"Islamic Republic of Iran" a Iran Travel Page by johnsakura

Iran, this amazing pearl located in the centre of the supposed most dangerous place on earth, border with Pakistan, turkey, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan and Iraq, this country is a surprise for all travelling there. People are great and very hospitable; Iranians (apart from Islamites which will discriminate and be rude as soon as an opportunity appears) will try to make your visit to the country as pleasant as possible.

Iranian landscapes will make you dream with ancient civilizations and its bazaars will make you spend lots of money as prices are great to buy souvenirs. Iran is one of the best places I’ve ever visited considering quality/cost relation. Transportation, hostels and food is very cheap.

Since 1979 that the country changed to this extreme Muslim policies where still if you look to a girl and talk to her you will be taken to the police station and be hit 80 on your back. 2 words for this: Ayatollah Khomeini.

---

This all area is a mess of cultures from the Arabs until 1050 and Turkmen tribes, Genghis Khan in the 14th century, Ottoman Turks and even Portugal! Yes my country were here, controlling all the Southern part of the country in the Persian Gulf where were made many castles to protect their settlements. You can visit Portuguese castles along the southern part of the Persian Gulf; these still standing structures from the 1500's are very nice to see how far human mentality can take you far way from home. I visited one of these castles in the Island of Qeshme and like it very much.

Iranian history is very rich and is the birth of huge ancient civilizations, the Persian Civilization with its capital in Persepolis a few km distance from Shiraz. Only in the 4th century BC Alexander the Great after getting all Greece, Turkey Egypt, and Iraq could actually enter in this hidden city.