Dowlat Abad Garden, Yazd, Iran

(Ironically, I lost my watch last week somewhere in Iran, shortly after the last post.)

In middle of Yazd, a city sorrounded by the desert lies Dowlat Abad Garden, with one of the highest windtowers in the world. A windtower, called „bagdir“, redirects wind into the buildings, where it cools both air and water. The water comes through an underground channel, called a „qanat“ from the mountains, to the city and the garden.

Those two structures, qanats for water transportation and bagdirs for cooling can be found all over Yazd’s well preserved old city.

In the morning in Yazd I went for a walk in the desert with Hosein, who I first met in Teheran, where, right after getting off the bus from Armenia he asked me if I needed help. Soon helping me get a local sim card turned into eating together, him driving me around town showing me some of the most beautiful spots and the best views over the city, letting me stay at his place and meeting again in Yazd.

Iran, what a country!

I spent 8 days in 7 cities, covering a distance of more than 3000 km. It’s an incredible country, wide deserted landscapes, with cities that are rich in colors, the smell of spices and food that can’t be found in europe.

Nowhere else have I met people that are as helpfull, friendly and hospitable as here.

But many Iranians are frustrated with the political situation, the inflation, the inability to travel, the restrictive laws and almost every young person is looking for a way out, a possibility to leave this country that feels so hopeless to them.

At the same time they are rightfully proud of the beauty of their country and are understandably frustrated about the deeply inaccurate image the rest of the world seems to have of Iran.

Like everyone else who visited Iran, I’m glad I came to see its beauty and to experience the friendliness of its people.