The oven of the world...

Hi from Kerman lads! Right in the doors of the Dasht-e Lut desert, South of Iran. Our days in this fascinating country just get better and better, and every day we experience more and more unforgettable moments either because of the landscape-sights or the people. Uplifting random acts from people happen constantly, like this morning when we went to the bank to exchange some cash and the director took care of us serving tea and sweets while we waited as he did want to give us brand new notes! And we even got a gift from them!!!
People are the heart of Iran, and what makes this country so special and surprising. Things like not charging you for a taxi ride, giving you food, being ready or willing to dedicate all day to an stranger, sending you emails just to remember you that they want you to spend a few days in their homes (and a long etc…) are moving acts that will always remain in our memories and why not, a good lesson for us too!
From Esfahan we went to Yazd, a charming arid city sandwiched between two deserts. One of the oldest cities on earth (7000 years), a key-point for trading routes like the mythic Silk Road, a history full of overcoming moments and a special and balanced relationship with a rough environment make of Yazd one of the most charismatic and unique cities of Iran. It is a good example of adaptation as the city makes the most of its natural resources. Like the wind-trappers, a collection of towering towers that dominate the skyline of the old town. They were and are used to catch any passing breeze and channel it to the rooms sending some refreshing air, and they really work guys! Then they have ice-houses, underground water channels, pigeon’s houses (for posting services and collection of rich fertilizer) and caravanserais (ancient hostels for the silk route traders and their camels). On top, the old part of the city is spectacular with its winding-narrow streets maze style, mud-brick houses and historical mosques. Wow, lads, it was a pleasure to get lost in these streets that can talk by themselves…
So far we have been so lucky with the fellow travelers we have met on the road and Yazd was not the exception! We enjoyed the company of Natalie, a talented Australian volunteer working in Beirut, Marc, a French well-traveled freelance journalist and professional photographer and Jan, a German guy who speaks Farsi and with whom we made it down to Kerman. All of them good examples in how to live your life according to you feelings and your wishes and really inspiring people!!!
Down in Kerman, we had a bit of taste of how harsh can be a desert! We ventured into the Dasht-e Lut’s desert core with Jan and a funny-experienced local guide. It was an unforgettable experience; never in our life had we felt a heat like this, unimaginable lads! More than 50 degrees at 7PM, only a mad-man or someone with suicidal tendencies can go there at midday! We set up our camp around 10PM and were having dinner around midnight when the air was still burning, pure fire!! We slept under the starts while sweating, at least around 2AM it started to cool down a little bit, so we managed to rest a while but at 6AM we were awake, trying to make the most of it and walk while the temperatures permitted it… The area we visited was magic, unique and shocking. Known as the Kaluts, it has a collection of sand-castles up to 25 or 30 meters high, of bizarre shapes, really beautiful and jaw-dropping! This is what we would call a great night out!!! The emptiness, lifeless and specially silence of the desert where immense, making you feel so vulnerable and small!
Ok, lads, we could explain thousands of thoughts and things more, but hey, time is priceless and the desert is waiting for us again! Today we leave Kerman for Mahan, a small city where we already went yesterday and enjoyed a religious celebration in the mosque with super-friendly and welcoming people. Today we go back with the idea to sleep in a restored caravanserai where Jan awaits us and tomorrow we want to make it to Nayban, a tiny village lost in the middle of the desert, not even in some maps, and for sure not mentioned on the lonely planet (great!). This could be a real experience if we can make it that far…
Just as and anecdote, the hottest temperature on earth was registered somewhere in the Dasht-e Lut desert with a ridiculous-crazy 85 degrees! We do not know if the guy holding the thermometer survived…
Happy days!
Kisses and hugs from the oven…