After weeks travelling the country, I get the
distinct impression that the image of danger
is just that, an image. Curious friendly people
approach me, not once am I accosted and I
never actually feel in danger. Occasionally,
I elect to wander alone, exploring Tehran’s
gigantic maze ‘Grand Bazaar,’ stumbling into
teahouses and generally ambling the streets
with map in hand; I feel safe. Is this owing to
the dress code, you may ask? Iran’s religious
regime imposes the hijab. But my gut intuition
is that this is irrelevant. Iranians are generally
hospitable, respectful and down-to-earth.
Filled with curiosity to learn beyond their
borders; an insatiable appetite for knowledge
hewed over centuries along the plateau, I
actually find that being alone enhances ease
of conversation. Travelling solo makes it
fantastically easy to meet people, becoming a
highlight of my trip.
Major cities Shiraz, Isfahan and Tehran are
steeped in heady eclecticism. Isfahan is
sophisticated, graced with arched bridges,
wide boulevards and the Unesco world
heritage Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque, dominating
the second largest square in the world, Nagsh
e-Jahan; itself a world heritage site. Shiraz
is the city of romance with famous gardens
and a bazaar loaded with intricate Persian
handicrafts. But if there’s one standalone
reason to visit Iran, Persepolis is it. Once the
capital of the biggest world empire dating back
to 500BC, the site is loaded with archaeological
masterpieces, elaborate carvings and tombs
that boggle the mind.
Extremes of temperature belie the region;
hot dry desert to very cold snowy mountains.
Capital, Tehran, is living proof, as