In my cup: Belderchin tea without sugar. Taste: hot water. Impression: great! I'm in Iran.
I'm half dead as I slept only two hours this night, due to time-difference (+3 our time), customs and a long trip to the hotel.
And a bit of a cultureshock. I wore the veil and covering clothing when I got out of the plane, and that is actually what everybody, everywhere wears; small girls, big girls everyone. I knew that, but to see it.
We saw the palace of the former sjah Reza of Persia today. There were lots of schoolsclasses( small girls in pink robes and veils) and we were the attraction; everyone wants a photo with a foreigner; that is, from my partner ( who is tall and goodlooking, ahemmm).
We are with a small group; decided that at the last moment, as we want to see all we can. I saw the bazaar also and fully emerged myself in that cacaphony of smells and noises; the stacks of dried fruit, the vendors shouting
, the minnarets that call the people up for prayer, men with handcarts, beautiful perfectly made up veiled women, rows of coppperware, red goblets with gold engravings, oriental rugs, teavendors and what not. I love it, I love it.
I cannot photograph all I want, so I have to watch out; no militairy buildings or soldiers. But the people are so friendly here.
In the bazaar I saw a crowd chasing a guy that had stolen something; they
got him and handed him a few good earwhacks before turning him in. Perhaps an idea for our country......
Iran is not a country for vegetarians; so I ate a lot of tomatoes, cucumber and
soft fetacheese today.
Tomorrow another day in Teheran; will visit some musea and wednesday on to Rasht.
Sorry if this post is too long, but I'm having trouble with the internet. In the hotel the connection is a bit sketchy. I took my iPad along, for which I'm glad.
My mifi 2352 doesn't work. The only thing( but very slow,slow) that works without fail, is my Kindle 3G. Defenitively worth the extra money.
Best wishes all from a happy traveller.