Today has been the best day so far, waking up to birds chirping in the garden outside my bedroom balcony. Looking out onto the court yard garden, enjoying my fruit and coffee for breakfast, I really felt excited for hat this beautiful day might bring. What a lovely way to start the day seeing nature at its best. We met our guide down in the lobby and headed out into the stunning city. Driving past beautiful bridges, lots of trees arching the roads, sun beaming, we ventured our way to a place called Naghshe Jahan Square. I had seen this place on documentaries but seeing it in real life was breathtaking. In 1598, when Shah Abbas decided to move the capital of his empire from the north-western city of Qazvin to the central city of Isfahan, he initiated what would become one of the greatest programmes in Persian history. The complete remaking of the city.

As we were walking around the square we came across school girls with their cameras, all wanting to take photos with us. They were giggling and amazed by our blue eyes. Standing in the sunshine, getting wonderful positivity from the people. We listened to our guide explain to us what the shah would do in this square, I visioned times back then. Trading treasures, watching the polo horses play in the centre, the woman dressed in elegant dresses with beautiful hijab’s. All the Gold outlined on the surrounding buildings, this place is a must to see. Im so happy I got to come to this unusual historic site.

We were very lucky to have Bahman as our guide, he knows a lot of people here including the incredibly talented man Mr Mostafa Fotovat. We had the pleasure of meeting him in person at his office by Nagshe Jahan Square. Walking into his “museum” we were greeted with big smiles, sitting down at his desk it was so wonderful seeing how much Mrs G appreciated his work.

We spoke about how he does the paintings, with one cats hair on a pigeons feather. It was fascinating seeing how he made such work with so fine of a brush. While we were sitting at his desk, he pulled out what he usually paints on which is camels bone and made a miniature man for Mrs G and a horse head for myself. Mr Fotovat did this in front of us in just 3 minutes. It looked like a photograph. Explaining to us how his grandfather started painting and how the talent has carried on generation to generation, with Mr Fotovat’s grandson now also starting to paint. We spent hours in his beautiful office filled with all his work. Mrs G came out with two magical pieces that will be cherished forever. So special they are, the detail that goes into them, it takes years to do just a single piece. I couldn’t believe my eyes being given one of Mr Fotovats pieces as a gift, a girl in blue looking so elegant in a garden, I was lost for words when handed this to me.

Being in this country honestly feels as if we are royals, how everyone are so hospitable, kind and open. I feel very lucky and honoured to have come here.

Saying goodbye to this lovely man, I sat in the car while we were on our way to the Armenian quarter for lunch. Looking out the window, I felt overwhelmed with happiness. The beauty in people, giving and wanting to know us, it really made me feel blessed and so grateful.

We were taken to a lovely part of the town for lunch, catching the sun while we ate yet another delicious meal. Always starting with a soup, being barley this time following eggplant salad, dips and pitta bread. Being so full already, the next part of the lunch came out. Assortments of meat and fish with their tasty herb rice, we were again treated like stars.

Off to the carpet shop we went after enjoying our Iranian food. We sat in the surroundings of many beautiful carpets being given coffee and cake whilst watching the men pulling out all the silk carpets. If only they were a quarter of the cost I would happily buy one, but understandably because of the years it takes to make, they were all well into the tens of thousands and I just couldn’t afford such a good. Our guide happily bought one though, being $30,000! This was no surprise as he bought three pieces from our special painter friend at the last stop. Buying for his wife, parents, and daughter for christmas, well into the thousands for the one painting. He explained he wasn’t actually a guide, Mrs G called him our Jeannie. The government pairs him up with vip and us being with Golden Eagle, we were one on the list. He also explained his family to us. We sure felt lucky we were in such good hands.

Just when we thought the day was coming to an end, we were taken to another spectacular garden and temple. Beautiful artwork inside with plenty of gold surroundings, a gigantic pond with fountains, and immaculate green grass and tropical trees. This was yet another place I could have spent hours in. I walked around feeling as light as a feather, being 4pm and the sun going down it took me back to my childhood once again. I truly loved this place. I would fly back just for this moment again.

Stopping by one of the four bridges called Si o Seh Pol Bridge, we got out and walked across whilst being told that it was built for Shah’s wife. There were two covered outlooks in the middle of the bridge, one facing to see the sun as it rose, and the opposite side viewing the sun going to sleep in the evening. This was another charm of the day, so romantic. If only Julien could have been beside me I would have wrapped my arms around his neck and looked him in the eyes with such love and compassion. Dreaming of us skipping and dancing along this bridge in sheer happiness. One day I will come back here and we will share this beautiful romance together.  Just the thought gives me butterflies. Walking into our 17th century hotel, seeing all the happy faces, we couldn’t have asked for a better day. Usually I cant appreciate the day until weeks later, having to think back over it, but today has been different. Today I end in such appreciation for the incredible experience we have had. Today has to be one of the nicest days of my life, and I feel it. How happy I am to be here with such a beautiful person that appreciates all the little things I do and feels the exact same way. Peace and happiness, a little treasure of a day.