Alamut citadel

It has been a long day, leaving at 8am for about 2 hours across barren plains, passing power stations and industrial estates along the way. Then we turned off the main road and left our bus for a small minibus to take us up the twisting passes of the Valley of the Assassins. In the distance the mountains still had snow.

This can be seen at the top of the hill - a small white blob. It is on a dramatic crag rising above the cherry-growing village of Gazor Khan. It was a steep sweaty climb up steep steps for about half an hour. The whole site is propped up with metal rods and the archaeological workings are covered with unsightly corrugated sheeting. Amir, our guide, said it has been like this since the time of the Shah.

Then it was another 2.5 hours down the same rough zigzags. However the colours were stunning as the sun went down, casting lovely shadows on the ridges and making the distant hills pink.

We are now in Qazvin for one night. We ate at a very slow restaurant. The only veg food was lettuce and potato. I tried the non-alcoholic lemon beer which was horribly sweet so I’ll be happier to stick to water.

Unfortunately my phone in my pocket has been called #3 daughter who was worried as when she answered no one was there. Wonder what that bill will be. I can’t find how to turn the phone off from making calls and I’m using it for my photos.