Kathy to Hilary, March 26, 1972, Nain, Iran March 26
Dear Hillabelle:
Happy Now Ruz! 
I have a long vacation from school and so we have hit the road--I am now writing in the lovely hotel at Nain--somewhere beyond the world’s end. We left Tehran yesterday and the country became more and more beautiful the further we got from the city. At Kashan we saw the Gardens of Fin--so much water it was unbelievable for such an arid place. I was on the lookout for camels and palm trees but it wasn’t until today that I saw any. The scenery was Iranian--there’s never a spot where you can’t see a mountain--except Tehran on a smoggy day.
The Alfa had two flat tires. 
Last night we got to Nain after driving one of the worst roads that pretends to be paved. The Alfa had 2 flat tires. Nain has the oldest mosque in Iran and has places where the names of the 3 caliphs that the Shia’s hate were plastered out--the mosque was built after the first Islamic invasion of Iran. The quaintness of the town really affected me--the mud houses with doomed roofs.
I ran back to the bazaar to get a leather pouch I’d seen. The sun was setting as I walked back through the twisting, narrow streets--the muezzin called the faithful to prayer and life went on as it always has for hundreds of years. It was mostly the beauty of the evening: the shadows, the sounds, and the colors. I was wishing so hard that I was a villager and not as screwed up as I am. I kept realizing today how bad it was becoming--desiring to be rid of everybody and to live by myself. And then I saw the stars--it’s so dark here--and I wish I could be an astronomer.
I wish you could see it. I think your mother would like this especially.
Later today we go to Yazd and see the Zoroastrians and their eternal flame. Will write more later.
Love, KAT
I drew this card myself.
Nain 
Mosque interior 
Photos of Nain from a German traveler's website.
Another letter mentioning Now Ruz / New Year's celebrations.
5:30:51 AM 
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