The University

I went to the University of Shahid Beheshti today and was able to buy four books which will be helpful to my research. One of the books is on rural architecture of Iran. The photographs are of poor quality, but the book itself is full of great information on the many different kinds of dwellings there are in Iran, from adobe to straw to tent. All these dwellings are based in "roustaas" or villages. I also found a good book on apprenticeship practices in Iran. The university was impressive. We drove through what remains of the village of Evin to get there. Evin village used to be on the outskirts of Alborz Mountains, but it is now part of greater Tehran. However, it was very good to see some aspects of the old village with the old homes and gardens (baaghs), trees, groves, and streams still intact. The little noonvaayis (traditional bakers) were still there, selling fresh bread. Yummy!

I was able to make contact with the gentleman at Miraseh Farhangi (department of preservation of antiquity) and will be meeting with him on Monday morning. He was very complimentary of my research topic and can give me contacts in Tabriz, Tehran, and Kashan. I'm sure he'll be able to give me a contact name at the Miraseh Farhangi in Yazd. We are going to Ghom tomorrow and then to Yazd on Monday evening. The flight, which only costs $50 round trip, is about an hour and 15 minutes long. We will be flying over the central deserts of Iran, the Dashteh Lout and Dashteh Kavir. It should be a nice view out the window.

Lily Afshar (hey you Iranzamini's, remember her?) called me today and she is coming over later. I will be taking her to my cousin Tous' house for dinner tonight. Lily might stay over with us for a day or two. She arrived yesterday and is giving workshops on guitar for three days. Then she goes off to Shomal (Caspian Sea region) where she has a house. She will be performing in Tehran during the first week in August.