Today we returned to Imam Khomeni square and went back to the carpet dealers. We bought a carpet from Bam that is 65 years old for some friends, but if they decide it was too much then we will keep it. Bam is the city that was destroyed in the earthquake a few years ago so there won't be any more carpets from there in the future. It is a Baluchi carpet. The Baluch are a nomadic people group that live primarily in Iran. We learned a lot about what the designs mean and that it was the young girls that were making them when they were old enough to be considered a woman. There is a design called "hands on hips" which is their way of saying "look, I am not a child any more and am ready to get married". When the carpet was finished, it contained symbols that showed what she expected in a husband and where he would be from, whether she wanted girls or boys, and sometimes what she wanted her husband's trade to be. Very interesting stuff. I just always thought they looked rugged and tribal...shows my ignorance. They are all made with natural dyed wool like with henna, saffron, etc. Overall, a very good experience!