Gorgan, Iran

In late 2005 I took a train from Tehran to Sari in Iran’s northern Mazanderan province. The journey was simply breathtaking, winding its way through the Albroz mountains down towards the Caspian Sea.

The train ride to Sari

I still love this picture of mine, sitting at a railway station in Tehran, waiting to depart.

From Sari I took a savari (shared taxi) to Gorgan, an elegant town of tree-lined boulevards and fountains in parks. Its setting is even more beautiful, at the start of the Alborz Ranges where they give way to the harsh Central Asian plains.

Alang Darreh Forest, Gorgan

There I met some friends of mine, with whom I stayed, and travelled to the Alang Darreh Forest, just outside the city of Gorgan. It was in full autumn mode; the leaves were turning and between the rain showers, we spotted locals heading out for a weekend picnic.

War heroes and the mountains near Gorgan

The next day, we also headed out to the mountains around Gorgan, where the roads are lined with the portraits of local war heroes.