Iran

[the-ninth]

A few pictures from a recent trip to Iran, where I visited Tehran, Shiraz and Isfahan. It was a great trip, with atmospheric cities and very welcoming people. I experienced the locals as very open-minded and honest, had conversations on everything from politics, religion to society, got invited to dinners and dragged along to theater plays.

[the-ninth]

A few more ...

[the-ninth]

The third one was taken on a war cemetery in Tehran, where 200,000 of Iran's 500,000 killed from the Iran-Iraq war are buried. Each of the graves has a glass box as headstone, with pictures and personal items of the dead soldier. I have never seen a more moving and personal display of the effects of war.

[the-ninth]

A few more picture from the trip can be found here:

http://www.the-ninth.com/index.php?mode=browse&area=gallery&aid=27

[unruled]

Im jealous, those are great picture of a beautiful country!
(stupid F______ politicians, ruining ties with such a friendly place).

[the-ninth]

Im jealous, those are great picture of a beautiful country!
(stupid F______ politicians, ruining ties with such a friendly place).

You are right, politicians on both sides are really screwing up here.

But the other sad thing from tourist point of view is that if relations would be good, no sanctions, no war talk, then the place would be overrun and would loose lots of its charm. It is incredible to be in places like the main square of Isfahan or Persepolis near Shiraz with no other foreign tourists around.

Cheers, Robert

[unruled]

Im with you I totally agree about the tourists as well.. for me the best feeling is when Im in a place devoid of other tourists. Visiting thailand and south east asia during the riots ~2 years ago was great as well. Walking downtown bangkok without seing tourists.. thats rare!

the irony of what we do.. sharing beautiful places, thereby corrupting them. There will always be hidden gems to be found though!