Shiraz: A stay at a traditional Persian Hotel

A Stay at a Traditional Persian Hotel

During my journey around Iran, I was lucky to stay at traditional Persian style hotels and not the usual could be anywhere look hotel. The traditional Persian hotels usually had a court yard with huge couches which have a carpet to soften the board one sits on, and some big pillows are around the couch. There is usually a reflecting pool in the centre of the court yard and at times some trees or plants scattered around. This hotel had hooka pipe service and also an intimate hang out on the roof top which also had hooka pipe service. Breakfast and dinner were served in the courtyard area.

Our rooms were located at the edge of the court yard and each room had a character of it's own and the size of each room differed as well. In this hotel, the names of the rooms were from people in the Bible ( or Koran?)

The hotel was hidden in long dark narrow alleyways which winded and suggested a feeling of "Aladdin's Magical Kingdom" feel to it.

This was my room, which was at the edge of the court yard. The lock was above the door and it lead to a unique style room.

One of the exotic doors I found along the winding alley ways going to the hotel

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SHIRAZ: Wandering through Shiraz Bazaar

Wandering through Shiraz's Rouhollah Bazaar

Bazaars in Iran and "Souqs" in the Arab world are always fun to wander through. They've existed throughout the ages and tell a story about the history and culture in their particular city or region. They are like a mirror of the local society they are in as local society patronises them every day. 

As times and needs change so do many of the items being sold change, but some items being traded are timeless and still are traded the same way, making one feel like they had stepped back into time.

The colours and scents are incredible! 

I felt this bazaar to have a more laid back feel to it and not as crowded. I enjoy that feel. While others with me were scouting out that perfect Persian carpet, I wandered through the spice area and brought back a fragrant spice mix for fish which I will enjoy back home. A taste and scent of Shiraz spice area will be in my kitchen each time I use the package I got!  
I also got some of the purple flower tea which is in the photo above.
If I had the opportunity to stay longer here in Shiraz I would definitely try to be a regular patron, not always to buy but to watch people as there were many handsome guys who either worked or also patronised this bazaar. It was fun to exchange flirty smiles, as well as shake hands with the bazaar merchants while visiting their area. Relationships are very important when making any kind of deal in this part of the world.

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