B A L C O N Y

R A S H T

- M A S U L E H - T A L E S H

FOR A CHANGE Faceing the fuel shortage, me & two collegues joined our fuel reserve for a 2 days trip to Gilan, NW Iran. In the occasion of the emam ALI’ birthday, we drove to the unseen forrests of the caspian sea shores

ASTARA ARDABIL KHIVI

ASSALEM

KHALKHAL

BANDAR ANZALI

MASULEH RUDKAN

RASHT

LAHIJAN RAMSAR

LOSHAN QAZVIN ABYEK

TEHRAN

QOM

KASHAN

SEMNAN

ROAD QAZVIN-RASHT The dam lake of Manjil (near Loshan)

PATH TO THE LAGUNA OF BANDAR ANZALI (CASPIAN SEA SHORE)

ETHNOGRAPHICAL HERITAGE MUSEUM OG GILAN (SOUTH OUTSKIRTS OF RASHT)

AT LEAST THE SEA Access Way to this dusty beach near Bandar Anzali is bumpy. Families erect tents for picnic and comfort of the spouses, so that they can remove hijab . Shore Landscapes are deceiving.–

TALESH MOUNTAINS AS SEEN FROM BANDAR ANZALI (CASPIAN SEA SHORE)

“Khalyun” Narghileh restaurant near RAMSAR .

SHRINE OF SHEIKH ZAYN (LAHIJAN, ARCHIVE PHOTO) This Khalwati sufi was the founder of the safavi dynasty

RAINFALL RECORD BREAKERS Gilan is famous for rainy wheather. Their villages are greenest of Iran, most coastal plains are very swampy. Croppers of the Talesh mountains used to grow there fruits, olives and rice. The village of Masuleh is a landmark and an icon of the rural way of life.

RASHT, GILAN Province, caspian seashore – is a rainy and rural province of northern Iran

Gilan is a rainy province (rice croppers). Local life is much influenced by the turkish / azeri culture.

MASOULEH (GILAN ) the most picturesque village in Iran… an unforgettable visit.

MASOULEH (GILAN )

(source Giroud @ http://www.ontheroad-again.com

Every house carry each other….

MASOULEH (GILAN )

(source Giroud @ http://www.ontheroad-again.com

MASOULEH (GILAN ) (source Giroud @ http://www.ontheroad-again.com

MASOULEH the baker in action….

Each detail reminds the past rural way of life.

RUDKAN (GILAN)

GHALEH RUDKAN MEDIEVAL CASTLE ( GILAN ) –

GHALEH RUDKAN HILL This is an isolated castle situated on the hilltop of Rudkan village, about 40km away from the caspian sea. The hill is a wildlife park, very foggy and very green, thanks to the rainy weather of Gilan coast.

CLOUD - SCRAPPER The hardly accessible castle is laying along a sharp crest. A dozen os small towers is laying over an astoundingly flourishing natural site. The path is cloudy and rainy, so that moisture & ferns are growing all over wallstones.

ASALEM-KHALKHAL ROAD (TALESH, GILAN ) Possibly the most beautiful forrest in Iran

ASALEM-KHALKHAL ROAD (TALESH, GILAN )

ASALEM-KHALKHAL ROAD (TALESH, GILAN ) Hinterland mountains are less humid. Here many deported kurds have been settling and cattling from 17th century.

THE-TALESHI-KILIM-SHOP- IN-THE- WOODS

RASHT, GILAN Twelvers celebrate devoutly the birthday of emam ALI. Mollah while preaching.–

“ALI , ALI , ALI… ” In this small public Hall (suburb of Rasht, Gilan), about 200 twelvers were attempting the frenetic dance of the ALI’s followers. A Nohekhan echoes the metal drumbeat with a sweet praise. Hammered chorus sound somewhat like the sufi zekr breath technics. Some dancers seem entering a transe. The Birth of ALI is the sole joyful celebration of the shiite imamology, and this is the occasion of this pious liess. The occasion was as interesting as unexpected !

DJEM ? Entering in transe. The scene evokes the Djem ( Alevi, Ahl e Haqq)