Iran and the Aubergine

Some of my fondest memories of Iran involve food. Being in the kitchen and seeing how my grandmother would make a stew, smelling my aunt’s saffron rice and awaiting a skewer of famous ‘kubideh’ kebabs are just wonderful memories. The cuisine of Iran is beautiful, being full of spices and herbs, such as cardamon, turmericContinue reading “Iran and the Aubergine”

The Ever Famous Persian Carpet

The Persian carpet is the one item that will always be seen in an Iranian household. You just couldn’t imagine a house without one. It’s like the kettle for the British and the espresso maker for the Italians. ‘Farsh’ (فرش‎‎) is the Persian word for carpet, meaning ‘to spread’, so look out for this wordContinue reading “The Ever Famous Persian Carpet”

Persepolis – ‘The Persian City’

Address: Takht-e Jamshid Opening hours: 8am-5pm November-March, to 7pm April-October Cost: £3 Perespolis, literally ‘The Persian City’, is one of the most magnificent places you will see in Iran. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and its incredible grandeur, history and uniqueness are all reasons to go for a visit. Persepolis is a locationContinue reading “Persepolis – ‘The Persian City’”

Sitting and Eating in Iran

In the west, you wouldn’t even think about eating your food sat on the floor. You would most likely think that it would be quite odd, or potentially distasteful to choose to eat off the floor. Sitting on the floor and eating is extremely common in Iran and is how most meals are eaten, especiallyContinue reading “Sitting and Eating in Iran”

On the Road in Iran

Driving in Iran – there are no road rules and no road etiquette. Any of those ‘oh I’ll let you pass’ offerings of the west don’t apply here. It’s each to their own here. The driving in Iran is worse than other western countries which you might associate with bad driving, such as France or Italy.Continue reading “On the Road in Iran”

Smoking Ghaylun

When you think of Iran, you are more likely to think of a conservative country far from common social activities of the west. Pubs, bars and clubs and the general nightlife of the west are of course a major no no in Iran. There are some similarities however and shisha, hooka, whatever your preference ofContinue reading “Smoking Ghaylun”

Queuing at the Airport in Iran

Firstly, I apologise in advance if I sound quite negative in this post. I feel that a traveller needs to be warned of said “queueing” in Iran, and that is the purpose of my writing here. In an Iranian airport, I advise a couple of things. One, breathe and two, keep calm. There is notContinue reading “Queuing at the Airport in Iran”