Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Travel review to Iran by a European citizen

Leo is a Dutch citizen (from Holland). He sent me an email searching for a friend in Iran. I asked him to write a review on his trip to Iran and he gently sent me below paragraphs:

Despite chronic negative articles in western press I decided to make a journey to Iran.
As an individual traveller (back-packer) I visited beautiful places like Shiraz and Isfahan and travelled by direct train from Tehran to Damascus in Syria in October 2008.
Iran bombarded me with positive and very long-lasting impressions.
I enjoyed the hospitality, helpfulness and modesty of the Iranian people.
The way people worship in mosks in Shiraz and enjoy relaxing in shady parks impressed me very much.
The quiet courtyards of madrasehs in Isfahan are a heaven in busy bazaar life.
On Friday I observed the people of Isfahan peacefully and highly socially picknicking in the parks along Zayandeh River and at night drinking tea near the beautiful illuminated ancient bridges.
I discovered a country of warm and fascinating people and a country not yet spoiled by mass-tourism.
I experienced the Iranian culture to be markedly different to the Arabian culture.
I observed a country with tradition on the one hand and an extremely high density of sophisticated mobile-phones on the other hand, and steps to a surprising level of modernity.
Iran fascinated me in such a way that I am looking forward to visiting it again as soon as possible.

Leo van Houten
Holland

Thursday, November 06, 2008

Sa'd Abad Palace

The Sadabad Palace is a palace built by the Pahlavi dynasty of Iran in the Shemiran area of Tehran.
The complex was first inhabited by Qajar monarchs and royal family in the 19th century. After an expansion of the compounds, Reza Shah lived there in the 1920s. And his son, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi moved there in the 1970s.

After the Iranian Revolution, the complex became a museum. However, the current presidential palace is located adjacent to the Sa'd Abad compound.

Many cultural programs are taking held in this complex like exhibitions, concerts and ceremonies.