Iran travel info
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 |
|
|
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
|
