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Life in Isfahan

Historical Isfahan

Life in Isfahan defines it’s own pace with hand in hand with city’s history. Isfahan city is around 420 km south of Tehran, this city has enjoyed almost 700 years of glory and fortune. Isfahan was a very important city on the ancient Silk Route and it enjoyed the wealth and the different products from all over the world. 
In 1047 the Seljuks made Esfahan their capital and during the next 180 years it was a golden period in the history of this city. Seljuks went to add and adorn with the magnificently geometric style of architecture, several prominent parts of which remain even today. The Mongols invasion of Iran in the 13th century put an end to that, and it wasn’t until the glorious reign of the Safavid Shah Abbas I in 1587 that changed the fortune of this city once more.

Life in 21st century Isfahan

Close to Hasht Behesht Gardens, buses were parked at the Bagh-e-Goldaste Street and this is where buses go to different parts of the city. Next to that area the Isfahan Municipality building stands and it has well manicured garden beside it. The road in front of the Isfahan Municipality building seems to be busy all the time with people and traffic. 

I had hard time exchanging my money into local currency. I went to several banks to exchange but none of them could change then one cashier told me that I needed to go to National Bank of Iran. I went inside the bank to exchange money but they couldn’t accept Euros due to the American sanctions. 
Sepah Street starts from the Naqsh-e Jahan Square and it has and it has many craftsmen shops and Isfahan in general is a heaven for antique hunters or someone who would like to have traditional handicrafts. In the morning, Iranians go to their bread making shops (bakeries) because most of the Iranians buy their bread from these shops rather than making their own at home. 

Coat of arms of Isfahan city
Coat of arms of Isfahan city
Buses parked at the Bagh-e-Goldaste Street
Buses parked at the Bagh-e-Goldaste Street
The Isfahan Municipality building can be seen in the background with the pot laden with flowers in the middle of winter
An area beside the Isfahan Municipality building
A road in front of the Isfahan Municipality building
A street in front of the Melli Bank Iran (National Bank of Iran)
A small shop where one could rent a bicycle to see the city on two wheels
A small shop where one could rent a bicycle to see the city on two wheels
Here Sepah Street ends at the Naqsh-e Jahan Square
Here Sepah Street ends at the Naqsh-e Jahan Square
I was surprised to see how many bags were loaded at the top of this car but even inside was full
I was surprised to see how many bags were loaded at the top of this car but even inside was full
A craftsman working outside his shop at the Sepah Street
A craftsman working outside his shop at the Sepah Street
Isfahan is a heaven for antique hunter
Isfahan is a heaven for antique hunter
Colourful and beautifully designed Persian tiles on display outside a shop
Colourful and beautifully designed Persian tiles on display outside a shop
Two ladies walking inside the Grand Bazaar of Isfahan
Two ladies walking inside the Grand Bazaar of Isfahan
A florist is working outside his shop on a footpath
A florist is working outside his shop on a footpath
An unorganised carpenter's workshop on the main street
An unorganised carpenter's workshop on the main street

Busy Isfahan

When I passed on this stretch of the road, close to Majlesi Street, I could hear a bird making very loud noise among the busy traffic. It turned out that that it was communicating to these birds, which were few meters away in their cages. An area next to the Imam Ali Square and Jame Isfahan Mosque has the Grand Bazaar Isfahan. This area used to be the centre of old Isfahan and still it is busy with the locals.

This bank was open while workers were carrying out some renovation work inside
This bank was open while workers were carrying out some renovation work inside
A busy morning at a bakery
A busy morning at a bakery
Local bread for sale at another shop but it wasn't busy as compared to other one
Local bread for sale at another shop but it wasn't busy as compared to other one
A furniture making factory with lots of open space in it's yard
A furniture making factory with lots of open space in it's yard
A fruit & vegetable shop - it was amazing to see the fresh quality of the produce
Shop keepers are having fun at the Majlesi Street, close to the Imam Ali Square
A bakery selling yummy looking sweets and cakes
A bakery selling yummy looking sweets and cakes
Spices on display at the front of a shop
Spices on display at the front of a shop
Maybe, centuries earlier, traders displayed their products the same way as today
Maybe, centuries earlier, traders displayed their products the same way as today
This small bird was making lots of noise
This small bird was making lots of noise
It turns out that it was communicating to these birds, which were few meters away
It turns out that it was communicating to these birds, which were few meters away
An underpass at the Majlesi Street
An underpass at the Majlesi Street
An open Area next to the Imam Ali Square
An open Area next to the Imam Ali Square
Grand Bazaar of Isfahan with the Dome of Taj al-Molk in the background
Grand Bazaar of Isfahan with the Dome of Taj al-Molk in the background
A local woman is buying vegetables at a shop
A local woman is buying vegetables at a shop

 

Two guys were sitting in front of a fruit shop and one of the main products they were selling was watermelon and Isfahan is known for its’ delicious watermelons. Both of them looked very happy when I took their photo. 
In two evenings, I went to the Zayandeh River and I passed beside this sign where Palestine & Junction were misspelt. Ferdowsi Street is locally known as Khayaban-e Ferdowsi and it starts from the Palestine Junctions (clos to the bus station) and goes all the way to the Zayandeh River.

 

A remote control repair shop or maybe a sale shop for the second hand remote controls
A remote control repair shop or maybe a sale shop for the second hand remote controls
This area was surrounded by the old buildings which point to the fact that this was the part of old Isfahan
This area was surrounded by the old buildings which point to the fact that this was the part of old Isfahan
A makeshift car park beside the crumbling ruins
A makeshift car park beside the crumbling ruins
A central fountain in the Kamal Park
A central fountain in the Kamal Park
This park offers an open air exercise services to the locals
This park offers an open air exercise services to the locals
A sculpture is created with the help of plants and it resembles to a pea-hen
A bread making shop at the Kocha Minar Sarban
A bread making shop at the Kocha Minar Sarban
A house has displayed some of it's religious artifacts
A house has displayed some of it's religious artifacts
Two guys sitting in front of a fruit shop
Two guys sitting in front of a fruit shop
Both guys look very happy - life in Isfahan in full swing
Both guys look very happy - life in Isfahan in full swing
This street was full of dry fruit shops ( I can't remember the name though)
This street was full of dry fruit shops ( I can't remember the name though)
Palestine & Junction are misspelt
Palestine & Junction are misspelt
A shop selling safes at Ferdowsi Street
A shop selling safes at Ferdowsi Street
Ferdowsi Street starts from the Palestine Junctions (close to the bus station)
Ferdowsi Street starts from the Palestine Junctions (close to the bus station)
From outside, it looks like an apartment building but it houses shops on some of it's floors
From outside, it looks like an apartment building but it houses shops on some of it's floors

Evening in Isfahan

Two police bicycles parked at the banks of the river and I took the photo of the bicycles and it almost landed me in trouble. One of the policemen came over to me and said something in Farsi. More like, why are you talking photos. After exchanging his Persian sentences with my English (language barrier) he gave up and went away to his colleague. 
In the evening, Isfahani tend to come to Zayandeh River which offers a lifeline and a pleasant experience for city folks. Banks can get busy with people either walking or just sitting on side and chilling or visiting one of many bridges over the river.

A shop selling different types of lighting
Traffic at the Kamal Esmaeel Street approaching the junction of Ferdowsi Street
An organised mahem at the junction of the two streets, on the river banks
Two police bicycles parked at the banks of the river
Two police bicycles parked at the banks of the river
A sculpture on the banks of the River Zayandeh with one of it's bridges in the background
A local enjoying his smoke at the banks of the river
A local enjoying his smoke at the banks of the river
Three girls walking on the banks of the river with the Khaju Bridge in the background
Three girls walking on the banks of the river with the Khaju Bridge in the background
Isfahani people enjoying their picnic beside the river banks
Isfahani people enjoying their picnic beside the river banks
A children's playing area, on the river bank
A children's playing area, on the river bank
Locals flock to this part of Isfahan in evening to enjoy fresh breeze
Locals flock to this part of Isfahan in evening to enjoy fresh breeze
I saw these two guys playing table tennis while walking on the river banks
I saw these two guys playing table tennis while walking on the river banks
On my way back to hotel, Ferdowsi Street was lit with the lights
On my way back to hotel, Ferdowsi Street was lit with the lights
Apple's phone store on Ferdowsi Street and phones were placed inside beautiful cases
Apple's phone store on Ferdowsi Street and phones were placed inside beautiful cases
A fresh juice shop on the street
A shop selling fresh juice
Plaestine Junction at night, this is where I take right turn to go to the hotel
Following morning, I was standing beside this shop and waiting for taxi to bring me to the bus station
Following morning, I was standing beside this shop and waiting for taxi to bring me to the bus station