Many Rivers, One Sea

9 November 2014

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One day as I returned from lunch through our lobby, a spacious area bathed in Silicon Valley sunlight, three men wearing the blue lab smocks of engineers jumped up from their seats and tackled me with a chorus of questions. Erfan, a Syrian with a trimmed, graying beard, said, “Mariam, we were just arguing about […]

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Boxes From Isfahan

16 November 2009

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Boxes From Isfahan

I think the handicrafts and sweets in Isfahan beat all other cities in Iran. They do amazing wood inlaid work as seen in this photo. It is called, khatem kari. I bought several small and a few large boxes as gifts. We went to the small shops to watch how they make these boxes from […]

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Isfahan – Nesf e Jahan

15 November 2009

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Isfahan – Nesf e Jahan

Next stop in Iran: Isfahan – also known as ‘Nesf e Jahan’ or ‘Half of the World.’ It is a beautiful city filled with parks, canals, and plenty of historical sites. Here is a photo of the Naqsh e Jahan Square (Maidaan e Naqsh e Jahan) which means, ‘Image of the World Square.’ It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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Off To Isfahan

15 November 2009

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Off To Isfahan

The initial plan was to stay in Mashhad for three weeks and then visit some other cities in Iran. However, the second day I was here, two of Gorgan’s friends who were to visit from the USA that week on business, called to say, they have to delay their trip by three weeks. If Gorgan […]

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Aab Gosht Soup

14 November 2009

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Aab Gosht Soup

Aab Gosht soup – literally translated it means ‘water meat.’ This dish is a delicious blend of tomato, spices, meat, and bread. Before your start, you must cut the bread into small pieces and put it into the soup. Bread and soup merge and melt in your mouth. Some people mash the bread and meat into […]

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First Night In Mashhad

13 November 2009

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First Night In Mashhad

Besides the bouquet of flowers, Gorgan had bought me a large box of Iranian pastries. The minute we got to his home, he put the tea kettle on and set the table. I opened the box of pastries and ate one crispy, soft, creamy, not too sweet, absolutely delicious creation which left me craving for more. […]

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