Persian feast

Wonderful dinner - the dips are smoked aubergine, hummus, and a raita-like yoghurt and cucumber dip topped with dried mint and dried rose petal powder. The main dishes are ghorme sabzi (halloumi, red beans and dried limes) and fesenjan (mushrooms pomegranate and walnuts), both with saffron rice.

Strolled back to the hotel along the esplanade, under a full moon. We may be 4.5 degrees off the true tropics here but the air smells tropical - full of exotic fruit and heady flowers.Read more