North

Mohsen's wife Fatimeh is from the north; close to the Caspian Sea.  It was so warm and beautiful.  Sadly we didn't get to the actual beach until after sundown, which means no pics.  We saw night fishermen but that wasn't photo worthy.  Amir did have a seashell at one time...but it got lost somewhere.  I guess technically it's a big lake shell.
The city where Fatimeh's family lives has citrus trees all along the streets.  But they said people don't pick them. The fruit ends up falling and rotting and the city has to clean it up.  Are you kidding me?  I would be all over that.
On the drive there we crossed over mountain ranges covered with snow.  Amir says people do ski.  We saw some sledding too.  Sadly, we did not stop to participate.
It was exhausting doing so much driving, but it was nice to see so much of Iran.  It really is a big country.  I could spend months there and not see everything I want to see. <<sigh>>  Some day.

We stopped at a rest area that had this old Christian church.  (Yeah. Still there.)
It's probably Latin under the cross, but I can't figure out what it means.

Train tracks built into the mountain.
Are you totally feeling the epic ambiance?

Cuties in the mountains.

Fatimeh and Mohsen.

Citrus trees on the streets.  

Palm trees in Iran.  Awesome!

Angry birds are EVERYWHERE!!
They really are a world-wide phenomenon.

Amir playing at the Caspian Sea.
(The water is behind him, you just can't see it.)

Fatimeh's mom and brothers.
(We stayed at her sister's house outside of Tehran, but I didn't get  pictures.)

Pretty snowy mountains.

Kabobs

Sohrab's skewers didn't have handles, but you get the idea.
Picture is from mypersiankitchen.com

As some of you may have experienced, Amir makes delicious barbecue. Sohrab (Somayeh's husband) also makes delectable kabob. He made us kabob with barbecue swords like Amir.  Well, I call them swords because they are very wide and look like the could impale any type of meat.  And Sohrab has the coolest container for his swords; it's like a metal pipe with detachable lid and handle.  That's really the only way to describe it.  Amir wants to make a holder out of PVC pipe now.  Of course Amir had to purchase more swords and bring them home.  I was a little worried about customs, but they made it through ok.

I love how the grill is the perfect shape for the skewers.

Such excellent helpers.  Its funny how in every country, when the barbecue starts,
the men all end up outside around the grill.

Somayeh also took me to visit one of her friends who owns a beauty salon.  I'm sorry I don't have pictures.  But it was an interesting experience in that it was a women only establishment.  It had paint on the windows and a dark curtain over the door.  Amir and Sohrab could not come in; even though there were no customers.  I also went to visit a gym with Leila and the same rules applied.  The gym had time for men and time for women, and during the women's time, no men are allowed.  I kinda liked it.

More Kangavar

Amir's sister Somayeh and her husband Sohrab live in Kangavar.  It's a city between Tuyserkhan and Kermanshah.  Amir's mom's sister also lives there.  The video is her house.

Fatimeh and Nemah.
Fatimeh and Mohsen brought potato chips. They are definitely the favorite cousins.

Amir and his Aunt Sakineh.

Farzaneh and Farhad.

A cute little Amir.

Nemah, Amir and Amir.

A deck of cards are a great way to break the language barrier.  I taught everyone Slap Jack and Go Fish.  Fatimeh is very fast.  Mohsen is a wee bit competitive and he likes to cheat.  Nemah is a bit of a card shark. But the video shows the basics.  I liked it simply because I know the numbers in Farsi and could actually communicate.  Yey!  Mohsen also wanted to play trumps.  Nemah and I were partners, and I was doing just fine, thank you very much.  But Amir said I did not know how to play.  So he took over.  (Amir is a wee bit competitive too.  Must run in the family)   

Grandma and Grandpa Garner gave us Monopoly for Christmas.  It arrived the day before we left, so Amir said, let's bring it with us.  I thought that was an odd idea, but why not?  Amir's family caught onto the nuances of the game very quickly.  I wish I had taken a video of the haggling and negotiating.  It was amazing!! Nemah and Farhad stayed very late and played with us.  Mohsen said on the way home Nemah fell asleep and was saying "I want to sell.  I want to buy," in his sleep.  

I think a deck of playing cards will now travel with me wherever I go.  That and UNO.  That's another good game.  I know colors in Farsi too.

More Kermanshah

Video of Mahmood's house. These are Amir's aunts and uncles on his dad's side.  (The ladies are all Amir's dad's sisters.  I hope that's clear.)  And the younger girl is his dad's neighbor's daughter.  (Again, it's as clear as I can make it.) Their neighbors are lovely, by the way. They washed clothes for us and let us use their facilities.  So much awesomeness.
I'm sure everyone has romantic notions of bazaars in foreign countries; back alleys, dark rooms, smoke hazy in the air.  Yeah no.  Most shopping is done in street front stores and stalls.  But in Kermanshah they do have an old bazaar.  And it was all the middle eastern cliche you could ever want.  I only have one picture.  (I hang my head in shame.)

Eat your heart out.  It was really this cool.

We also went to visit a great uncle   I think it was a great uncle.  He has a touch of dementia and he was the cutest thing ever in the universe!  His wife was this tiny little spitfire.  The uncle kept forgetting our names and telling funny jokes.  There was much, much laughter.

Aren't they adorable?

More lovely people below.  The mom reminded me so much of my aunt Julie.  The daughter spoke English; very helpful.   [I also think she needs to meet my youngest brother. ;) ]  I wish we could have spent more time.  So many delightful people and not enough time.

Awesome people.