Bridge 9: Se-o-Se Pol, the 33 Arches Bridge, Esfahan, Iran

Se-o-Se Pol at night

Biked in honour of Janina Stepek, whose grave in Tehran I visited a few days earlier and whose grandson, Martin, has particularly sponsored this bike crossing.

This amazing bridge dates from 1603 and has 33 large arches below, with 64 little arches on the bridge level.  The bridge is pedestrianised now and is a place of picnic and leisure for Iranians, both local and visiting.  Sadly the river bed is currently dry, the water having been diverted, it is said, to Yazd.

There is no law against women cycling here in Iran but the Council-run city-bike rental place would not hire to a woman.  Doing a walking reccie of the bridge, we met some Iranian young men on bikes and persuaded them to lend me one of their bikes to do the crossing.  In spite of their grave reservations, as reported in my travel blog, the crossing was completed without any police interference. 

My support team - Fouad and Svitlana

Thanks to my super-guide, Fouad Vali, for persuading the Iranian young man to part with his bike and for doing the necessary photography and to Svitlana, my tour companion, for holding my bags (an essential support!).

Postscript:  The water was returned to the Bridge a couple of weeks later - see video and pics.

Bosphorus for Debbie D

The Bosphorus and its amazing Bridge

Now I have actually seen the Bosphorus Bridge and took this photo this morning.  Cycling over it doesn't seem to be a common hobby but I have some ideas as to how to make it possible and will get onto that once I am back in Istanbul on 6th April.  There's a bridge or 33 to be done in Iran first.

Iran and Istanbul

Last day of prep for my trip to Iran, via Turkey.  The plan is to cycle across the Si-o-se Pol or 'Bridge of 33 Arches' in Esfahan in Iran and then bike across the Bosphorus on the way home.  You can sponsor the individual crossings or just the whole venture!

Bridges that got away

At the Meeting of the Waters, near Avoca

Lovely bridges in Co Wicklow, Ireland, but no-one had a bicycle that I could borrow.  The blizzard conditions probably contributed to that problem.  So, none were cycled but aren't they lovely?

Derrybawn bridge in Laragh

Glendalough between blizzards

Signed route to a B&B, Glendalough