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.