#6535 Deciphering Sufi Mysticism in Ardabil, Iran

The pattern repeats itself over and over, dizzying your attempts to decode its meaning until you realize that it's Allah's name echoing again and again. The mesmerizing blue tiles that cover Sheikh Safi Ad-Din's 13th-century mausoleum give us a glimpse into deep Dervish thought. Koranic verses in beautiful calligraphy contrast white against blue and surround the courtyard, eventually leading you inside where thousands of niches for ceramics lay eerily empty. The gaping spaces could even be spooky if it weren't for the extremely welcoming attendants who continue to practice the good Sheikh's policy of extending hospitality to travelers and those in need. Good thing he's buried inside in case they don't.