Hi.

Welcome to our blog. We completed our Silk Road journey in June 2019 and are now planning a new adventure to Georgia in April 2022, after the international interlude, that was Covid. We were fortunate enough to escape untouched - to date. We hope that you too enjoy planning your own big journeys and find some inspiration here.  However, we also welcome those who just enjoy reading about these adventures, but at this point, plan to enjoy them from the comfort of home. Either way, we very much hope our tales are informative and which include the reality of everyday life on the road.

Iran 10 - Imam Reza shrine

On 24 April I visited the Imam Reza shrine in Mashad with Reza our guide.   Reza is a devout Muslim and the shrine is the holiest in Iran.

Like Thomas a Becket,  Imam Reza appears to have been murdered by a wicked king. 

The actual building around the shrine is very beautiful and apparently dates from 1100 AD.   The shrine is continuously being expanded and the  vast courtyard was full of people praying, men on one side, women on the other.

Imam Reza shrine courtyard

Imam Reza shrine courtyard

Friendly but firm crowd control measures were in place to move the crowd past the tomb.    There were people in western dress, people in Arab dress, Iraqui people and we even met  a man from the garage in Tehran.   Although it was off-peak (Tuesday) there were probably 100,000 people there, men and women in equal numbers.

Jim and Reza outside the shrine

Jim and Reza outside the shrine

The atmosphere was one of veneration, it was like watching pilgrims kiss the ground as they walk into the square at Compostela.

Our hotel had several pilgrims and a sign in reception read:  “We are friends in all around the world”.


IMG_1738.JPG

Sign in the Hotel

Uz2 - Bukhara - All the Presidents’ Men

Uz2 - Bukhara - All the Presidents’ Men

Tst 1 - Into Turkmenistan and Ashgabat