Kurdish Hospitality – Erbil, Iraq’s Mayor. He popped out of his seat, with a wide grin. His speed defied his age. We had only met for a moment the day before, but he recognized me immediately. But to be fair, I stick out in Erbil, Iraq. As you might imagine, there are not many tourists here. [...]
“You like Donald Trump?” “No,” I embarrassedly responded in an awkward tone. “You like Clinton?” “Better than Trump,” I offered. “So Clinton is better than Trump?” “Trump is a stupid man.” I was embarrassed by Trump’s broad anti-Muslim statements. “We are all brothers. Muslim, Christian. All brothers.” He smiled. I lightly touched my right hand to [...]
Visiting the Ayatollah in Iran. I have had some surreal travel experiences during my travels. I have visited the DMZ from an observation deck in North Korea, I have slept over in Chernobyl, and spent a couple of days exploring a country that does not even exist on the edge of Europe, Transnistria. While visiting Iran, [...]
Advice on Visiting Iran Visa Whether it is delusional paranoia or their attempt to punish tourists for poor relations with their governments, the Iranian government enjoys having Americans, Brits, and Canadians jump through several hoops before receiving an Iranian visa. The trio are required to receive a Visa code from the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. [...]
To see where I have been so far, check out my map as I count down the final 93 countries on the road to all 193 UN countries. Eritrea is my 101st country. Check out the best 193 travel books to read! Eritrea is considered one of the more difficult countries in the world to visit. [...]
Pink Mosque - Must-See. The Pink Mosque in Shiraz, Iran epitomizes vibrant magnificence. Beautiful hues dance delicately through stained glass windows and decorate the Persian carpets and the mosaic covered walls. Nasir ol Molk Mosque, the Pink Mosque, was completed in 1888. The pictures speak for themselves, make sure you visit early in the morning for the [...]
Entering Iran. Not quite business class, but almost felt like an Economy Plus seat. I stretched my feet in the bulkhead area and luxuriated over the two adjacent empty but faded seats. I twisted my head and peered behind me. Head scarves and dark, cheap suits stared back at me. I was the only westerner on [...]
“Down with USA”. I stared at the mural. What did they mean? Down with the USA, like I hope the country becomes a fiery apocalypse? Or, like, yeah, I am down with the USA, they are AOK in my book. This is a conflicting message that travelers are continually confronted with when visiting Iran. At first [...]
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