Hamedan

Amir's family has decided if we visit again, it has to be in spring or summer. I have to concur, as it was cold.  And Hamedan was the coldest!
One of Amir's uncles (mom's brother) lives in Hamedan.  He and his wife are lovely lovely people.  One of his sons is another one of the Amirs.
So Hamedan has TONS of history, but we didn't get to see a lot.  Wikipedia it it if you have a burning desire.  Again, could spend weeks there and not see everything I want.
We went to see the Ganjnameh inscriptions as well as a ski resort.  No one was at the resort.  I guess its a summer thing.  But it was a lovely view of the city.

Hamedan skyline.

Cold cold mountains.
Obviously not enough snow for skiing.

This is one of Amir's uncles construction projects.  It's an apartment building.  I wanted to show how things are built.

A construction close up. 

The Ganjnameh inscriptions.
I think its an odd place for inscriptions.  I guess its good to be the king.

By now you know I love me some signage.

Awesome park near the Ganjnameh inscriptions. 

The park was like an M.C Escher drawing.  It had different levels and steps and ramps and water and ice.  It must be gorgeous in the summer.

This water fall was just up from the inscriptions.  It gives you an idea of how cold it was.

I was worried Amir would slip and break something.
I shouldn't have worried; he is a sure footed mountain goat.

They had these odd hiker statues and benches made out of ...I'm guessing gravel or ash or something.  I hate to say it, but it reminded my of kitty litter.   (SNL Litter Critters)

Terraced fields are so terribly evocative.
This is the only picture I have, but they were all over.

Cousins

Amir and Amir

Somayeh and Sohrab came to Hamedan to visit too.

Amir, his uncle and aunt.  (I think it's Gahfoor and Mahri)

Aren't they sweet?

Brief Albuquerque Interlude

Amir and I live in, lets say, a lower lower middle class neighborhood.  Today we had eight cop cars, a swat team and a helicopter down the street.  Just a typical Friday really.  But I text-ed Amir to let him know.  (Not because he would worry, but so he wouldn't get stuck trying to get home.)  This is what he text-ed back: "Yeah there was a chihuahua off leash."  This right here is why I love this man!!

Something Fishy in Iran

Just so you know, I have not abandoned my blog.  I have been working extra shifts and am very tired.  This is nothing new.  My mother says ninety percent of the work in this world gets done by very tired women.  That's why my grandpa says there is no such thing as a bad nap :)  Some naps are better than others, of course. Isn't it the British royal family that says never miss an opportunity to sit down or go to the bathroom?  I would add, never miss and opportunity for a nap.  Seriously.
Do I have more Iran stories and pictures?  Of course I do!  Do you even need to ask?
We are going on to Mohsen's fish.  Don't ask me what kind of fish because I have no idea.  Fish for eating.  Does that help?  Mohsen has a small plot of land on a little river outside Kangavar.  On it he has little fish ponds. He buys the baby fish.  His workers feeds the fish. He then takes the fish and sells them.  (It's not that complicated people.)
There is a little hut where the workers sit.  It's one room.  Propane heat.  No bathroom.  But a T.V. and satellite.  I love it!!  No matter how humble, everyone has a T.V.
The workers made us delicious fresh fish for lunch.  Yummy.  Lots of bones though.

Sitting around the heater.
The TV is in the corner behind me.