MIR Corporation's Travel Blog:
Ancient Persia, Modern Iran
Follow along with seasoned MIR Tour Manager, Michel Behar, as he blogs his way through MIR's Ancient Persia - Modern Iran small group tour. Spend each day with him as he recounts his favorite traditional Persian foods, his discoveries at the outdoor markets, and his impressions of the gardens, art and architecture of Iran.
Day 1: Arrival in Tehran
April 5, 2011
Masterpieces in Tehran's museum
The group enjoyed the sophisticated display of artifacts at the museum. Few visitors, so we had the places mostly to ourselves.
The Archaeological Museum is the right way to start a tour, as all the best artifacts can be found here: bas reliefs from Persepolis and the palace in Bishapur, great vessels and pottery, many of them stylized animals, like oxen, horses, sheep and a tripod vessel of tigers. We also admired the head of a prince made of lapis lazuli and the cylinder of Cyrus, the first charter of human rights.
We had a traditional Persian lunch: soup, yoghurt, salads, kuku (spinach omelets), kebabs and dessert.
The Abgineh Museum has a great collection of enameled and mold blown vessels, pitchers and jars, mostly from the 10-12th century.
We strolled on Vali Asr street, the longest street in the world, where a lot of upper class people shop, many young women dressed in jeans, and their hair cover pushed back all the way. Lots of traffic, but when we cross, they stop and give us a broad smile.
Then back to the hotel for a few hours rest and dinner.
First Impressions of Iran
Many of our travelers who come to Iran are pleasantly surprised. We drive through the country in a big, modern and clean coach. Our two drivers, both of them called Ali, wear uniforms that remind us of a cruise captain. Our guide is an articulate woman who shows us a sophisticated country with a rich culture and sites, some going back some five thousand years.
The roads are surprisingly good, comparable to Europe and the US. There is an abundance of food and quite some variety as well.
But the group is truly amazed at how friendly the people are. We are stopped everywhere we go by men with trendy haircuts and tapered jeans, and women wearing sneakers and tight pants under their hijabs (veils). Also the women who wear chadors and clerics like to interact with us. Whether we walk through the cities, stop in a village, on the road or in a restaurant, time and again they stress that they distinguish between the U.S. people and the U.S. government. We say we do as well, and that is why we come. People tell us they would like to spend more time with us, and would like to invite us to their homes, people picnicing in parks encourage us to sit down and share the hookah. Youngsters and young families practice their English, and tell us about their relatives and friends who live in the U.S.
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