Wedding anniversary in the axis of evil
The beautiful city of Esfahan was where we were to spend our first wedding anniversary. We were truly blown away by the place. The stunning Naqsh-e Jahan square with its beautiful palace and mosques was one of the most impressive places we’d visited so far on our trip.
Our anniversary was spent Naqsh-e Jahan square and taking a walk along the Zayandeh river admiring it’s bridges. Our anniversary meal was at a traditional banquet hall, recommended by the Lonely Planet. Although the interior was impressive the food was a disappointment with the salads served covered in cling film and ayran in plastic beakers. The day beds were attractive but Matthew spent most of the meal crossing and uncrossing his legs trying desperately to get comfortable.
Trying to save a disappointing night we headed to a teahouse overlooking Naqsh-e Jahan square. When our tea and qalyan arrived the water pipe was placed on the floor next to us after a while we picked it up and put it on the table like everyone else’s. The waiter approached us on seeing this, putting the pipe back on the floor and explaining to Matthew that as he had a woman with him he had to keep the pipe on the floor. The tea and qalyan were expensive but the views over Naqsh-e Jahan square wonderful.
A more pleasant experience was at the Azadegan teahouse the place was packed with both locals and tourists, sipping tea, eating bowls of dizi and puffing on qalyans (including many women!)
