Shrines, museums, bowls and bones

Summer palace was shut as some official function was going on so we went instead to the nearby Tajrish Bazaar. Lovely dried fruits, spices in pretty shapes, dried flowers for remedies, plus watches and thecudusl bazaar products. We have gave money to a children charity but it might not have been much as we are confused by all the zeros. A million rials is about $8US.

But first it wasthe imamzedeh saleh shrine. We could only go in the one for our own gender but first the women had to borrow chadors. The interior side was all mirrors mirrors. Many young women were in shrine praying and kissing the shrine.

Outside we saw a Shrine to the Iranian nuclear scientist killed by Israelis which is the blip.

Next was Reza abbasi Museum with its large collection of Persian art, pots on 3 floors. Some Kufi the very oldest calligraphy. Stunning tiny intricate paintings in books.

Had an hour then off to National Museum to see history of Persia from 4000bc, all the different periods from Bronze Age. After an hour we had lunch in a cafe behind museum. I had a huge Greek salad and Mr C a mince kebab. With coffee it cost About $10 for both of us.

Then on the bus for the Jewellery museum held in the Central Bank vaults. It held the Iranian Crown Jewels - it was very dark. We had a lot of security to go through and no bags, cameras etc were allowed. We got a guide to zoom us round. We could look at what we wanted, only what we were shown. We saw
- Globe of jewels covered in 51000 gems with emeralds for the sea then land mainly rubies and spinels with diamonds for Iran France and UK and sapphires for some of Africa. No Australia on the map from 2 centuries ago. 34 Kg in weight!
- Peacock Throne early 19century. A day bed really.
- Darya-I-Nur or sea of light is the largest pink diamond in the world. The had the the other Nur but the Brits pinched it and it’s in our crown jewel collection
- Some small gold hollow cube shapes like large rings studded with rubies and diamonds. I asked about it and he said they put them on horses teeth!
- Tiny pearls sewn together to make tassels for curtains.
- Gorgeous pale blue turquoise and ruby
water section of a Nargike 1860ish. -
- - - enamelled decanter end 18th
. -Ostrich egg shell carved Beautifully- imagine getting to the last bit and breaking it!

Too much to take in really. 3 very different museums. Only 6000 steps but it felt like more.