabriz, in the far north on the Azerbaijan border, took 4.5 hours
- Iran is a huge country.

We are concerned that we might not see all we’d hoped in Shiraz and Persepolis as the powers that be have decreed it is all to be shut down for the 4 days we are in the area. Tomorrow is the day the Shias parade flagellating themselves but next weekend is something to do with one of the 12 imams and Mohammed.