Kermanshah

So far all the places I've talked about have not been Amir's actual hometown.  So today, Kermanshah and Amir's childhood home.
Hey, awesome story, even Amir didn't know this.  Marzieh (Amir's mom) said he was a beautiful child.  And she thought he was so dear, she had his ear pierced.  I don't understand the connection between piercings and cuteness, but  he had a little gold ring in his left ear.  Like a little Persian pirate.  No she didn't have pictures!  I would soooooo have loved pictures.  I really need copies of all his mom's photos  Maybe next trip.

Persian meels.
Not my photo.  Found on Google.

Something else I learned about my sweet Amir.  He used to work out with these wood thingies called meels. (I think that's how you say it.) Apparently they're used in Iran and India  for weight lifting/ muscle building. He also had a little mustache he wore through high school and university.  And very stiff, very high hair.  Yeah.  He personified 80's awesomeness.  (Picture the movie 'House Party' and you'll get pretty close to Amir's look.)  So happy I met him in his mature years.

Amir in front of his gate. This totally looks like a 'first day of school photo'.
Am I right?

Amir's high school.

Mahmood (Amir's dad) in front of his shop.  Which is right next to the house.
His dad is a welder.  He made the rocking cradle in the foreground.
Wish I could have brought one home.

Mahmood's shop.
The cages hanging from the ceiling all have canaries in them. And yes they sing.

The front hall of Amir's house.  As you can see, breakfast is being set out.  We ended up moving into the room  to the left to sit in front of the heater.  It was a wee bit chilly in the mornings.

Leila coming out of the kitchen.

The kitchen.  Notice the washing machine in the corner.  Almost every house we visited had the clothes washer in the kitchen.  I think it's rather convenient.
No dryers though.  Stuff hangs on a line outside or a rack inside.

The one and only bedroom.  I asked Amir where he slept.  He said on carpets in front of the heater.

Had to get a picture of this.  I thought it was powdered sugar.  Nope, it's milk- in a plastic bag.  I guess the cow should have given me a clue.  But the orange juice comes in a carton.  Go figure.