As he folded the rug into a compact bundle, he reminded me of the practicalities. Shipping from Iran can be complex due to , so many travelers carry their treasures home in their luggage.
: Rugs woven from memory, not maps, filled with symbols like goats for wealth and "S" shapes to ward off evil. Reading the Knots
: Symmetrical vines swirling around a central medallion, so fine they felt like velvet.
The negotiation was a dance. We went back and forth, Abbas lamenting the cost of the fine silk from the Caspian Sea, while I held firm on my budget. We eventually settled on a price that felt like an investment in history rather than a simple purchase.