Blogs from Esfahan, West, Iran, Middle East - page 5

Crossing the border from Pakistan was no trouble at all and I was ushered through in less than an hour, it was once I was in Iran however that things started to get more complicated. I was issued with an army officer and told that from now on for my own safety he would travel with me. This didn't make much sense because it is far more dangerous on the Pakistani side and I had no guard there, but I had no choice in the matter so off we headed. On the way to Zahedan (The first big town on the Iranian side) we passed a number of checkpoints and at each I was issued with a new guard along with the accompanying paperwork which meant a lot of standing around on my part. Finally arriving ... read more

Shiraz (Persepolis) - Yazd - Esfahan - Kashan - Tehran If George W. Bush wants to know where Iran is hiding its nuclear facilities, I can tell him. I have seen one of them on the A80 highway between Esfahan and Kashan. Iran is proud of its nuclear ambitions and makes no secret of where much of the work is taking place. After passing through, I read that the president ordered the sites be opened for passing tourists to explore. Should Bush & friends choose to drop bombs on the site as they have threatened to now & then, they may run into a little trouble; the whole area, for miles around, is protected by thousands of anti-aircraft guns. Tourists may be welcome but foreign intervention is not. If you have ever tired of hearing about ... read more

Hey everyone, Well it's been a while since I've posted anything. Was just too busy I guess, in my 3 weeks tour of Iran, loving it, hating it too cause of all the restrictions you're faced to especially as a woman, picking up some farsi words, very little, getting to know and love the Persian culture a little bit more each and everyday. Iranian people don't like to be reminded that Arab language and sometime culture is a bit similar to theirs, Iranian women trying to defy the system by wearing a scarf that doesn't cover their hair at all, and use it as a seductive tool, Iran the land where you can find anything from some wine, or stronger alcohol to hash and grass, very very easily, faster than getting a bottle of water as ... read more

The night we arrived in Esfahan, I prayed to any deity who would listen, to give us clear blue skies during our visit to Naqsh-Jahan Square in exchange for cutting down on cigarettes, booze (well that wasnt volountary) and the life of my ipod. Whoever it was, it worked. Our day exploring Isfahan was sunny as ever, the sky mimicking the colour of the beautiful blue domes and tiles. At last, I would be able to accomplish 2 points on my 'things to do before I expire' list: -Task#5: Moonwalk along at least half of the huge Square, to 'Billie Jean'. Yeoowww -Task#6: Sing Evita's 'Don't cry for me Argentina' - but for Naqsh-Jahan, from the balcony at Ali Capu palace. (luckily I dont have any photographic evidence for myself because I was so into ... read more

ESFAHAN La “perla turistica” dell’Iran, tappa obbligata di qualunque tour nella terra di Persia. Arriviamo di prima mattina e dopo una breve ricerca troviamo un alberghetto opportunamente e comodamente posizionato rispetto ai luoghi di principale interesse: l’Aria Hotel :)! Qui la situazione cambia in meglio, il centro della citta’ è delizioso, tutto estremamente pulito, curato, MOLTO piacevole. La città è grande, circa 3 milioni di abitati; il suo centro è bagnato da un fiume orlato da decine di ponti, alcuni dei quali molto antichi e le numerose piazze, aiuole, moschee e parchi tutti incredibilmente curati fanno di Esfahan il posto ideale per qualunque tipo di turismo. Komehini square è un’enorme piazza, fra le più grandi al mondo, con giardini perfetti e fontane, circondata da due moschee, l’Ali Ghapu’ palace e l’entrata principale del bazaar. Giriamo t ... read more