Just a note: The mud brick city of Bam, which was one of the most atmospheric and wonderful places in Iran, was ruined completely in December 2003 by an earthquake which also killed about 26,000 people.
I was lucky to see the place a few months before, but when I revisited in 2008 I was saddened to see just a huge, formless pile of rubble to which entry is barred. Unless you are heading to Baluchestan or on to Pakistan, it is most definitely not worth the detour to get to Bam, there is nothing to see at all. Rayen (near Kerman) has a great citadel (you can see Mahan on the way). It's not a patch on Bam's old magnificence though.
Yes, Iranian picnics are great! And Iranians picnic anywhere. They have a particular penchant for picknicking at the side of busy roads.
Enjoy Iran!
Daniel
|