Well today I woke up to a dozen missed calls from Julien, my mother and about 5 messages telling me to get in touch asap. Julien in London and Mum in Australia, the news must have gone world wide of a train crash in the south of Tehran! They were calling to make sure it wasn’t our train! Thankfully we had nothing to do with the crash but my goodness, how frightening that would have been hearing that news and knowing Mrs G and I are in Tehran!

After letting them know all is well and we are safe, G and I were greeted by our guide. Off we went to our first destination for the day being The Golestan Palace. With its renovated Versailles-inspired mirror-encrusted Marble Throne Hall used for the coronation of the last Shah, most of the remaining brick and tile buildings date back to the 19th century Qajar dynasty.

While we were in the car our guide Bahman told us something quite surprising! Apparently we are very lucky to be alive! When the Turkmenistan authority’s changed the wheels of our train entering Iran, they apparently did a bad job non accidentally. There’s big meetings at the moment about Turkmenistan plotting this. Apparently they called Iranian authorities four hours after we left Turkmen asking if the train made made it. When Iranian officials came to look at the horrible job of the wheel change, they opened up a case because of how poorly it was done. Everyone was very surprised that we made it to where we had. Iranian officials had said if the train was to go even 2miles further it would have been fatal. My heart was racing hearing this. You see, the guide we have had here in Iran had been working with the government. He was the one who made it all okay legally to cross into Iran from Turkmenistan for us westerners. What a shock!

As we carried on through the day onward to our next stop being a very hip restaurant. Walking through the door from the busy street, it was like we were entering a somewhat sort of a nightclub. Very dark with red lights, pictures of well known stars framed all around the high ceilinged room. Our driver, guide, Mrs G and I all sat looking around the room. We enjoyed their delicious meal served to us on big american style plates.. food food food, we ate so much at lunch! Its all just too yummy to leave! Grilled mezze. Perfecto.

After filling up our tummy’s, we made our way to the next destination to the crown Jewel’s. Underneath an Iranian bank we went through many security points and searches to be able to enter this extraordinary place. Wow! What a place to see.. It was like being in Tiffany’s times a thousand! Diamond necklaces, rings, crowns, walking sticks and even a diamond globe! Just one little diamond please! G and I were speechless walking through this beautiful sparkling room.

One more stop before heading back to our hotel. This was certainly a highlight for Mrs G. Entering a calligraphy gallery we were greeted with an artist himself. Showing G our guide and I around the room, explaining some of the art that was all in Iranian. The man took a card and drew a special piece especially for Mrs G. He must know a lover of art like G when he sees one. How happy she was being given such a special gift.

We ended the day with smiles having been dropped back at the hotel.

Tomorrow will be a quiet day, to get ourselves organised. We face reality back in London a few days from now. Our lovely guide has been so kind to invite us to lunch with his family, before we make our way home. The people here really go out of their way. I am so surprised how much hospitality they have been giving us!