"For 25 years following CIA orchestrated coup in 1953, the US was believed to have supported and influenced the Shah from a bunker in the basement of the embassy... (Murals on the former US Embassy wall, closed following the 1979 revolution.)

...Fearing a repeat of the 1953 coup, students stormed the embassy in 1979, taking 52 diplomats as hostage, resulting in the closing of the embassy, and birth of Islamic Republic. (Murals on the former US Embassy wall)

A wedding was taking place in our hotel, with an abundance of flowers.

At the conclusion of the tour, I had one free day left in Tehran, so I headed for the foothills of the Alborz mountains to visit the "Sa'd Abad Museum Complex," 10 buildings inside a compound which once served as the Shah's summer residences.

"Green Palace," made from Iranian green marble. Unfortunately, photos were not allowed inside, but it was filled with obscenely opulent mirrored walls and ceilings, curtains made from silver thread, leather ceilings in the dining hall, and the

Carriage on the Palace grounds, used for early coronations.

View of the Alborz Mountains from the balcony of the Green Palace, former summer residence of the Shah, now museum.

During the 1979 revolution when the Shah was deposed, his giant statue was taken down. The legs and boots are all that remain of the Shah.

Inside the 54-room "White Palace," built in 1931, also served as summer residence for Shah.

Although not as opulent as the Green Palace, the White Palace was still the height of luxury in it's day. Note the tiger pelt on the floor. The Shah listed among his hobbies, "tiger hunting."

Sign in the hallway of the White Palace noting the last dinner to take place here honored King Hussein of Jordan and President Jimmy Carter.

Vast dining hall containing the largest custom handmade Persian carpet in Iran.