Sunday Selections #245

Sunday Selections was originally brought to us by Kim, of Frogpondsrock, as an ongoing meme where participants could post previously unused photos languishing in their files.
 
The meme is now continued by River at Drifting through life.  The rules are so simple as to be almost non-existent.  Post some photos under the title Sunday Selections and link back to River.  Clicking on any of the photos will make them embiggen.
 
Like River I usually run with a theme.  This week, and probably while the skinny one is on holidays I am going to run with a 'home and away' theme.  My photos from home, and the ones he shares with me from away.  Iran again this week, though he is heading to Russia sometime next week.

Starting with home.  And staying in the garden.

I adore this blossom tree, and wait for it every year.

One of many freesias.

Love these 'different daisies'.  I have planted a pink one too.

A different type of grevillea

Looking up the garden towards the back deck and door.

We had some rain (and hail) on Friday - and the cherry blossom is forming a confetti carpet.

And now to much more exotic photos.

The framework apparently is a representation of the tomb of a famous Persian person from antiquity and is carried in a procession each year in the town of Yazd.  The hotel he stayed at there can be found here.

The last three were taken at Persepolis.  The earliest remains found there apparently date back to 515BCE.

The last two were taken at Shiraz.  Beautiful aren't they?

Contact with him is still difficult and sporadic, but he seems to be having a wonderful time.

Sunday Selections #244

Sunday Selections was originally brought to us by Kim, of Frogpondsrock, as an ongoing meme where participants could post previously unused photos languishing in their files.
 
The meme is now continued by River at Drifting through life.  The rules are so simple as to be almost non-existent.  Post some photos under the title Sunday Selections and link back to River.  Clicking on any of the photos will make them embiggen.
 
Like River I usually run with a theme. This week?  I am cheating a bit.

These aren't my photos.  They are ones from the smaller's portions holiday.  Before he left he purchased a global roaming SIM card.  We tested it.  It worked.  In Iran it doesn't.  He can send and receive texts.  No phone calls.

So far he is enjoying himself immensely.  On his first day in Mashad he was sitting at a 'bench looking at my map to see where I was and met a retired artist and his friend.  Had an interesting chat about Iran, they ended up giving me some nice dates and then showed me where the hotel was.  Typical Iranian hospitality'.

I doubt that a foreigner in Australia could expect such kindness. 

The first two photos are from Mashad,

He then moved on to Isfahan.

 Sorry I can't give you any details.  I am a bit surprised at the statues though - not what I expected at all.

This next one came with the notation:  'The river was dry'.  Very dry.

My final photo for the day is completely off topic.  Andrew had a post yesterday where he discussed gooniebags - the bladder from within wine casks.  I mentioned that we have a statue in town which has been given that name, and he asked to see a photo. 

I have seen people blow up the bladder and use them as pillows too.