What her future holds

Because everything we were hoping to see was closed for the anniversary of the death of Mohammed our guide decided to take us to view the Maharlu salt lake about 40 Km away. It covers 600 sq km and fills with river water in winter but was being excavated for salt at the moment. We stopped amid several tour buses of Chinese to take some photos then headed back to Shiraz to look at the shrine and tomb of Ali Ebn-e Hamze, a nephew if Shah Cheragh who died here. There were separate entrances for men and women. We were supplied with chadors. There was a bulbous Shirazi dome, dazzling Venetian mirrorcwork, stained glass windows and many gear tombstones around the courtyard. Families of the deserved paid a fortune to have them there.

Amir took us to a restaurant which was in what had been in the time of the Shah a hamam. There was a salad bar for me and the others had a pile of rice with layers of meat, aubergines and chips.

After lunch we went to the the mausoleum/shrine of Shah -e Cheragh. (King of the light) who was killed by the caliphate on this site in 835AD. It was a performance to get in. No cameras were allowed but phones where. Bags were searched and we had to wait for a guide then get our polyester chadors on. The courtyard was large with fountains in it. There was the blue dome, gold-topped minarets and many pious pilgrims visiting what is one of the holiest Shiite sites in Iran. In another corner is the mausoleum of two brothers of Mir Ahmad. I asked the guide the name of their mother - of course her name is not remembered - she is known as ‘mother of whoever’.

Today has been cool, cloudy and with a few spots of rain.