Iran? But are you crazy? Aren’t you afraid? They are terrorists, bombers, Muslims, it is dangerous… I heard these and other words over and over again while I was planning my journey; every time I heard those words, my desire to go to Iran was greater. It has always made me confused to hear criticism without having something to prove the content of it! It has always made me confused to judge someone because of his/her religion, colour or appearance! It has always made me confused that people believe everything they hear!
The truth is that I did not know well what was going on and to be honest I have to admit that I was afraid, yes, I was afraid every second I went through ancient Persia, or rather, I still am every time I think of those twenty one days.
I’m afraid I will never go back there again! It scares me so much!
I cannot believe everything I’ve been through! There are no people like this, starting with Sahar, who on my first day in the country greeted me at home at four o’clock in the morning with a contagious smile, an addictive look, and incredible energy that has left me in love without realizing it. Then there was little Katea, who called me brother and cried the day I left, after spending three days in her small village in Kurdistan, where her parents made me eat every meal at their house and still paid for the room where I was staying to sleep. As well as the habitants of this village who, on my last afternoon there, invited me to drink twenty three teas in different houses! And I almost forgot to mention the two men at the bus station almost fighting between them to decide who would take me to lunch at his house! I also cannot forget Saeed, who made his house mine, and also Malieh, who showed me part of the Persian culture full of flavours and history.
I will not mention all those who approached me on the street, who invited me to their homes, who offered me food, who showed me the places where I wanted to go. I’m not going to talk about all those who just wanted to spend a few minutes talking to me, and nor will I mention all those who passed me and offered me the best smile they had…
I wanted to write about the colourful Nasir al-Mulk Mosque in Shiraz, towering above the vibrant Naqsh-e Jahan Square in Isfahan, or even about the small mud houses that seemed to cascade down through the village of Palangan, but I cannot: every time the subject of Iran comes up, my thoughts are invaded by people, by everything they gave me, without ever accepting anything in return.
Love – the/a feeling that impels us to the object of our desires; Object of our affection; passion; affection; inclination;
Captive or possessive love: love that seeks to monopolize the other for itself;
– conjugal love: the radical embrace by which a person unites his destiny to the being of another person;
– oblative love: what is dedicated to others;
This is the meaning of love in the Portuguese dictionary; but it could be the meaning of Iran in any dictionary in the world!
Love and Iran, Iran and love, the same meaning written in a different way!
Picture: Little Katea, Kurdistan.
Nicely written. You post is compelling me to visit Iran. Beautiful pictures too. Iran, yes I have added it to my travel list.
You will have a great time there I believe 😉
I love how you show the people of Iran. I have read that the people are very generous and you also experienced that. The people of Iran are people like everywhere. There’s a lot to be learned by a visit in Iran, as the people will welcome you with open arms by feeding you and providing shelter. Great insight, thanks for sharing.
Thanks Sara. The way I show them is the way they are. Kind, kind, kind!!
Fantastic post! Iran is on my list of destinations for the reason that it’s not on many other peoples lists! That’s exciting. I really don’t like when people say stuff like why go there the people are all this and that, It’s so narrow minded. It makes me want to go to a place more like yourself and the people are always so nice and will do anything to be kind and helpful. I liked the bit about the 2 men almost fighting to take you to lunch at their homes 🙂 Really enjoyed this post. Thanks for sharing!
I Simon, happy that you like. The people from Iran will welcome you in the best way when you go there. They are the kindest people I have ever meet!!
Yes it’s a place I would never travel with my wife. Iran would be a great tourist location, if it wasn’t for all the bad publicity. Your story put across a friendly and loving country to outside people. Well done sharing your story.
Hi Tony, I tell you that you should go there with your wife. Both of you will have an awesome experience and learn a lot!!
I love iran
Yeahhhh!! Iran is something so good 🙂 <3
Sure media have a way of twisting things but it’s good to hear/get genuine stories/info from travelers like you. Thank you for giving the better image. My stereotype for Iranians changed when I met the kindest, most loving Iranian friends some time ago. Now, my view on the country as a tourist destination has also changed. Again, thanks for sharing your story!
I am so happy to know that you have Iranian friends! You should go visit the country 🙂
Added to the bucket list, I think!
😉
I didn’t know how hospitable and good hearted the Iranian people are until this post. I am so touched reading about your experience. All the bad news that we hear about this country have made ignorant of the lot of us who haven’t even been there to begin with. I want to go there myself. I think it’s time that people start writing about the beautiful things this country has to offer the way you did.
When you go there you will have an unforgettable experience, Marge!
They are so kind and they will do everything to help you out and make you feel at home! 🙂
Lovely experience of the love and warmth of the people. We always believe that at the core people are the same everywhere. The same emotions run through them in whichever country in the world we go to. Stereotyping people based on caste or country is really not fair. There are good and bad people everywhere.
So true Sandy 🙂
Bravo. We’d love to visit Iran too. I’m sure the people are as wonderful as you say. And the culture and history are incredibly rich too. Was the Visa process difficult?
Hi Guys! I know that in some countries the visa process takes time, but In Portugal, it took just 3 days and it was so easy 🙂
I love the introductory paragraph of your piece! People often fear what they don’t understand and know about. So much awaits, and we wouldn’t discover them if we will just stay in the comforts of our home just because we are scared. If you let fear win over you, you wouldn’t be able to meet little Katea, you wouldn’t be able to drink 23 teas from different houses, and you wouldn’t be able to spread the word and love from Iran! Keep walking around! 🙂
“Places that seem lovely at first glance may actually be sinister, but places that feel sinister seldom turn out to be lovely.” ―Andrew Solomon, Far & Away: Places on the Brink of Change: Seven Continents, Twenty-Five Years
Thanks a lot Mikee!! Loved that quote, make me want to read this book!
Hi fabioinacio,
I am too glad to hear that you had such a wonderful trip and enjoyed your time in my country.
I would like to thank you for sharing your experience and hope to see again there.
Hi Leila! I can´t describe by words how amazing it was my journey in your country, most of it because the wonderful people I meet!
I am sure that I will be there again soon! Planning to go this year before summer 😉
Places like Iran need more love and understanding from everyone else who lets fear eat them. If only people would go out there and see the place for their self! You’re amazing for spreading the beautiful story of Iran! Xx
Thanks Trisha, happy that you like 🙂
I have not been able to put Iran in my itinerary for the fears that you mentioned first. But now I know there are welcoming warm people there. Hope to get there soon.
😉
Your story is so heart warming. I am touched. I am touched by the fact that love and humanity is so strongly present at a place which has gone through so much of hard time recently. People are really so good and nice all over the world
A very well written post which is pushing me and will push others too to visit Iran someday soon. I could understand that people are humble and generous as well their culture and traditions are great.
Yeah, I hope you do it to yourself and go there see with your eyes this amazing country!!
Sure there are lots of criticisms and rumours and other threats not to visit Iran. At first I thought the same thing but I also have heard and read a lot about nice and wonderful things about this place including yours and surely, will visit Iran one day in the future. Nice and kind people are everywhere. Lucky you got to encounter and experience them! Love Iran indeed! 🙂
So good to know that you want to go there, you will love i am sure 🙂
How was it drinking twenty-three teas? I enjoyed reading your post and this is the true meaning of hospitality. It is true then – “To travel is to discover that everyone is wrong about other countries.”
I can say that I spent my evening at the toilet ahaha 🙂
It was something so amazing, their hospitality has no words. Going back soon!!
Yup, that’s the wrong notion most people know about the Middle East. These are the countries that need more of our love and support rather than giving them that stereotype that the places in the Middle East are dangerous well in fact they are not. I hope that people start to understand that these kinds of places also have something to boast. They are just being enveloped by negative news all around.
wow, this is good! I would love visit Iran, but I am not sure if this is a good time to visit it. because of lot of things going around there!
I am going there next month again 😉
I am almost teary-eyed here. I don’t understand why people are so judgmental without even seeking to understand all the aspects and the sides of the story. Why would they immediately come up with assumptions without even realizing the truth behind everything. I know it is scary and may not be safe. But it does not mean it is a bad place and should be avoided absolutely. I want to go to Iran and meet these people. 🙁
It was on of the best decisions of my life to go there 🙂
It is great post far different from the ones you see in the media.. Thanks for sharing your story..
Yeah Michael, the media have a lot of bad things unfortunately! They just show what they want and many times they don’t want to show the truth!!
Wow, your post is mindblowing. You broke all the negativity that goes on everywhere at the mention of Iran. Happy to know that it’s the opposite of it. Kudos for taking that trip and proving that having an open mind as a traveler is so essential to have these kinds of blissful experiences. Touching post!
Happy that you like, Hope you head there soon 😉
Wow that picture of the little girl is so lovely. We love your introduction, this is exactly how everyone we know back home reacts when we tell them we really want to go to Iran/ It’s so great to read a story from someone that appreciated their time there so much! We can’t wait to go!
You will have a great time, the Persian people are so beautiful 🙂
Nicely written post. I’ve never been to Iran and I can’t say it’s ever really appealed to me. However it sounds like you experienced a magical time their and received an outpouring of love from the Iranian people. Thank you for sharing and hopefully it will inspire others to visit – who knows maybe even me!
You should do it, you will not regret 😉
What an incredible experience in a country that is termed as one of the dangerous place to live on earth. Couldn’t agree more on the fact that just because there’s war happening, the people are not nice in Iran. And you are definitely lucky to meet so many amazing people during your stay and take back such happy memories.
Yeah, because that I am going back next month 🙂
I loved reading this article. Travel has taught me one thing, most of the issues we see on the TV are media created hype . While there may be some truth it would be wrong to brand each and every citizen of that country as bad. After it is a minuscule percentage who are terrorists and evil .
Iran has been on my list for sometime now. Hope it materializes soon,
You will Lov 😉
When I saw your blog title, my curiosity lured me to find out about your experience in Iran. I lived in the UAE for 12 years just across the Persian Gulf, but I have always been afraid to cross. I heard both good and not so pleasant stories from friends who visited and former colleagues who used to live there. This post reminded me of my previous clients from Iran who I must say were one of the nicest people I have met and I thoroughly enjoyed working with them. I think it’s really brave of you to personally see the place for yourself despite what the media or the rest of the world say. It is refreshing to read a different side to a place seen first hand and experience that kind of love.
Hello Arni, the bad stories exist everywhere, even in my country in Portugal sometimes happens bad stuff but the truth is that in Iran I felt so safe, really, so safe… I just arrived from the second time in there 🙂 I understand what you said about your client. Actually, my best friend is now from Iran!! Thanks for read 😉
Iran is in my wishlist since many years but I was always blocked by people that warn me.
I will stop believe in ppl, this article definitely give me the strength to organize a trip and go!
Thank you so much 🙂
You will hear a lot of good things from everyone who has been there! It is so good, it is really so good there.