Emam Khomeini Shrine - very impressive from outside, very bleak inside. Seems like enthusiasm for this (the largest monument in Iran) has wanned, and it may never be totally completed.

I talked with some Iraqi boys who are refugees, and some Afghan girls - also refugees. Lots of folks seem to camp out here.

Cemetery of the Martyrs (people who died in the Iran - Iraq war) Over 1 million of the 60 million Iranians died in the war.

Note the poster with Khomeini - I think he looks like Sean Connery - shave the beard and add a kilt ... see?

Fin Gardens in Kashan - a beautiful retreat from the the busy (?) streets outside. Gardens seem central to Iranian cities. A peaceful, green paradise in the desert. Always with pleasant running water, and gurgling sounds.

"Camel Throat (note: not Camel Ear, or Nose)" engineering results in the bubbling water

The "Group" in clockwise order from left Sally of Wales, Bruce from Boston, Anne (sans hubby James) from Yorkshire (wallis and grommet country), Andre - Canada, Alison of London, Mehran o' Tehran (a very good tour guide - not responsible for any mistakes I made on this web page, because I didn't always pay attention to him, because I was talking to local hooloos, instead of listening to him - my bad), Janice d'New York, Mette ala Danemark.

Kashan - a pleasant desert town. This is a wonderful restaurant with water (originating from the Qanats and flowing out of Fin Gardens down into town) flowing under the dinner tables and throughout the restaurant.

Here are 2 nice guys that shared tea and Qalyoun with me. We talked soccer and politics - big fans of Dubya. They caught up with me later at the hotel for a photo.

Icehouse - where water was collected and it froze in winter, was insulated with straw and would last through the hot summer.

I think this was called the House of Boroujerdi - an early 19th Century wealthy guys house.

Notice the Wind Catchers - these are designed to catch the slightest breeze and result in much cooler interiors of the desert structures. Also, there are pigeon towers (where pigeons poop and the "fertilizer" is collected)

The Agha Bozorg Madressa and Mosque in Kashan (note: much nicer than the Jom'e mosque!)

Some of the wonderfully nice, polite and curious folks. These Girls are studying English and showed me their study books.

A toilet stop. Mosques are good places to have a wash and a pee (among their other purposes)

At the hotel in Kashan, Cherie and Mandana (left). Very nice ladies - Cherie dubs foreign films into Farsi, and Mandana translates Persian poetry into english and french.

Beauties and the beast (right)