| Today
is the 13th day of the New Year; it is sizdah be dar. On this day
tradition begs that everybody spends the day outdoors (sizdah = 13,
be dar = out of the door). On our way to Mr N’s orchard we see
people in literally everything on wheels, getting out of town. Cars
stuffed with people, entire families in pickup trucks, and a family
of four on a moped. I even see a bunch of children peeping out of
what most resembles a garbage truck. Everybody who can leave town
is looking for a spot to spend the day outdoors. Those who stay in
town go to the parks. We can use Mr N’s orchard, where he grows
the fruit for his illegal distillery. Because the garden is surrounded
by high walls no one can see us and we have a private spot. Nobody
in our party cares for the Islamic dress code. We play volley ball
and drink tea. It is a cool and cloudy day. We have salad olivi-eh
(potato salad) and cold chicken for lunch. Songs are being sung and
one of the nieces plays the guitar. At the end of the afternoon it
gets chilly and the men prepare a large fire from dead branches from
the orchard. A soft rain announces the end of the day. We say our
good-byes and drive back to Kerman. Back home we hear that there has
been pouring rain all day in Tehran and that everybody has been forced
to stay indoors. |
