| ABOUT
THIS TRAVEL IRAN
20 days - march 2000
INTRO
Kind of travel:
alone in a wholly independent travel
When: march
2000
How I moved: mainly
by bus, by minibus and flying
Where I slept: in
cheap hotels/ hostels (mosaferkunč) and in private houses of just known people
How
much: Iran is quite cheap:15 $/day will be
enough for everything. Even the domestic flight are really affordable, on the opposite
sometimes too much to make you confident about the reliability
Baking
or freezing?: in march the weather is
perfect, maybe a little chilly in Teheran, but in the south (Bandar Abbas) the warm
temperature is a real pleasure
Dangers: Iran sounds far more dangerous than it's. Most of the people are honest but
there's always the chance to find an asshole who aims to your passport. Keep it tight! As
concerns religious problems if you are not Muslim, forget it! People are more open minded
than you think
What I liked: the
country with his laws and his traditions, the superhospitality of the people, their
curiosity to know about what's there outside Iran and the amazing ESFHAN!
What
I dislike: Teheran with his pollution, the plastic bags everywhere in the desert
and how impossible was to take a taxi
What you
do need: respect for their laws and their culture even if you don't agree with
them!
THE TRAVEL
Why
Iran? I was attracted by middle east, I mean the islamic culture that
seems so far from us. Which is a representative country of this culture? Discarding
the no-go countries as Afghanistan, Irak, Arabia, the only one left is Iran.
| Preparation:
visa is a real hassle and try to get
it could discourage you. To me it took some months
to find the way, apply and get it by internet (read
how I managed). Anyway few days before leaving
I received it and I flew to Teheran. As usual I travelled
alone, I think it's the best way to know the people
and blend in the country |
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Itinerary:
I travelled from Teheran
to Esfhan, dropping
by Abyaneh
(Kashan). Then I went to Shiraz, the wonderful Bam
and I reached the cost (Bandar-e-Abbass), where I got by boat
to the Geshm
island. Some days later I flew to Hamadam
and I reached the Caspian sea (Rasht and Masule')
. Finally I "diverted" to Mashad, the holy city, before
coming back Italy.
What
I found? I knew a lot of people who invited me
to drink
a tea (chay, in farsi), to have a dinner and even to sleep
in their houses, always without asking nothing or even giving
me some gifts at my leaving (read the
story). You'll discover that iranian people with their hospitality
are the richness of this country. But you need to do a certain
kind of travel that let you to come into contact with
them. I mean no organised tour, travelling as you are at the
zoo. I found people interested in the western culture, and I
had no particular problems staying with them, however respecting
their habits. Nevertheless you'll crashed again the language
barrier (read the tips). It's very
important you know the laws concerning mainly the relation between
male and female in public places if you don't want to get in
troubles (read about them)
Conclusions:
I come back with a positive and respectful image
of Iran and his population. Further I still have with me the
memory of the unforgettable five days spent in Esfahan,
the most intense moments I've ever lived during my travels.
Alby
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