Persian hospitality and quick friendships are hard to avoid anywhere in Iran – especially when you’re in the country. On our weekend autumn getaway near Mashhad, we ate a lot of traditional food, we also visited the shrine of a local Shia saint who almost instantly answered my prayer!
My stay in a simple country home in Iran’s countryside was unforgettable – even if wife and I had to sleep on the floor. No Internet, no TV, no phone calls. We had no choice but wind down and notice the beauty of autumn in northeast Iran, near Mashhad.
I kept seeing various versions of the above sign (see photo above) at various inns I stayed at in Iran and wondered about its significance. It says: “Dearest Guest, The employees of this inn do not use nicotine products.” So what? Why would I care what the employees do? Then one night staying in Bastam,..
I have a soft spot for staying in village homes in Iran. I appreciate the simple architecture using rustic material, the thick walls, the thatch ceilings, everything weather-beaten. Furniture, if there is any, is usually the bare necessities. The decoration minimalist and fascinating, as in pictures of dead relatives on prominent display in antique frames…