Why does it have to be Iran?




"Whoever wants to come with me to see the time of the rose blossom in Isfahan, one has to be prepared for immeasurable levels, as high as the peaks of the Alps, covered with herbs and strange pale flowers, where a village appears every now and then built in the colour of dovegray clay, with its little dilapidated mosque, whose dome is from a lovelier blue than that of a turquoise.

Whoever wants to come with me to see Isfahan under the beautiful sky in May, one shall prepare for long walks under the scorching sun in the harsh cold winds of the highest regions.

Whoever wants to come with me to see the time of the rose blossom in Isfahan, one has to be prepared for the dangers of a ride over rough paths and to the confusion of the caravanserais, where one is sleeping stacked in an alcove of beaten earth between mosquitoes and vermin.

Whoever wants to come with me to see the time of the rose blossom in Isfahan, one has to decide to travel in slow stages at my side, as in the Middle Ages. "

And so the book "Journey through Persia" by Pierre Loti begins,  who, in 1900 has started his trip with horses and mules from Bandar Bushehr on the Persian Gulf to reach Isfahan.

Caravanserais still exists today, mostly converted into hotels or simply turned into a Tourist attraction. And I'm pretty sure that nowadays I no longer have to sleep between vermin.

Iran, Persia ... why do you want to explore this country? What is there to see anyways? Are you not afraid? Women are worth nothing and have to hide behind the veil. Most of my friends look at me just shocked when I talk about my plans.

What motivates me to travel to a so-called rogue state, where the Sharia (which means, the religion determines the law of the country) reigns? The answer is simple: I am curious about this country which I found very interesting since school days. I´ve always been fascinated from stories about Alexander the Great, the Kings Darius and Xerxes, who lived there in old times.

There are a lot of great 2500 years old archeological sites to admire, beautiful mosques with colorful earthenware tiles and a gigantic mountain scenery.The descriptions of Isfahan in Noah Gordon´s "The Physician" made me want to travel to this country. I also want to see firsthand how life really is in the land of the Mullahs. How do people live there, what do they wish for, what are they dreaming of? What are just prejudices made from western media and what is real?

Initially I had planned for a 6-week holiday, but slowly the thought arises, "why not travel longer?" I have always wanted to take a sabbatical and now finally the application is signed.

Now, nothing stands in the way for MY "Journey through Persia".