Peggy and I had a truly incredible trip to Iran over the European Easter 2018. It cooincided with Nowruz, the Iranian New Year.
Check out our photos here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/bSVCvC603tXDAWV92
Some thoughts on our trip below...
Theocracy
- Every country has their trade-offs and hypocrisies, Iran is no different
- we've seen plenty of crack users in the street yet open shoes are forbidden in some parts
- modesty is a virtue but at the same time the culture has moved to an #instagramculture. We saw layers of make up, love of fake brands, fake booty pants and nose jobs (men too needed to cover their legs but almost anything goes
- Then there is the usual rich vs poor and corruption
Friendliness
- Overwhlemingly friendly, offering food, rugs, hospitality
- key question: „Iran is good?“
- key phrase: „welcome to Iran“
- only told to „suckmydick“ once by a guy who was pissed about the British and assumed I was a decedent of the British...
- Many people went out of their way in the street to welcome us or help
- A few tried to rip us off but quickly saw their ways
- You can try cleaning up after yourself, but no that‘s done by someone else
Geography
- Deserts vs oases
- Mountains vs plains
- Tehran vs Mesr
- Huge long open highways vs narrow bazaar alleyways
- Incredible mosques and Islamic achitecture vs slum housing
Food
- Fereni was my vice
- Eggplant (hallim bedamjan, mirza gazemi)
- Dizi
- OMG the bread
- Drinks: Sekanjabin (Cucumber drink)
- No alcohol: you don‘t miss the upside of booze only notice the absence of the downside
Daily life
- Spent in parks
- Restaurant always in bigger groups
- up early, up late
- Money is tricky due to inflation adding a zero...sometimes if they couldn‘t speak english they would take money caefully from your hand, give you the change and wave you on
- Anything big in the 90s: volleyball, ceasar salad, mullets,
- Nomadic life
- Thermos, kebab skewers, gas bottle, rugs and blanckies
- Young girl doing her homework early morning
- Stay with family unit throughout the day
- Side if highway, under a tractor / truck etc, in city parks