| Going to Iran
Posted: 1/12/2009 9:48:04 PM | | I have been a few places and I don't like the way things work in obvious tourist destinations like hawaii. It feels so fake. I want to go somewhere that will be extremely different from America and its hard to think of many places more different from America than Iran. I've also been fascinated by muslim architecture since my art history class and I know I will be seeing something few Americans ever do. I want to go but I've heard very good and bad things about it. Does anyone have any insight? | |
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| Going to Iran
Posted: 1/13/2009 3:17:03 PM | I lived there for three years as a child. (I'm a military brat.)
I wouldn't go back. But that's just me. | |
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| Going to Iran
Posted: 1/13/2009 4:39:12 PM | I've actually heard mainly good things about it but I am not sure Americans will easily get in. Check with the American government website (not sure what External Affaris is called in the USA).
Other places you could go are Oman, certain parts of Turkey, Syria (supposed to be great with few tourists) or Morocco. | |
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| Going to Iran
Posted: 1/13/2009 4:55:14 PM | Hi blacklotus;
Iran is probably not an option at this point, but you might find some other coutries not as dangerous with the kind of architecture you're seeking...Bonne chance! | |
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| Going to Iran
Posted: 1/14/2009 5:30:56 AM | It is possible for an American to visit Iran, just very difficult. I spent two years living in a country bordering Iran, Azerbaijan. In fact, I spent one year living pretty much right on the Iranian border in Naxcivan. You will have to either have a tour operator sponsor you or have an Iranian family do so. You will not be allowed to go anywhere on your own. At all times, you must have someone with you and know of your whereabouts. Even with a sponsor, there is no guarantee of entry. Many of the people in Iran do not know of what is happening between the US and Iran. Many of the political rallies seen on tv are staged. Additionally, more highly educated Iranians will tell you that if not for the US and the number of Iranians currently living there and sending money back to their families in Iran, the economy of Iran would collapse. I found the Iranians I met in my travels to be very friendly and welcoming. If you can get in, I say do it. Do not broadcast you are an American, but at the same time go for it.
If Iran does not work out, you could always check out Azerbaijan (Baku is wonderful and the women are the most incredible I have seen, but I just landed in Japan today so my opinion might change, Sheki has a rich history, Ganja has incredible geography and the exclave of Naxcivan is an interesting chunk of land that I called home for a year) and from there go into Turkey. Eastern Turkey is not that widely frequented by Westerners and it has some of the most incredible history. | |
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| Going to Iran
Posted: 1/14/2009 3:29:21 PM | | mickeydee is right about Eastern Turkey, hardly any tourists there, has an amazing history that goes back 10,000 years, great (and sometimes stark) landscapes, and climbing Mt Ararat is a blast if you can stand the bureaucracy. | |
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| Going to Iran
Posted: 1/14/2009 8:30:23 PM | I think that you would find Iran a very interesting and safe place to visit.
Just because the Iranian government is antagonistic towards the US, it does not mean that the Iranian people feel the same way. If you check the travel advisiories from your government you will probably discover that it is not recommended to head to areas too close to the Eastern borders with Afghanistan and Pakistan, but historic cities such as Shiraz and Esfahan are quite easy to visit.
Though I have never been to Iran, I have travelled extensively in Muslim countries, including many in this region, and I have always felt very welcome. | |
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| Going to Iran
Posted: 1/17/2009 6:58:06 AM | | I believe the last 3 posters have pretty well captured the reality of the given subject matter. My humble offering is also based on my travel experiences as I was fortunate enough to travel to Yemen back in the fall of 2000. Albeit pre 911, I had found the Yemeni people to be incredibly hospitable, very inquisitive , and overall just very friendly affable people. Over the course of my 1 month being there, I had been invited numerous times to people's homes for food and drink and casual conversation. Whilst in a small village called Thilla, my travel campanion and I were invited to this older gentleman's home for dinner. Upon arriving, he proceeded in showing us his Kalishnokov collection( yeah yeah I know I didnt even come close to spelling that right) and even let us fire off a couple of rounds into the surrounding landscape. Every room in his house( more of a mansion really) had a painting/portrait of Saddam Hussein. You can imagine how unsettling that could be to us Westerners given the current political paranoia. Anyway, I digress...the night turned out to be one of the most enjoyable memorable experiences of that trip. I say go to Iran though you better make it quick. This could be the year.....(I'll let your imagination fill those 3 dots) | |
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| Going to Iran
Posted: 1/17/2009 8:09:33 PM | | I really appreciate all that has been said. I can understand people in the area being interested in a westerner because they see so few of them. I think the government of Iran tries very hard to make westerners scared of them so they can isolate thier citizens which makes thier anti-western propaganda much more powerful. I have heard that if you go to Iran you must be very careful of what you say and do. I'm somewhat concerned but at the same time I feel there is so much there I want to see | |
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| Going to Iran
Posted: 1/17/2009 9:06:53 PM |
not sure what External Affaris is called in the USA).
The State Deparment. | |
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| Going to Iran
Posted: 1/18/2009 10:56:09 PM | You might check this video on google videos, it is a trip report by a group of senior Americans:
http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=one+hour+video+about+iran&emb=0&aq=f# | |
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| Going to Iran
Posted: 1/24/2009 6:34:01 AM | | There are a lot of other places you can goto besides Iran. I have been to Iraq, Israel, Bahrain, and currently I am in Qatar. I will probably be going to Dubai and Afghanistan pretty soon also. Bahrain was very nice, however, it was pretty expensive their currency is currently triple ours I believe. I would goto Dubai, Qatar, or Bahrain if you are interested in architecture. They are very friendly towards westerners as well. Israel was a blast as well, but I didn't even feel like I left the US to be honest with you... | |
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| Going to Iran
Posted: 1/27/2009 4:17:46 PM | I lived in Iran as a child and absolutely LOVED the experience. It made the man and world traveler I am today.
Iranians are beautiful people, friendly, and love Americans. This is true to this day, even if the GOVERNMENT has serious issues.
I say it's worth the effort! As in any country, try to respect the customs though... don't wear shorts and a f*cking baseball hat for example, that goes for any Muslim Country for what that's worth.
Hire a guide... Tehran can be a complicated city to navigate on your own (unless you already speak Persian).
I'm jealous.
James, Seattle, WAshington, USA, Earth | |
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| Going to Iran
Posted: 1/27/2009 5:41:17 PM | the first time i really felt in a 'foreign' country, was when i went to israel (after traveling in many western type european countries and north america)...i loved it there... and then kenya and tanzania (away from nairobi/dar) was the same way... many parts of africa have a very muslim 'feel' and may be safer than iran... depending on when you go, i guess...
just make sure that you contact the consulate wherever you go, so they know you're there and can try to ship you out if 'unrest' occurs... | |
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| Going to Iran
Posted: 1/31/2009 9:37:04 AM | I traveled all over Iran in the 70"s and there is a lot to see in the country. There are many people in the country that are American friendly, but the government is not. Back then, the country was the most Americanized country of the middle east and I have worked in them all. There is a lot of ancient still there, but a lot was lost forever.
Tunisia has an enormous amount of ancient history and it is totally accessable to the public. You can walk on ancient mosaic tiled floors and visit forts and other ancient cities and ruins in a small country that is more friendly. There are local museums to visit as well and there are many hotels in Tunis or on the Mediteranian Sea. The ancient walled city is still intact in the city of Tunis with its narrow winding streets. Check it out. | |
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| Going to Iran
Posted: 2/1/2009 10:47:02 AM | personaly i think its a bit of a sin you going to iran and helping fund there country. i don't know if you read it in your newspaper or watched on all the T.v news programmes but members of the british forces were held hostage for a number of days by the iranians . so if you go its a bit of a kick in the teeth to your fellow country men.
and theres other touchy subjects that iran has to offer that would put me off. but hey thats part of the fun of iran i suppose.
but please tell us what its like im slightly intrquied as to how you'll find it. | |
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| Going to Iran
Posted: 2/2/2009 9:00:20 AM | A SIN to go to Iran??? Whaaa?
I don't know if YOU read it in your newspaper or watch it on the tv news, but the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA gathered up hundreds of INNOCENT boys and men and TORTURED THEM and now won't let them go home because they will TALK about their treatment.
And you make a big deal out of a few military personnel being held by Iran for a few days who, by all accounts were treated just fine?
Do you warn people not to visit the U.S. because they money supports the U.S. government?
Maybe you need to watch different tv news, minty.
James, Seattle, Washington, USA, Earth | |
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| Going to Iran
Posted: 2/2/2009 9:21:30 AM | hey there buddy^^
america are not sending those "hundreads of boys and men" home because there frightened incase they blab about the torture methods they adopted on them.
wake up and smell the cheese will you, there a danger to society a danger to me and you.
im confident your on about the terrorist prison in cuba? the main threat the coalition forces face in iraq are of the iranians. the mortars the ied's the fighters are mainly iranian.
i don't read the newspapers an awful lot as you might think im full of dog pooh as i think of the papers. | |
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| Going to Iran
Posted: 2/4/2009 2:48:50 AM | personaly i think its a bit of a sin you going to iran and helping fund there country.
Actually, having traveled and currently living overseas, it would be a greater detriment for him not to go to Iran. First, any money the OP would spend to "fund" Iran would be minimal in the grand scheme of the Iranian economy. Second, one of the greatest things about traveling overseas is meeting the locals and exchanging ideas and hopefully further destroying stereotypes that both parties may hold. Speaking for myself, I spent a year living in the Naxcivan Autonomous Republic of Azerbaijan. According to the US Embassy in Azerbaijan, I was the first American to do so and at the time I was the only westerner living there. Many of my students and people I met in the city had a stereotype about Americans. They thought we are rich (not me), but when the average worker there makes about $200-$300 a month, most westerners seem very rich. They also thought we all live in mansions and were sad to discover that I owned a small condo. They were also shocked to discover that I did not own a gun, I have never been in a gang, I had, at the time, only three serious girlfriends during my life and were amazed I was not that arrogant about being an American. After watching television broadcasts in the West, I was concerned about living in a Muslim country. I thought they hated all Americans. However, I soon discovered that most of the people I met were extremely friendly and welcoming. There were families in Naxcivan who had pretty much close to nothing, but were always inviting me to dinner because I was single and "had no one to take care of me". Granted, there were some people who were convinced that I was one way or another and refused to change their opinions about me, but you cannot reach nor change everyone. Additionally, while many of the people I met opposed US foreign policy, they were smart enough to know that merely being an American does not equate to agreeing with everything the government does.
i don't know if you read it in your newspaper or watched on all the T.v news programmes but members of the british forces were held hostage for a number of days by the iranians
I am assuming that you are mentioning the British forces captured off of the Iranian/Iraqi coast in 2007. They were captured in disputed waters and according to many reports, the British forces were the first raise their weapons. You can read the wiki page here --> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_Iranian_seizure_of_Royal_Navy_personnel <--and make up your own mind.
If the OP can get into Iran, I say do it. I would frankly envy him. | |
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| Going to Iran
Posted: 3/20/2009 2:02:31 PM | The iranians are very polite, principled, and hospitable, in a good old fasioned way. They do have parties and drink wine indoors, they are pretty chilled out really.
You may have trouble getting a Visa, as the have to be sure that you are not a spy for isreal, There may be some animosity towards americans due to the number of arabic people killed in the "war on terror".
You will find that not many of the ordinary people like in shops and etc can speak english or french, but the middle and upper class and almost all speak either or both.
praise them about everything, their food, their politics, it is what they understand and they would be very old fasioned-etiquette-polite if they were round yours so... sensitivity. | |
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| Going to Iran
Posted: 3/20/2009 6:19:36 PM | You have a GREAT attitude, Aztec. If you weren't a guy I'd date you.
Hugs all the same (and a kiss on each cheek),
James, Seattle | |
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| Going to Iran
Posted: 4/4/2009 2:57:37 AM | It isn't a matter of governments or what have you. He wants to go to experience something different. The culture is amazing and completely different from the US and the people, in general, will be very inviting and welcoming.
I understand that there have been many wrong-doings by extremists, but what country is perfect? We shouldn't judge any nation based on bad things by a select few.
But hey maybe I'm biased since I'm from there.. ;) | |
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| Going to Iran
Posted: 4/28/2009 6:38:31 AM | I like to find Iranian american friend and talk with them
wish the best for everybody
ramy | |
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| Going to Iran
Posted: 4/29/2009 9:17:06 PM | I was fortunate enough to travel overland through that part of the world in mid 1978...
hopped the Greek islands to southern Turkey, hitched and bussed it east past Mt Ararat through Iran to Afghanistan and on down to the plains of India to Sri lanka....
I stayed in Teheran for 2 weeks checking out some Oil companies for some pipe welding work.... but decided to travel on... updated all my booster shots in medical clinic that was as modern as anything you'd see today, even.. I was impressed with the Iranis and their city back then and never felt any hostility.. I then went to Meshad for a while to check out the Blue Mosque and the carpet bazaar.. I bought $700US worth of genuine antique Persian rugs... stayed at the guys house. well, marble floored "palace" with wall to wall rugs, sitting cross legged on the floor with his Canadian wife and family eating simple rice dishes and local foods..... and then trusted him to pack the carpets up and ship them to Australia.... and then headed off ... the hand sewn rolled calico parcel was waiting at home when I arrived 6 months later... an exercise in trust....
during this time there were student and religeous demos / marches going on in both cities... tanks were at the Uni in Meshad.... but as a westener I passed through without much as a second glance from the fiercest looking of the mullahs....
then caught a bus to Herat, Afghanistan... with no border hassles.... ahh '78
6 months later it had all gone to shiite.. the shah deposed by the mullahs and the russians invading kabul.... and now the west is having a turn to stir the place up.... never ending for the locals,,, sigh..
It's a shame the old "hippy trail" through that part of the world has become a war zone for the last 30 yrs..... I'd have gone back to do it again for sure if the world was like it was back then.. there's so much to see ,the people are friendly... and the flow of tourist dollars would have helped those businesses along the way.... and we'd all still be friends....  .. | |
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| Going to Iran
Posted: 5/11/2009 5:24:45 PM | I am iranian american person,Md retired ,I do not like talking in political but i am open mind person and i can talk about socilize and about iranian custom
i meet fro m iran around 15 month for 1-2
i like to see where grew up
i know the information for making travell
ramy | |
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