What is in your cup?

[GeoffC]

green tea

[astra]

A cup of Chine tea. No idea what is it though.
On the side of the package it gives me brewing times for green, jasmine and oolong.
Which one I have?
I guess it is jasmine because of the smell but who knows?
TENFU.com written on the package.

[desertblues]

Ahmad tea in my cup and chai on the way. I like it both. No Iranian tea and we're in the province of Gilan that produces 90% of the tea in Iran.
Yesterday I walked the city of Bandar- e Anzali, known for it's wetlands with endangered birds. I walked a few hours, along the coast of the Caspian Sea: no people bathing as yet, but some very sturdy horses one could ride on. I don't expect the woman to swim much; all covered up. The Caspian Sea is world's largest lake. It's beaches are grey with lots of garbage.
This region is also known for its 'fresh climat' = lots of rain. People come over for the rain from the whole of Iran; they just love it.

I walked the city after that. It's safe, to walk as a woman alone, all covered up. Somehow I got the feeling that people were watching me, good- hearted, all the time. I talked freely to men and woman. For a male tourist it is not done to speak to a local woman, or photograph them without asking their husbands.
So, this veiled MReader has her freedom. I got some free tea from one and some free dried nuts from somebody else. Young people asked me if I was on facebook(no). And I tasted lovely, warm and fresly made 'klucheh fuman' ;
pastry filled with walnut paste and a sprinkle of cinnamon from Fuman.

I visited the fresh food market with these huge bowls of marinated garlic bulbs and brown fried fish. And I sauntered along the quays, with its tiny shops of all things connected to boating. It smelled rusty, oily and of garlic food for the ships. I saw small boats being made, sanded and painted. I loved the smell of those little shops.

Today we crossed the green Tales-mountains. Every 50 metres or so, along the road, families picknicked: pots and pans, huge bowls of salad, kebabs on small fires. Today is sunday for the muslim, so all relax a bit.

Astaba was the next stop; on the border with Azerbaijan. I saw Mongolian faces there and someone asked me if I was a Russian. Lots of shops with
synthetic bright coloured baby/children/men and woman's clothes.From Asia, Turkey, China....

Onwards to Ardabil, to the beautifyl mausoleum of Sheik Safi-od-Din, the great
dervish-Sufi mystic. His descendants ruled Persia for two centuries. It was
truly beautiful, on the outside Persian archtecture, lavishly decorated with blue tiles with birds and flowers. On the inside beautiful rugs (the originals in the
Victoria&Albertmuseum in London) and a collection of Chinese porcelain(the
originals in the Hermitage in Moskou). There are 6 fretwork grave boxes on
the inside. The mausoleum consists of several buildings, from 1334-17 th century. One feels the history of power in that building.

The region around Ardabil is known for its hotsprings and thermal mineralbaths that cure all known and unknown diseases.
BTW: I'll mention the bathrooms (W.C). I think it is called Turkeys toilets= a hole in a porcelain plateau. No toiletpaper and one has to wear either high
heels or boots, to keep it dry.

Bye all, tomorrow Tabriz.

[GeoffC]

....

[bjones6416]

Originally Posted by desertblues

Bye all, tomorrow Tabriz.

I love reading your travel reports!

[Latinandgreek]

Earl Grey tea. I am also eating a giant Kinder egg.

[astra]

It is good I don't understand anything.
I brewed my tea for 40 seconds only and its flavour is sooo powerful!
What do we drink here in the West? Leftovers of what Chinese don't drink?

If you click on the 4th tab at the top, it will take you to their range of teas.
translated

Tea pots they have...

[GeoffC]

Hot Ginger Drink ....

[astra]

A cup of Golden tip cooked Pu-Erh from Tea Smith

[obs20]

You should bring back some Iranian saffron.


Lager in my glass

[desertblues]

Just beginning to shop.....

[obs20]

Originally Posted by desertblues

Just beginning to shop.....

We bought some saffron in Spain a few years ago but I understand the Iranian variety is superior. Really beautiful with rice and vegetables.

[beppe]

Originally Posted by desertblues

Just beginning to shop.....

If you like, it buy it!
Otherwise later you will have a regret.
The money you spent, soon will be forgotten, but the sting of what you did not buy, that will keep stinging.

[desertblues]

Cold water

[beppe]

Originally Posted by desertblues

What do you mean by the use of that singular 'a' ? Perhaps I will have many regrets, so many beautiful things; I've seen quite a few nice oriental rugs and have already severalregrets

What a pleasure to see that you are enjoying your trip, nibbling something here, sipping something else there. La dolce vita
Under cover by veil and jacket you do not miss a beat.

You are even liking your tea ... Are you mellowing?
Should I call the assimilation team?