Five reasons why I went to Iran and why you should go too.

I wasn't even ten when I heard about Iran for the first time. My father had to spend time there for work, and even though his feelings have always been mixed about the Islamic world, his tales always left me fascinated. “If you want to see the beauties of Islamic culture, you should visit Iran”, he said to me more than once throughout the years. So last year there I was, deciding with my other half where to go on holiday next and the decision was in between going back to the beloved Argentina or visiting Iran. We both thought it was better to do Iran sooner than later, because of the delicate dynamics in the Middle East. With the latest happenings, we've seen stunning destinations such as Damascus in Syria, turning impossible and dangerous to visit. While Iran stands strong in its balance, peaceful compared to the conflictual neighbourhood, we planned our two weeks trip and they turned out to be so full of positive surprises that even today when people ask me “Why did you go to Iran?” I look at them surprised – forgetting that it is not so obvious that Iran can offer an unbelievable range of marvels to its tourists. So I should spread the word: here is a list of reasons why I went to Iran and why I recommend going.

Because it is beautiful

Persians love luxury, I'm not only talking of extravagant palaces such as the Golestan palace in Tehran, I'm talking about luxury in every sense of the word, from richness of colour to fine design in gardens, from good taste in clothing to good manners and excellent dining. The small Kashan leaves visitors stunned at its marvellous merchant houses, with never ending corridors of what used to be a feast of colours, marvellous tiling and rich gardens. The Imam square in Isfahan was so beautiful and overwhelming that I cried. Perfectly designed, the whole city offers masterpieces of symmetry, the most wonderful mosques one can imagine are here. If a prayer could be a material thing, then it would be the dome of the Imam mosque in Isfahan. With its water canals, every single garden is peaceful and relaxing, with roses and orange trees everywhere.

Because it is not dangerous at all

Yes, in spite of what we think, Iran is not dangerous at all. We saw European families travelling with their kids, we saw groups of retired people with their coaches and we travelled city to city taking buses without problem. The roads are in good condition, tickets are easy to get and you will find at every corner someone who is happy to help you, no matter how bad their English is. Yes, women have to wear a head scarf and cover their hips – this is not only their religion but also their law. Showing your hair a little is fine, and actually many Iranian women do wear their scarves very loosely. Things are changing but until that day we have to respect their law, like in every other country.

Because people are the most open and kind people

Yes indeed, Persian people are the most welcoming people. We hadn't even landed yet, when we earned our first invitation at the house of a man who was travelling next to us on the plane. Day by day, we have received invitations, help and good words by everyone in the streets and when meeting other European travellers we have heard stories of Iranian families hosting them, feeding them and accompanying them to visit the city. All you have to do is let yourself go and accept their company: people will approach you and talk to you all the time, and if they are having a picnic they would share it with you. So it is advisable you also take some dried fruit and bread to offer in exchange when that happens. Yes, sometimes you will get in awkward situations but when that is the case, don't be afraid to say no - that is also fine and people will respect your privacy if that's what you need. 

Because the food is amazing 

Persian food has two important characteristics: it is simple and it is genuine. Cheese was simply scrumptious: we saw that it was served with dates for breakfast so while we kept having fruit in the morning, for lunch we made up for it by buying fresh bread, cheese and some of those soft super-sweet dates (the best were definitely in Isfahan). Kebabs are served everywhere, you find them done in the Persian way and in the Turkish way, we tried both and there is no going wrong. Other main courses are the famous Dizi, a chickpeas and mutton stew served in a special terracotta dish; the aubergine dish called Kashke Bademjan was very different everywhere but every recipe was equally delicious; many other stews and ways of serving rice and a wide range of sweets for every taste.

Because of History

Iranians are very proud of their history and they celebrate the ancient Persian empire as much as they can – in some museums you might even find slightly modified historical data. However, once you visit the ruins of Persepolis you have a better idea of how big the power of Achaemenids was and how big they thought. Suddenly the identity of the infamous enemies of the ancient Greeks I read so much about in my classic years in high school was there in front of my eyes, larger than imagination. Classic history aside, the country is full of proof of the many changes according to different dynasties and different religions (you'd be surprised of the non-Islamic influences of the culture), different conquerors and different shah's, including pre-revolution and post-revolution change of society and culture. It never stops fascinating visitors and because of that, it leaves you hungry to find out even more after your visit.