We had only one long day in Mexico City, landing at 5.30 am and leaving at 8 pm, so we decided to do an half day visit to Teotihuacan and spend the rest of the day in Mexico City.

To make things easier, we rented a driver for picking up at the airport (at 6.30am) and bring us to the site, and then back to the city at around noon. We used this car service, which I find reliable, for around 140USD just driver, and 160 USD with the “guide”: just take the car, you can find guides on the site, which I strongly recommend you.

Once we arrived on the site, the sky was full of hot air balloons, and the sun was rising behind them, truly a beautiful sights. We didn’t do it, but it looks amazing to view sunrise on Teotihuacan!

The Pyramid of the Sun is connected to the Pyramid of the Moon by a huge avenue, called avenue of the Dead. This is an aerial shot of the pyramid of the sun, which I truly love:

You can actually climb up to the top and see all the site:

And taking selfies with a super extra long selfie stick (a new gadget I bought for the occasion, even if my long hatred against selfie stick…)

From the sky you can see the huge avenue crossing though the site:

You can’t climb up the pyramid of the moon, just getting to a mid-way platform, which faces the avenue of the dead.

As you can see from the shots, the sky was full of hot air balloons, making the place even more magical.

Next to the pyramid of the moon, and on the way to the exit of the site, you can’t miss the Palace of Quetzalpapálotl, which still has colors and painting of over 2000 years old!

Next to it, there are some underground excavations where you can spot the original colors of the whole archeological site.

Back in Mexico City, we had just time for devouring tacos and see the main spots, which are all round Plaza de la Constitucion/ Zocalo. Here you can visit the Templo Mayor, an amazing archeological site which has been buried for centuries below the new city of the Spanish, built on top of the ancient one. There is a parte above ground, with wall built by hundreds of skulls:

And a beautiful museum where the best pieces are preserved:

Last the National Palace (free entrance, quite a long line), where you can see the amazing murals of artist Diego Rivera (also husband of Frida Kahlo), that shows the history of Mexico, with also the slaughtering of local population at the time of the spanish conquistadors.

Palacio Nacional Diego Rivera mural Enrico Pescantini travel photographer 2

The post Teotihuacan Archeological Site in Mexico City: pyramids seen from the sky! appeared first on Enrico Pescantini Travel Photographer.

It opened to tourism only in 1974, when the first 287 tourists visited it. Since then, the number of tourists kept increasing, but it is a controlled flow.

The way of controlling it is a “daily fee” for staying in Bhutan of minimum 250 USD per day, which includes accommodation, guides, transport and meals. The money raised by the government are used to finance education and free public health for all Bhutanese people.

You can choose your preferred tour operator among the authorized ones, the price won’t change, and most of the time also the itineraries. Just look for the ones with more recommendations or good reviews.

The access to Bhutan is through a flight to Paro airport, where most of the tours starts. I flew from New Delhi, since it has cheap intercontinental flights from Europe.

The best time to visit Bhutan is March-April or September-October: the reason if the religious festivals that are held during spring and fall, which attracts most of the tourists of the year. The biggest festivals, or Tshechu, are held in Paro during spring and in Thimpu during fall, and that’s the one I attended. If you want to visit during a festival remember to book at least 6-7 months before, or you won’t find any flight available!

Once landed, I visited Thimpu, the most modern city, that held the Thimpu Festival. Among the major attractions of the city, my favorite one is the giant buddha statue of Buddha Dardenma, overlooking the city from an hill.

I managed to shot with my drone this beautiful landmark and here’s the result:

Most of the temples and palaces are lighted by night, which makes them wonderful for night shot. This one is the Memorial Chorten:

And this the magnificent Tashichho Dzong, the buddhism monastery and fortress where the Thimphu Tshechu is held..

The festival is a major attractions not only for tourists, but also for Bhutanese people. During the day, different religious dances are held in the main courtyard outside the temple, and thousands of people watch the dances for hours and hours.

The performers wear colorful costumes and picturesque masks, and it is pure joy for photographers. I’ve been quite unlucky, since during the festival a very late monsoon hit Thimpu, but the festival happened anyway, even under an heavy rain!

This fellow was part of the “clown” dancers, and would go around joking with the audience with these wooden Phallus

You will soon realize that in Bhutan the Phallus is drawn pretty much everywhere, and shops are full of wooden penises. Especially on the houses, the penises are a symbol of prosperity:

After Thimpu, we hit the road to Punakha, another major sightseeing spot of Bhutan, and on the way we spot on the beautiful Dochula Pass, a mountain pass with a view on the Himalayas, at an altitude of 3’100 meters.

Punakha has one the best preserved and located fortress in Bhutan, nicely located on the banks of the river. A very nice activity you could ask your tour operator to organize is a 3-hours rafting along the drive, which has as ending point the Dzong. Quite an expensive activity, like everything in Bhutan unfortunately.

The visit inside is interesting as well, and like all the other dzongs (castles) it is a great opportunity for photo shooting with monks.

Last but not least Paro, the more “old-style” town. It has a nice fortress overlooking the green and fertile valley. Here’s a night shot from my hotel, that was opposite the Dzong

Paro is also the starting point for your best experience in Bhutan, and honestly one of the most astonishing place you will ever visit: the Tiger Nest.

Tiger nest, or Paro Taktsang, is one of the most incredible places I’ve seen in my life. After a 4-hours trekking up in the mountain, the forest will open and you will see this monastery literally stitched to the rocks.

It is said the Guru Rinpoche, the “spiritual father” of Bhutan, flew here on the back of a Tiger, defeated a demon and sanctified this place and when you reach here you will truly believe to this story!

The view is truly breathtaking, and I can count few places that left me with the same emotion.

The post Bhutan – astonishing Tiger Nest monastery and the Thimphu Tshechu festival appeared first on Enrico Pescantini Travel Photographer.

Shiraz is often seen as just the starting point for visiting Persepolis, but it actually deserves 2 days for visiting it. The most magnificent place is without any doubt the Pink Mosque (Nasir ol Molk Mosque), famous for the stunning pink light that comes from the many colored windows of the Mosque.

For seeing such effect, you have to go in the early morning, and the guard told me that during winter time (since the sun light is lower) the effect is even more magnificent.

Also the external courtyard presents some quite unique decorations, with the recurrent depiction of roses, symbol of Shiraz.

For Muslims, Shiraz is sacred due to the sanctuary of Shah Cheragh, the brother of Imam Reza (one of the 12 Imam of Islam), which instead is buried in Mashhad. Dress properly for the entrance, where you will be accompanied by a free guide.

You can visit the internal courtyards and have a peak at the flashy tomb, which is truly a spectacular sight.

I strongly recommend you to pay a visit also in the evening-night, it is always open, and the architecture is lighted quite well, ideal for photography.

From Shiraz let’s move to south-east Iran, just below Kerman. Bam was one of the world-famous attractions of Iran and the world largest “mud-brick” building, a beautiful fortress with an higher citadel.

I said was because unfortunately in 2003 a massive earthquake nearly destroyed Bam, and in the past 13 years a very slow reconstruction is trying to restore it. Is it still worth to visit? I believe absolutely yes.

To have an idea on how the mud-brick citadel should have looked like, you can visit the Rayen Castel, 100 km close to Kerman. Perfectly preserved, it has been ignored for years, shadowed by the Bam citadel.

After the earthquake, Rayen survived Bam, and it is a very fascinating site for spending one hour of sightseeing, and it can be a stop on your way back from Bam.

The post Shiraz, Bam and Rayen: the pink mosque and the forgotten sand city of Iran appeared first on Enrico Pescantini Travel Photographer.

It is an ancient and very religious tradition, and the Holy Week in Malaga is supposed to be one of the best. Antonio Banderas often visits his hometown Malaga during this period, joining his brothers in the processions.

If you love photography, you will go crazy following the processions and taking hundreds of pictures, I can assure you that!

Each member of the brotherhood (or fraternity) gets the honor of carrying these massive wood “pasos” along the city, along with priests and religious music bands. This structure are adorned and sculptured by local artists, and they are truly piece of art.

The partecipants wear a “nazareno”, a penitent robe, and often involves a hood that covers the face.

Usually, the best looking men are in the front line, while the.. “less handsome” are hidden in the back lines. Usually.

Everybody participates, even kids and children.

I have followed this little kid in the procession for more than half an hour, it was definitely the cutest thing out there!

Just to give you an idea of the effort of these men, the “paso” could weight between 1 and 2 tonnes, and are carried by a group of 25-40 men. That means that each of them carry on their shoulders a weight of 40-50 kg. For several hours.

It was quite impressive to see these huge wooden chariots being transported in the narrows of the city centre, turning around each corner, without bump into walls and windows!

Besides the processions, this Andalusian city offer quite a lovely city centre, with a scenographic cathedral, especially at night. Plus there is the Picasso Museum.

The Holy Week procession in Granada was a little bit less scenographic in my opinion, but on the other hand, I got a privileged view from the balcony of my hotel’s room.

As you can see, different brotherhoods has different colors and robes, to distinguish themselves.

But the true gem of Granada is the fabulous complex of the Alhambra (in Arabic «qa’lat al-Hamra’» means Red Castle).

Built in the end of the IX century A.D., it is after the 1300 DC that become a royal palace, under the muslim Nasrid dynasty.

It represents one of the finest example of muslim art and architecture I have ever seen, and you can spend a whole day visiting it. I recommend though the night visit, which gives an extra touch of magic to your tour.

But consider that during night visit, tripod is not allowed, so taking pictures is a little bit more challenging.

The Mexuar

The best part of the palace, for which you will have a very short and limited time, is the Nasrid Palace.

Court of the Myrtles

Granada Alhambra Palace of the Lions

The post Malaga and Granada, Spain – Live the celebrations for Semana Santa and visit Alhambra Palace appeared first on Enrico Pescantini Travel Photographer.

To visit Persepolis and the surroundings it is going to take from half to a full day, and it is one hour from Shiraz (well connected to the rest of Iran).

In Persepolis, the Last Shah of Persia held the ultra-glamorous celebrations for the 2’500 year of the Persian Empire, inviting dignitaries from all over the world. It has been considered one of the most expensive party every, and it shocked the population of Iran, which often was very poor. This has been on the sparks of the Iranian Revolution against the King of Iran, which called itself also “King of Kings”.

The entrance to Persepolis is through the magnificent Gate of All Nations, also called Gate of Xerxes, where everyone entering Persepolis was passing by. From here, the guests could be received in the King Palace or go in the Army quartier. Didn’t have my drone with me (bringing a flying camera to Iran didn’t seem to me a good idea), but you can get a view from the satellite thanks to Google Earth .

The worst part of this is all the vandalism graffiti left on the wall. If we think that graffiti is a recent phenomenon, well, here you can spot names and dates of tourists (because we can’t call them travellers) during the centuries.

In the road after the gate, on the right side, you can spot a perfect statue of Gryphon (or Griffon or Griffin), a mythological creature with the head of an eagle and the body of a lion. The origin is ancient, and there are trace of this beast both in ancient greece, india and egypt.

Gryphon

For those who have seen the Hollywood movie “300”, in the film Xerxes was attacking the Spartans with ferocious warriors called Immortals. They actually existed, not as deformed men like pictured in the movie, but as highly-trained soldiers, picked as a children to be the elite guard of the Persian army. They were 10’000 men, and if one died it was immediately replaced, thus the nickname “Immortals”

Immortals warrior

Immortals warriors

Another peculiar symbol seen all over Persepolis, and in Iran, is the Lion attacking the Bull. The Lion is a symbol of power and strength, and the symbol of the Persian Empire itself. Another interpretation is that it shows the spring celebration, where the sun (Lion) attacks the Earth (Bull.)

The lion attacking the bull

The few surviving statues reveals beautiful details: the ones best preserved are the one found covered by sand, that protected them by vandalism and weather

Lion symbol of Persia

Sculpture

Xerxes on a throne

In the day trip to Persepolis, there are 2 other unmissable sight: the first one is in Pasagardae, and it is the Tomb of Cyrus the Great. The historical importance of this 2’500 years old monument is impressive, and while you are paying visit to the King of Asia and the founder of the Persian Empire, remember that people have been doing the same in the past two thousands years.

Pasagardae, Tomb of Cyrus the Great

The second site is the necropolis of Naqsh-e Rajab, where there are the tombs of Darius the Great and Xerxes. If you have been to the Valley of the Kings in Egypt, you will not a striking resemblance between the two sites.

Naqsh-e Rustam

Just on the left to the necropolis there is the site of Naqsh-e Rajab, which are carvings of the Assanid era.

Naqsh-e Rajab

The post Persepolis, Iran – the ancient capital of Persia appeared first on Enrico Pescantini Travel Photographer.

In a clear morning, I suggest you to go up the Tokyo Skytree: if you are lucky, like I was, you will clearly see the Mount Fuji!

And you can also spot the infamous Golden Poop!

Golden turd from above

The Golden Poop (or golden turd) is actually called the Golden Flame, and it is locate in the Asahi Beer Hall, a famous building designed by famous french architect Philippe Starck. And it is pretty clear what it looks like! You can view it in Asakusa, on the Sumida river.

Asahi Flame Asakusa and Golden Turd

Asahi Flame Asakusa and Golden Turd 2

One the most interesting neighbourhood is Akihabara, where you can basically find all the manga, collectibles and also electronics that Tokyo has to offer. If you don’t know manga, you will find it quite interesting: weird kids, huge billboards with sexy cartoons and so on. If you have grown up instead with Japanese cartoons, well, you can definitely spend one whole day here, you will find everything you have ever dreamed.

Akihabara Sega

Akihabara billboard

Don’t miss to go for a coffee or a lunch in a Maid Cafe… don’t worry, nothing erotic here, just a very unique experience of being served by young japanese girls dressed up like cartoon-like french maids… and the food often comes shaped in bears of pandas…unmissable!

Akihabara Maid Cafe 2

Did I mention that you can find and buy all kind of weird collectibles here? And these are most “normal” ones!

For a more old-style culture, you should visit Asakusa, where most of the temples of the capital are located. One of the most interesting one is the Senso-ji, where you will find a huge sandal, said to belong to Buddha himself.

Asakusa Sensoji Temple

Asakusa Sensoji Temple Sandal of Buddha

If during the day you find Tokyo fascinating, it is during the night that you find in love with it! Best places to be in the evening (and also to find an accommodation) are Shinjuku and the famous Shibuya, heart of the nightlife of Tokyo.

Back to the sightseeing spots, you can’t miss the “japanese Tour Eiffel”, the Tokyo Tower. Best seen from the observation deck in the Roppongi Hills, the Tokyo City View.

While you are walking around the city, keep an eye open, because you most probably see around very very weird things. I can’t describe them, so better to show you:

Tokyo, Japan – kimono dogs

Tokyo, Japan – kimono dogs 2

On a very early morning (not later that 6.30 am – 7.00 am) go to the Tokyo Fish Market, where the precious fishes for all japanese sushi are traded. If your stomach allows it, get in line for the best value-for-money sushi in Tokyo, but beware the waiting line, that could be of 1-2 hours.

And this is about 20% of the things you can do in Tokyo, I stayed a week, and it was definately not enough!

The post Japan – Tokyo: a crazy mix of manga, temples, street food and lights appeared first on Enrico Pescantini Travel Photographer.

It is called the city of windcatchers (Shahr-e Badgirha), also called wind towers. They are an ancient Persian system of ventilation for the houses, and in persian are called Badgir.  They are basically towers that catches the wind and direct it inside the house, a natural and sustainable air conditioning system (here a detailed explanation)

Windcatcher towers

Windcatcher towers 2

Yazd is also famous for the Zoroastrianism, a pre-islamic religion, which nowaday survives only in Iran, mainly in Zayd, and in India, in the city of Mumbai. The sightseeings regarding this religion are mainly two. The first one is the fire temple, which, besides a nice facade, it was a let down. Inside you can spot a fire which is said to burn continuously from centuries.

Zoroastrian Fire Temple

On the front, you can spot one of the main symbol of Zoroastrianism, and also of Persia itself, the Farvahar. It represents a sort of guardian angel, and it is very common in Iran.

Yazd Zoroastrian Fire Temple Faravahar

But the most astonishing sightseeing of Zoroastrianism in Yazd, are the Towers of Silence, located just outside of the city. They are burial site, but the particularity of this religion is that the dead were not buried, or burnt, but brought to this place, on the top of the towers, and left there for the birds and animal, to feed on them. In this way, the dead bodies were not polluting the earth, or the sky, but they were used as food for other living beings.

Other notable sightseeings in Yazd are the Jame Mosque, which entrance is one of the tallest of Iran. Appreciate the tileworks both on the entrance and in the main hall, they are exquisite.

Behind the Jame Mosque, you can start a walk among the small alleys of the historical centre of Yazd, with the unique houses made of mud. It is a spectacular walk, not to be done in the midday, the hot is unbearable! That’s why I have no shots of this, you will have to discover it yourself!

The post Iran – Yazd, the city of windcatchers and Zoroastrianism appeared first on Enrico Pescantini Travel Photographer.

The blue town is so called because, well, it is completely blue! all walls and building are painted of an amazing shade of blue.

It is possible to get here from Fez, which it will take more or less 4 hours by private car. If you leave early morning, you could spend there 3-4 hours, having a lunch in one of the many rooftop restaurants and then leave at mid-afternoon. You can ask your hotel to organize this daytrip for you.

It has a strong spanish influence, since it was part of Spanish Morocco around the 1920s.

There are different legends about why all the city if blue. Some says that the Jews painted it blue when the migrated here during the Holocaust, others that is a way to repel insect. Well, it does not matter so much, it is a pure joy for the eyes.

Morocco Chefchaouen blue stairs

Morocco Chefchaouen blue powder

Morocco Chefchaouen blue powder

I often wonder how my favorite photographer, the master Steve McCurry, finds the location for his amazing shots. Well, the blue city is actually one of those places, and even if you are not a professional photographer, here you will feel like it!

Here I took one of my favorite “World Pescart Photos”, which is an homage to him: the title is “Running from Steve McCurry”.

Morocco Chefchaouen – Running from Steve McCurry

There are several artisan shops also, where you could relax after several hundreds of shots. To visit the town one hour would be enough, but trust me, you will spend at least 3 hours just looking around.

Morocco Chefchaouen blue shops

And you will enjoy also some encounters with local wildlife.

Morocco Chefchaouen blue cat

The post Morocco – Chefchaouen: the amazing blue town appeared first on Enrico Pescantini Travel Photographer.

This “ancient hotel” was used from 1600 by merchants travelling on the Silk Road, and it is the only one that has a circle inner-courtyard, besides being the best restored one in Iran.

It is located 1 hour from Yazd, along the way to Kerman, precisely here. 1 night with dinner and breakfast costs around 100 USD, all worth it. Book in advance, they are very strict with reservations.

From here you can continue to Kerman: you can catch a bus on the highway next to it, but be careful, not all the buses will stop, you really have to stop them waving strongly your hands! Ours didn’t, so we had to catch another one and change again before getting (finally) to Kerman.

But I would like to advise all travellers: is is not located in the middle of the desert, but 300 meters off an highway, that is the only downside. Approaching this place is definately mistical, especially at sunset.

From the outside it looks a kind of a castle, with round towers around the perimeter.

The inside…well, it is simply astonishing, but i don’t want to reveal too much.

Caravanserai Zeinodin Courtyard

The room is very, very simple, but comfortable. Bathrooms are in common, but very clean and comfortable. It is not a 5-star hotel, but definately not a cheap hostel!

Caravanserai Zeinodin room

Best part is the rooftop, where you will enjoy a sky full of stars.

Caravanserai Zeinodin rooftop

I have few shots of Caravanserai Zeinodin: I was so enchanted that I left my camera back in the room, and travelled in the past in this timeless place. A must-go if you are visiting south of Iran.

The post Iran – Caravanserai Zeinodin: a magical and historical hotel in the Silk Way appeared first on Enrico Pescantini Travel Photographer.

Tehran Kashan VIP bus

In Kashan, you have to sleep in a historical house, and the best 2 in town, which have been converted to boutique hotels are Manouchehri House and Saraye Ameriha Boutique Hotel: I’ve chosen the second one, and I have to say it was one of the best experience of Iran: It is a fully restored historical house of a rich merchant family, and it is full of courtyards and small pools.

Saraye Ameriha Boutique Hotel courtyard

The basic room was beautiful, with carvings and colourful windows all around. And a view on the courtyard.

The view by night in the hotel is even better, as is the dining hall, a white shining room where you can try local specialities.

The main sightseeings, which are the traditional houses, are in the same block. The first house, and probably one of the best one, was the Borujerdi Historical House: the pictures will describe better the view

Borujerdi Historical House 1

Borujerdi Historical House 2

Borujerdi Historical House 3

Borujerdi Historical House view from Sultan Amir Hammam

The view of the “dome” of Borujerdi Historical House above was taken from the roof of Sultan Amir Ahmad Bathhouse, which is probably the best historic hammam of Iran, it is truly astonishing. But no, you can’t take a bath, just pictures… very unfortunately.

Sultan Amir Ahmad Bathhouse roof

Sultan Amir Ahmad Bathhouse inside 2

Sultan Amir Ahmad Bathhouse inside

Sultan Amir Ahmad Bathhouse main room

Next to the ammam, there is the second historical house, Tabātabāei House, which features a beautiful courtyard and some nice internal decorations.

Tabātabāei House outside 2

Tabātabāei House outside 3

Outside the area of the historical houses, you pay a quick visit to the Agha Bozorg mosque: a walk inside will take you only 10 minutes, and it is quite nice.

Agha Bozorg mosque

Not before late afternoon, you should visit the Bazar, which is quite nice and not so crowded. While walking aorund, you can’t miss a beautiful caravanserrai, which was basically an ancient hotel for merchants travelling around the Silk Way.

Khan Amin al-Dowleh Timch Caravanserai

Khan Amin al-Dowleh Timch Caravanserai 2

Another amazing spot is the Hammam-e Khan, an old hammam converted to a teahouse: you can sip a tea or even smoke a waterpipe. I truly loved this place! Ask around for directions, it is quite a popular place, open also for dinner.

Hammam-e Khan Kashan Bazar

Almost all the tour agencies and hotels, including the Ameriha, organize a early-morning tour to watch the sunrise in the Maranjab Desert near Kashan. During the trip with a 4WD vehicle, you will experience the sun rising up from the sand dunes, and it is truly an breathtaking experience, worth the early wake up! For the 4-hour tour (5 am to 9 am) we paid 60 euros. Very well spent.

Maranjab Desert Kashan sunrise

Maranjab Desert Kashan sunrise 2

Included in tour there is a “visit” to the salt lake: you should know that it is basically a vast part of desert which once was a salt lake, so you will see a desolated land with the soil all cracked up. Definately an interesting and fascinating view! Not to go during the day, at 8am was already crazily hot.

Maranjab Desert Salt Lake 2

Maranjab Desert Salt Lake

Maranjab Desert Salt Lake 3

While Kashan is often skipped in the main tour, I found it truly a gem and an highlight of my trip in Iran, definately worth 1 night and 1 day!

#everydaykashan

The post Iran – Kashan: merchants historical houses and best hammam of Iran appeared first on Enrico Pescantini Travel Photographer.