A short trip to Isfahan

3/18/04 By Syma Sayyah, Tehran

One of the interesting things that has happened since I went back to work in January is the fact that I now travel more often. Just in the last few months, I have traveled outside Tehran more than I had done in a few years. These are business related trips, and like all business trips they are short. We mostly fly from Tehran to the airport nearest to the destination and then from there we take a short or long ride with the car as well.

A couple of weeks ago I went to Isfahan with three colleagues to attend the burial of a very dear and long standing friend and business associate who passed away young after having a heart attack in his late forties. This time as we could not find plane tickets for four of us on short notice, we decided to go by car, which has it own good points, even though it may take longer to get there. The good things about such times are that one discovers new things and places.

We had just passed the main square in Qom on our way to Isfahan, outside of Qom. It was long past lunchtime, and at the suggestion of one my colleagues who has good reputation in finding good places to eat, we stopped at this very clean and efficient restaurant called Nasser.

The food was excellent, the service was speedy yet gentle and the staff were very polite, and above all the prices were so reasonable. My friend gave us a tip and told us that we should never stop where the Buses stop to eat, but rather where the big lorries stop. These drivers know fully well where they serve good food anywhere, and this is more or less universal!

I liked the place, the atmosphere, and above all cleanliness so much that I asked permission to take some pictures inside the kitchen as well as the main saloon where one of the managers was sitting.

I have a few pictures from the restaurant as well as some form the road near Isfahan and the city itself, and from the view from my hotel room there.