Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Tales from the Dark Side: Day 11

I had gone to bed late, so I slept in a bit, but also went online from bed. But then it was time to get up and shower and get ready. I put out my laundry and made it to breakfast with about 5 minutes to eat, but it was okay.

This was my first full day in Tehran, already starting to be the best part of the trip, primarily because this is when I started making friends with the drivers. 

Then we were off to the National Museum of Iran. Before I got off the bus, I told the drivers, in farsi, I had a great evening, but later learned that I said afternoon in farsi and not evening. Oh well.


We went through the museum, and while I was intrigued at first by a miniature, the beginning of the exhibit didn't interest me too much. It was archaeological artifacts of early humans, mainly arrowheads and chopped stones. Then I saw the first indication of humanity - a pendant. A stone with a hole bored in one end to be hung as an adornment. Not used to defend oneself or hunt, just an adornment. Then I started seeing figures of animals, and I began taking photos of the progression of these artifacts.



That first artifact.






And some other artifacts and exhibits I found interesting.

A recreated skull that had been specifically shaped and a replica of a house.



Stamps and the mold.




Ignore the heater in the middle, the photo on the left is of the two artifacts on the end. A pole would be placed between the holes
as a lock. On the right, a chariot wheel.

We then found ourselves back in Persopolis, but the temperature and lighting were a bit more agreeable.



They found a head with hair and skin still somewhat intact.

Some final animals.

There was also a small exhibit specifically for the blind, that they could touch.


At the end, we headed out to the gift shop, then got back on the bus. Then we were off to the ceramic and glass museum, which was in the old Egyptian embassy building. We could not take photos of the inside of the building, but we could photograph the outside and the artifacts.


We couldn't take photos of the interior, so I'm just taking a selfie, no big deal, right?

I was very judicious about what I photographed in this museum, since I found myself compelled to keep photographing animal figurines at the last museum so I ensured I had a full progression. Here, I was only really struck by a few things, like the way the exhibits were presented, especially the way the small bottles were displayed.


This piece was also very striking.

After I was done with the artifacts, I went outside, and a member of the group and I ventured down the street a little. He wanted to find a pastry shop, but we did not find one. I did go into a couple galleries and in one, told the shopkeeper, "zibâ", meaning beautiful. He gave me a brochure for the shop with the website for it too. I went back to the museum grounds, but then went back to the bus to put my phone away, but ended up staying to hang out with the drivers and was further able to bond with them.

Eventually, everyone came back from coffee and we were off to lunch.



Then we headed to the jewelry museum in the national bank. We could not take our cameras into the museum, and I didn't even get a photo of the building, but I got a set of post cards.

The most spectacular thing - well, along with the tassels made of strings of tiny pearls - was that globe.

After the chaos of the vault, we waited for the bus and then went by the old American embassy.

The mural on the right is indicating that America is sinking into the sands of time.



Click the image for a video from passing the embassy.

Then we drove back to the hotel, and the only thing left on the itinerary was dinner. We drove by some murals related to America.


We got back to the hotel and I went up to my room and relaxed for a bit and chatted with friends.

The view from my room and me with and without a scarf.

At about 5:30, I went out to buy some sundries. I managed to convince a guy at one stand that I spoke Spanish and English, and I was from Spain. The streets were crazy, but it was fun. I wanted some ice cream, then I went to a bookstore and tried and failed to get a English/Farsi dictionary that I could actually read.



Click the image for a couple minutes with me on the streets of Tehran.

When I got close to the hotel, one of the drivers called out my name and I hung out with them until it was time to go to dinner. We drove forever up north.






Then we had dinner at the Taj Mahal Hotel. It was delicious, but no chicken Tikka masala.




We then left for the bus and I was so full! It took us forever to get back to the hotel, but I was sitting in the front with the drivers, so I didn't mind. Well, except that I was very, very full, and wanted to lie down. Eventually, we got back to the hotel and everyone else went in, but I hung back with the drivers. They unpacked the Indian food leftovers and kept asking "what is this!?" I told them that it was good, but The Scorpio kept looking at me, laughing, and shaking his head. Eventually, The Model translated on his phone that they hate Indian food. I translated back that I love it and I felt sorry for them.

Eventually, The Scorpio went out to get something (it turned out to be yogurt for the bread - they would eat that at least) and The Model and I chatted via translations done with Google Translate on his phone with a T9 keyboard. It took forever, but he asked what my job was, why I came to Iran (because I could), how much it cost. I also showed him a translated sentence that I hope says "the other women ... hottest guy in Iran".

The Scorpio came back with the yogurt and we chatted some more, but then I translated that I had to go and said shab bekheir and hasta mañana. Back in the hotel, I chatted with my mom and a few friends, then prepared some translations for later. I looked up the English to Persian translation, then checked it with Persian to English and tailored as needed.

I stayed up too late doing that, but it was engrossing. Then I went to bed. I was going to the bus at 8:30 to go to the post office.

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