Quickly Yazd

It may be hard to believe, but there is a huge backpacker hangout in Iran – the Silk Road Hotel. Every traveller goes to Yazd to stay there (and also it's sister hotel across the street). The rooms are cheap ($4.50 for a dorm bed), the courtyard is a great place to chill (think cushions galore on elevated balconies), the food is yummy, and there is an endless supply of hot tea. What more can a long-term bum ask for?!
But I was on such a rushed schedule, wanting to greedily see everything in between here and Tehran, that I only got to spend 2 nights there : ( No time for relaxation.

Situated in central Iran, Yazd is a picturesque, desert town. Brown is the dominant color, except for the bluish tiles of the mosques.

Centuries ago, it was also the center of something called the Zoroastrian culture/religion. I don't know much about it, but there are a couple of Zoroastrian sights outside of town.
Nicolas (the most boring, mentally slow French freight train drive I've ever met) suggested we take his bicycle up to the ominous-sounding Towers of Silence, so we headed out there the first thing in the morning. It took longer than expected, about an hour of pedaling. Poor guy. Poor my butt.
(OK...I'm being mean. But really. We had absolutely nothing in common, nothing to talk about. And he was repeating every story at least 10 times. Testing my patience...)
Anyways, these towers were used by the Zoroastrians for their funeral rights. They didn't directly burn or bury the body because they believed doing so would contaminate the earth. Instead, they left the dead bodies atop the towers of silence, exposing them to birds and the sun.
Once we made our rounds through the two towers, we headed back towards town, stopping by one of the Zoroastrian temples on the way. Very simple structure (I prefer the elegant mosques), not too interesting. The only noteworthy point was that of an eternally burning fire inside.

I spent the rest of the afternoon exploring Yazd on foot. Walking through little alleyways, I came across a pile of rubble that I decided to climb. Hey, the view seemed well worth it. Perfect for catching Yazd's skyline, where the mosques are the tallest buildings: Prominent in the town are also the wind towers. They apparently functioned as part of a ventilation system in Iranian architecture: And here, another unique complex, the Takyeh Amir Chakhmagh, housing a mosque and a bazaar.
Very random, but the area is known for its abundance of pomegranates. You can get fresh-squeezed pomegranate juice at every corner for $0.50-$1.00, depending on how much the owner wants to rip you off. Best thirst quencher I've had!