The Iran that you wouldn't expect... Cultural trip to the ancient Persia

Iran .... not like me would never have expected!
Leave for a country, not so far off, even far away from our traditions and ideas of everyday life, and go home even richer experience unique and probably unrepeatable.
I'm lucky to say that is to say little, to achieve certified sites far from the beaten routes of travel is an opportunity not to be underestimated and as always my job gives me this great opportunity. I have always felt lucky ... Despite the many ... "Iran is not dangerous but ???"..." but ?"..."'re crazy ?"..." and terrorism?". .. "And the atomic bomb ??".... Nonsense! Now, for those who like us are accustomed to moving a business or passion around the world, it is easy enough to avoid being influenced by the information that we submit media daily .....
Probably too often not really close to reality! I was sure that I would find a country that I would deeply fascinated, as guardian of a millennial culture, historic cities, beautiful architecture and wonderful people. Just do not be influenced by the first sight of the veils that cover the Women and prayers that carried by the wind, reaching every corner of the city. Behind all this there are some of the eyes, the eyes, the deepest I've ever seen. For the first time ... The areas of "my" professional interest coincided with many of the most important cities of the country. Tehran, the capital, Mashhad, the second holy city for Muslims, Esfahan, one of the pearls of Islamic world and Yazd, one of the oldest cities in the whole of Persia.
Already, Persia, this is the land of which the Iranians feel guardians and Persian is the language they .... Woe to confuse one with Arabic if they offend. I was 10 days in Iran and still think that, I felt right at home. Sure, there was a brief period of acclimation and adaptation to some written rules .... .... To which we must absolutely attenersi.Ci were also many times difficult, especially for someone like myself who knows what it means to Liberty; accept certified limits but above all to see with their own eyes what the boys of my age can do, and especially can not do, not Member is simple and often I was made a lump in my throat ... All this is a treasure so precious that to me I will try to keep it among my most precious.

 

Starting from Malpensa Iran Air ... all women had to be wrapped in the classic film, from that moment on, for ten days, I would not be seen in public with a woman with her hair in the wind.
There are some things that make a unique journey in the Iranian case to know some people at your host in their home. Quite another hotel would be closing in on a few, opportunities to socialize, in that case, would be minimized. Instead, sleeping in Tehran in the house of my friend Mammat, I could live Iran behind a magnifying glass, knowing people, talking, asking questions and uncomfortable having conflicting responses. The most widespread opinion in Tehran was that at the time of the Sha .... well, it was another thing, as it was free to profess their religion and at the same time, to live to the 'Western'. Tehran has been the gateway to Iran, the city that stretches out of sight with its 15 mil. population, then not so many interesting things to offer if not for the residences of Sha, the national museums, bazaars and shopping centers. It 'a fairly modern city ... do not know why, but Iran would have expected me more ... poor ... messy ... but the roads are clean and there are many fashionable quarters. Sure, traffic is an issue apart! That is the real danger to a visitor and pedestrians in general. On the streets the only rule is ... there are no rules, all sound the horn and is a continuous brakes, steering, slip into every hole possible ... the long queues of cars continuing in this way. Who is walking ... it's always a half adventure is like crossing a street ... take part in a Russian roulette. From Tehran to Mashad step is so short that you land .... just in another world. The view from the plane on the cone of Mount Damavand, the highest in the country, is wonderful and the snow whitens the high peaks of the north-Iranian form an endless ocean white. Mashhad is the holiest city of the country receives each year about 20 mil. pilgrims .... I do not I met them all but I also mixed in the middle of a sea of people. This town is located about 100 km from the border with Afghanistan on the map and read some cities such as Herat and most notorious in the Kandahar and Kabul, does not remain indifferent. A Mashad everything is "reduced" to visit the Shrine of Imam Reza ... to enter closely and so intimately with that religion was a unique opportunity. Normally tourists "Western" are not allowed in
most sacred areas .... but I fortunately, I was accompanied by my friend Ali and, considering the way I look Iranian .... according to many, I could reach the heart of the shrine to the tomb of Imam Reza, noting with my eyes the most intimate rituals and breathing a spirituality so intense emotions even those, like me, is so far from this religion. The sanctuary is so large that getting lost is the easiest thing in the world. At each entrance gate there are strict controls that prevent the entrance of the cameras .... what a shame with so many wonderful things to be immortalized .... but come on, there's always the cell phone ... I almost to forget! Mosques, museums, coated with gold domes, minarets, madrasas, courtyards, libraries, underground cemeteries .... of wonders, they filled my eyes and for that I will forever thank my friend Ali ... without him, I could hardly appreciate. Reached after a few days Isfahan (or Esfahan ..), I think I left a piece of heart in this city. And 'the
Iran's masterpiece, the jewel of ancient Persia, one of the most beautiful cities I've ever seen e. .. ... I said this is also one of the most liveable cities, neat and organized and clean ... anyway ... a place to live. Sure, staying in the historic, luxury, expensive ... Abbasi Hotel, brought me back right away in history. This hotel is the oldest in the entire Iran e. .. at least for one night ... it's worth staying here, the sights are endless: to remain open-mouthed in the middle of Imam Square, dazzled by the wealth of the mosaics mosques, lost in the bazaar that surrounds the porch of the square, the palace Chehel Sotun, built by Sha as a place of entertainment and leisure, contains some truly unique frescoes and its external column is a work of art. The bridges that cross the river Zayandeh, some so ancient and so romantic ... and then the Armenian quarter. We are not expecting anything to come casually that, outside the Cathedral of Vank is nothing more than a church ... but when I ventured to 'internal .... I think that he was open-mouthed at least 10 minutes .... frescoes and color-every inch of this place and the sacred representations seemed to come to life. On one wall, from ceiling to the floor, was represented hell, purgatory and paradise .... in short, the visit was a surprise to those who visit Isfahan and advice to make a detour Christian, the beautiful half of Iran.
Reach Yazd was not easy ... there is no air link and then at 5 hours by car, driving in the middle of the desert, we reached our goal. Yazd, with its winding alleys, towers of the wind, the clay brick houses in the old town is a Unesco world heritage ...
and is fighting a daily battle for the preservation of its architecture, in fact, its center is considered one of the oldest in the world. Walking through these streets is like being transported along the ancient silk roads, and even here the places of interest there: the old town, keeper of ancient and luxurious residences, topped by the typical Bagdir; Jameh Mosque, the prison of Alexander, sites Zoroastrians (ancient religion) ... guardians of the eternal fire
sacred and the complex of Amir Chakhmaq, distinctive building from whose top I admired a landscape exciting. Among the many things that pleasantly remind Iran is certainly the kitchen .... rich flavors and refined dishes based on lamb, mutton, chicken and beef. Fruits and vegetables, everything is unparalleled. The pages rather than gray, the awareness that a country of infinite riches ... is in the grip of politics / religion that does not allow citizens to feel free. As I found to be well in Iran, at the same time I have seen how difficult it is for the premises subject to certain rules that, day after day, they tend to stifle the personality and ideas of individuals. The sight of the religious police, who gathered the girls more stylish, well made-up or a veil covering little ... ... by taking them to the police station for a check ... well ... it was a small shock, like find the almost total absence of a smile on the faces of all these people. To me, but I found so much generosity and willingness on the part of the common people, the hospitality of the Iranians often put me in a quandary, and with these words difficult to read, I remember my friends Mammat, Hassan Ali, Shima, Shoucufe, Sina, Majid and Sepid ... hoping one day to meet again in your wonderful Persia.