DAY 69 - MASHHAD

69) SUNDAY, 4 SEPTEMBER 1977 : 0KMS. - MASHHAD

We went  for a walk around and viewed the mosque from afar again and visited a saffron shop in the bazaar.

Saffron shop - Photo : wikipedia.org / Bing imnages search

 
ADDITIONAL INFO  FROM WIKIPEDIA :

SAFFRON

MASHHAD is the major trade center of saffron in IRAN.

Saffron farming, Mashhad - Photo : insideofiran.com / Bing images search

According to the traditional medicine of Thailand, saffron is regarded as of higher value and  very expensive. It is a kind of medicine that helps maintain healthy heart and release nausea symptom. It  is the main ingredient used in Thai traditional medicine against nausea and faint…

Saffron - Photo : Amin Khosroshani / Bing images sdearch

Wikipedia :  Saffron (pronounced / sæfrən / or / sæfrɒn /)  is a spice derived from the flower of Crocus sativus, commonly known as the saffron crocus. Crocus is a genus in the family Iridaceae. Saffron crocus grows to 20-30 cm (8-12 in) and bears up to four flowers, each with three vivid crimson stigmas, which are the distal end of a carpel. Together with the styles, or stalks that connect the stigmas to their host plant, the dried stigmas are used mainly in various cuisines as a seasoning and colouring agent. Saffron, long among the world's most costly spices by weight,  is native to Greece or Southwest Asia and was first cultivated in Greece. As a genetically monomorphic clone, it was slowly propagated throughout much of Eurasia and was later brought to parts of North Africa, North America, and Oceania.

The saffron crocus, unknown in the wild, probably descends from Crocus cartwrightianus, which originated in Crete;.....


Saffron's taste and iodoform-or hay-like fragrance result from the chemicals picrocrocin and safranal.  It also contains a carotenoid dye, crocin, which imparts a rich golden-yellow hue to dishes and textiles. Its recorded history is attested in a 7th-century BC Assyrian botanical treatise compiled under Ashurbanipal, and it has been traded and used for over four millennia. Iran now accounts for approximately 90% of the world production of saffron. 

DAY 68 - MASHHAD

68) SATURDAY, 3 SEPTEMBER 1977 : 0KMS. - MASHHAD

We went to apply for visa to enter AFGHANISTAN  very early morning.  We met a new  young carpet broker , who took us to the consulate of AFGHANISTAN. The visa costed US $ 7.00.  He then took us to the carpet shop  but we did not buy any.   

Carpets shop in Shandiz near Mashad - Photo : wikipedia.org /Bing images search

Around  noon time, we went to get our passports back and changed some travelers  cheques .   Afterwards we went  to the bazaar and was brought to carpet shop again by another broker but  we did not pay much attention as they were mostly expensive and I did not think to carry it along the way.

Mashad rug - Photo : spongobongo.com/ Bing images search

Reza shrine, Mashad - Photo : wikipedia.ord / Bing images search

After visiting the carpet shop, we visited the mosque but we could just only  have a look from a far distance because tourists were  not welcome inside.  There might be also religious bigotry around that could take a simple assault against us. 

Reza shrine, Mashad - Photo : online.wsj.com / Google images search

 

Overall, the mosque  is very big and there were so many pilgrims to this place… it was  like  MECCA of the Iranian muslims .

DAY 67 - MASHHAD

67) FRIDAY, 2 SEPTEMBER 1977 : 467KMS. - MASHHAD

From MINU-DASHT we moved steadily towards the east along the Asian Highway through  ACHAR, TANGAR and GOLESTAN FOREST , a National Forest (National Park) of Iran.

Golestan Forest - Photo : wallpaperswide.com / Bing images search

There was a certain route through the desert-like landscape with Steppes pasture.  We observed  the tents of nomads with their livestock and camels grazing in the distance. We then  passed through BOJSUND, SHIRVAN and to  QUCHAN.

 

Nomad tents in the desert

We arrived MASHHAD at dusk, where we met  a carpet broker, who volunteered to take us to apply for visa for AFGHANISTAN  and escorted us to the car parking area far away from the center. We did not know what the real purpose and what he really wanted from us. Anyhow,  we did not park our campervan up there and intended to  drive back into town.  

 

Imam Reza shrine, Mashad - Photo : petra.ir / Google images search

He seemed to get  angry  and drove away with a lighter lending him for his cigarette. It  showed  us  insincerity and hypocrisy of  people (stranger) when he could not take advantage of us.

DAY 66 - MINU-DASHT

66) THURSDAY, 1 SEPTEMBER 1977 : 327KMS. - MINU-DASHT

We left  FEREYDUN KENAR, passing through  BABOLSAR, BABOL and kept on driving  along the Asian Highway I.  We passed  SORRI, BESHAFOR, GORGAN, SHAH PASAND and then turned to GONBAD QABUS.  

Gonbad Qabus - Photo : panoramio /Google images search

We stopped at a carpet shop and visited the city before continued on our way then on to downtown MINU-DASHT.

Minu-Dasht  - Photo : panoramio /Google images searchcaption

 

DAY 65 - FEREYDUN KENAR

65) WEDNESDAY, 31 AUGUST 1977 : 0KMS. - FEREYDUN KENAR ON THE BEACH

Sleeping almost all day  and preparing to move forward again tomorrow.

Caspian sea - Photo : panoramio / Google images search