Khandaq

Life works different in desert towns like Yazd and it did not only happen once that somebody went out to buy some staff and returned with empty hands. The city literally falls asleep in the afternoon while temperatures usually reach unthinkable highs. The roller shutters come off, people disappear (you'll mainly see tourists wondering what's going on) and traffic comes to a halt. If you go back out a few hours after dark, it is surprising how feasty and vivid it is then - like nothing had happened in the afternoon. Everyday's life takes place in the mornings and nights.

Although we've smacked our way through Iran quite well during the last weeks, there is still so much food to discover: Sesame paste mixed with grape syrup on bread has become a fancied, energy-rich cyclists breakfast for us and we finally learnt what to use saffron for, how it looks like before and after cooking and how it should taste. The endless variety of pastry betrays us to stop at the bakeries again and again. We can smell them far in advance... Not to forget the ubiquity of fresh, juicy fruits and vegetables, nuts and dried fruits, food is our fuel!

It has been the first time we stayed in a hostel in Iran and would definitely not be the last time. There were 10 fellow cyclists and we loved to hang out in the cosy courtyard, shared fruits, drank liters of tea and coffee and plundered the breakfast buffet together :)

The cityscape is characterized by narrow alleys between low houses typically built of ochre mud. Wind catchers and minarets rise above and several roof terraces offer great views over the roofscape and at the surrounding mountains. Some Zoroastrian architecture is remaining and so does a fire temple contain a holy fire which is kept burning since almost 1000 years. Don't expect an overwhelming fire, a visit of the temple is more about a glimpse at Zoroastrian history.Read more