[Closed] Anybody been to Iran?

Ed march has

Yeah, back in the early 90’s.

Sailing into Bendas Abbas was “interesting”

It was a rough old place back then, but we had to tick it off the list. On board was two beautiful bronzed 20 something women (without tan lines) and boy o boy did they get a lot of attention. Almost got thrown in jail for not wearing scarfs and full veils when walking down the marina (sea wall with about 200 fishermen pole fishing off it)

Didn’t realise the rules about clothing and religion, totally ignorant TBH, learned a hard lesson that week I can tell you.

Since then, no.

But I do know a wonderful family who came here to work, and have spent many a long evening listening to them talk about the “old days”

Heh - love that bike of Ed’s. Rode it round an obstacle course a few weeks ago - was great fun. Totally failed to repeat the course 2up 😂

Rachel

My manger in a previous job used to drive a tour bus from here to India in the early 80's and he had driven across Iran many times and he said it was great even with a government minder in tow.

Yes, I went about 15 years ago and had a great time. Wonderful people, really interesting place. I spent time in Tehran and at a place on the Caspian Sea. It was too hot to be wearing a headscarf, trousers, and long coat though!

The tricky bit is getting a visa to travel there.

Yep, mid seventies before the revolution.

I spent a short time helping the early stages of setting up an academic publishing unit to work better with UK and US publishing houses. Four years later it was gone.

Only there 3 weeks, saw very little but everyone seemed very friendly to the Brits. The Americans had a slightly harder ride.

I haven't. My dad worked there just before the revolution. Said the people were friendly and lots of amazing scenery/places of interest.

No but many colleagues have, and all very positive - friendly locals and fascinating places to visit

Don’t forget to put ‘journalism lecturer’ on your visa application, and if they query it just tell the Boris said it was all fine

Spent about 3 weeks there last year. Absolutely amazing spot, some stunning sites and incredibly friendly people as well. We travelled on Australian passports so could do it independently which was easy. Tehran is a bit intense, Isfahan is stunning and Yazd was a highlight as well.

My sister and BIL went this year and loved it. People were super--friendly and keen to try out their English.

Yep, went last year for 10 days for business purposes. Spent a couple of days in In Tehran, then flew south to Sirjan, travelled by road to Kirman and flew back to Tehran.

The people are incredibly friendly and the ones I met were moderate and (off the record) wanted change.

Only had an afternoon of touristy stuff in Kirman, visiting an ancient bazaar which was great. Be prepared to get stared at (normal for a freak like me). Other than that the scenery is amazing if you like mountains and wide open vistas. Plenty of scope for riding.

I’ve no idea about internal travel and accommodation and probably a bit of forward planning and arrangements would go along way.

I went in Feb/March and the weather varied massively from Tehran (cold with snow on the ski hills to the north) to pretty pleasant in the desert around Sirjan. It does get as hot as b@lls though.

Note that if you want to go to USA following a trip to Iran you’ll have to go for an interview at the Embassy. Definitely don’t let that put you off though.

I recently read a book called “Revolutionary Ride” by Lois Price. Lone female motorcycles through Iran for several weeks and wrote a book about it. Recent trip, 2015 I think. Her account was of a wonderful place. Only 1 unsavoury incident in an industrial, poor, drug addled town. Otherwise amazing and friendly. Recommended read if you’re thinking of going.

While cycle touring in Europe a few years ago, I met a couple who went on to cycle across Iran (and eventually all the way to SE Asia). They seemed to have a great time. People kept dragging them off the road into their homes and feeding them large quantities of delicious food wherever they went, and driving them around to find bike shops when they had mechanical problems. The ordinary citizens of the country appeared to be extremely hospitable.

Yes, 10 years ago. Spent 3 weeks travelling solo, Tehran - Masuleh - Shiraz - Yazd - Isfahan - Tehran.

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TLDR: It lived up to everything I'd read. The welcome was second to none, the people were just fantastic and the history/architecture etc incredible. I encourage all who are thinking about going to do it.
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I've done a fair bit of solo travel and have had some really great experiences, but it's the trip to Iran that I think about most fondly. Never short of people genuinely (i.e. no leading up to a shop tour) wanting to chat, show me around etc. which was lovely.

I got chatting to the chap next to me on an internal flight and he took a day out to show me the best of Shiraz, expecting nothing in return. I just about managed to buy him lunch!

In Isfahan I was sitting in the main square, and got chatting to a girl who had ambitions of being a tour guide. For the next few days I must have been shown every highlight of Isfahan. Inside Sheikh Lotfollah mosque is an experience I will never forget, just one of the most beautiful places I've ever had the pleasure to sit and take in.

Another day, 2 girls approach me in a pizza place and ask me why I'm queueing for such crappy food, and that instead I should have lunch at theirs. I pushed aside any uncertain feelings and a short taxi ride later (where they joked whether I thought they were terrorists mugging me) arrived at the house where the mother had made a feast of a lunch. After lunch I was invited to the other girls house for dinner the next day where I was introduced to the entire extended family. Over dinner they decided we'd all go out for a day trip the next day, up (I think) Mount Soffeh and elsewhere to a bird sanctuary. Despite me insisting, they wouldn't let me pay for a bloody thing. Even when towards the end of the day I asked whether I could at least buy them ice-creams, the father said no as I am their guest, and proceeded to buy ice-creams for everyone 🙂

I've never experienced such genuine hospitality before on such a scale. The people I met are the furthest you can get from the scare stories associated with Iran, and I still keep in touch with the odd email and annual Nowruz message.

So, the dodgy bits? I must have had some right?

Chatting to a few lads in Isfahan, there was one who had a few choice words to say about the UK and he got very mildly aggravated towards me. We carried on chatting (through someone interpreting) and I said something along the lines of a government's actions not always representing the people, and that obviously struck a chord. I can't remember how it all started, but it all ended with handshakes and then he turned up again 5 mins later with a rose for me.

Leaving Isfahan very early one morning to catch a train, no buses so decided to walk. Car pulls up with 2 men in the front and they ask where I'm going, and yeah they'll give me a lift. I'm in the back, following the route in my book as we drive and realise that they miss the turning for the station and carry on. I mention it and they smile and carry on driving, and we also carry on straight at the next turning. Just as I'm beginning to brick it, I show the map and turns out they thought I was going from a different train station. About turn, and I get dropped off with plenty of time for my train. And yes you got it, they wouldn't accept anything for the ride.

Sorry for the long post, but if anyone gets me on the subject of Iran this is what tends to happen. Unlikely perhaps, but I still look forward to randomly meeting someone from Iran in Bristol and having the opportunity to return the level of hospitality I received. They won't know what hit them.

A mate drove through doing the Mongol rally, said it was one of the most amazing places he has visited, super friendly people and scenery to die for.

Yes, 6 years ago to Isfahan.  Very interesting place.

If you are white in a place like that you get a fair bit of attention - mostly in a good way.  The younger people stop you to speak with you about the outside world.  It's a bit sad really, they want to know what outsiders think of Iran and they are very curious about 'your' life.  They were all very polite.

We did get held by the police at the airport for a few hours on our way in, I have no idea why.

The other interesting thing was I didn't see one fat person - one of the many benefits of not having McDonalds/ Starbucks etc.

There are far more dangerous places in the world to go I would think.

I haven’t but would love to go. I have met one Iranian lady though. She stayed at my hostel in a mixed sex dorm and was studying gender something or other in England. She was lovely, really interesting. Nothing like the sh1t the media would have us believe.

I put a book together back around 1977/78 about the Land of Pars archeological ruins, with translations of the cuneiform and Arabic script by Rev RN Sharpe, and since then I’ve rather fancied going out there with my copy and seeing them as they are now.

https://www.amazon.com/Land-Pars-Historical-Monuments-Archaeological/dp/0902633481

My GF is half Iranian through her dad.

Get a lot of visits from her extended family and all of them are lovely people (and the women - my GF's cousins - are generally very attractive!).

GF went there for 3 months about six years ago to learn the language. She was staying with family, but still experienced a few bizarre situations; not being allowed to ride a bike, being stored for showing too much hair and having to be escorted by her 12 year old male cousin in an internet café.

Would like to go myself, but isn't on top of my list of priorities.....

I would love to go. A former student of mine with whom I have kept in touch is Iranian, and used to fly back and forth regularly, has told me I must go, but I need no convincing. Just time.

Note that if you want to go to USA following a trip to Iran you’ll have to go for an interview at the Embassy. Definitely don’t let that put you off though.

You can get two passports in certain circumstances, makes things this a lot easier. My mate travells a lot more than I do. He has one for Isreal and the US and another for everywhere else.