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Troy Nahumko is an award-winning author based in Caceres, Spain. His recent work focuses on travels around the Mediterranean, from Tangier to Istanbul. As a writer and photographer he has contributed to newspapers and media such as Lonely Planet, The Globe and Mail, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Toronto Star, Counterpunch,The Irish World, The Straits Times, The Calgary Herald, Khaleej Times, DW-World, Rabble and El Pais. He also writes a bi-weekly op-ed column 'Camino a Ítaca' for the Spanish newspaper HOY. His book, Stories Left in Stone, Trails and Traces in Cáceres, Spain is published by the University of Alberta Press. As an ESL materials writer he has worked with publishers such as Macmillan and CUP.

Thursday, April 10, 2014

Hidden Hookahs in Isfahan, Iran


Call it hookah, sheesha, round these parts qaylan, but this is the way to meet and greet in Isfahan (Esfahan). Just above the entrance to the bazaar, climb up the incredibly steep stairs to the Qeysaieh Tea Shop. From this open air teahouse enjoy some orange flavored tobacco and get a magnificent view of the city that the 16th-century French poet Renier quipped about being "half the world." The world's second largest square unfolds below, Shah Abbas the Great's Islamic answer to St. Peter's square in Rome. Share a peace pipe with inquisitive Iranians as the sun sets and the beautiful buildings change colors, then watch below as the locals practice what might be called the national pastime, picnicking.

#architecture #view #picnic #sunset #getaway #muslimarchitecture #teahouse #islam #bazaar #hookah #relaxing #square #smoking #tobacco #poet #giant #tea #teahouse #sheesha #nargile #iran #qaylan #renier #frenchpoet #halftheworld

Originally published on Trazzler

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