Iran - I quickly grab my daypack and place my main luggage in the depot. The bus is already waiting. The eccentric young driver—balding in front, long hair, and a goatee—navigates the traffic skillfully. He sounds a sharp whistle when cars get in the way. ...

Iran - Once the weather clears, I continue to the holy shrine of Imam Reza. The shrine lies in the middle of an enormous complex, which has been expanded over the years to accommodate tens of thousands of worshippers. There are plans for further expansion, which ...

Iran - Back on Ali Iman Square, I find a bench to sit and write down my travel experiences. I don’t get much time for that, as I’m soon approached by Ali and Hossein, who ask if they can have a chat. We end up talking for over an hour about our trip, Iran, ...

Iran - At half past seven, we leave Shiraz on our way to Esfahan. But before we arrive there, we first visit Persepolis. Amin joins us on the bus specifically for this purpose. He is our guide for Persepolis – a young Iranian man of about twenty-five. In clear ...

Iran - The bus takes me to Tabriz in a few hours. Tabriz is a large city in the north of Iran, with a population of 1.4 million. The bus literally squeezes its way through the busy city traffic. Where there are three lanes, traffic flows in four—or sometimes ...

Iran - Back in Yazd, we get dropped off at Amir Chakhmaq Square. The Amir Chakhmaq façade takes a dominant place on the square. The building was erected in memory of Imam Hossein. Behind the façade begins the bazaar. Just before the entrance stands a wooden ...