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June 27, 2007
Yes, I am going
A few pals of mine who read these things have been worried about me and my determination to go to Iran this summer. Just to set your mind in peace, I shall tell you that I am indeed going (that was not helpful, was it?)!!!
Not to get too much into rhetoric of mutual smearing, I shall just make an analogy... if one believes all the nonesense that the media in Iran says about the US, one would never go to the United States. Now, the same is the case with what they write about Iran (at least as far as "safety" is concerned) in the American newspapers. The by now infamous picture of the young man being paraded and punished in public in Tehran because of his "western hairstyle" (published in the venerable NY Times recently) turned out to be a few months old picture of a criminal street rough.
So, my dearies, do not worry. Iran is safe to go to, and I am not doing anything but going to remote places and measuring up the archaeological sites in order to write the damned dissertation. Okay, I am concerned about the heat, agreed, but besides that, I am going to be safe and I shall update you all here.
Besides that, I am travelling a bit lately, having gone to various countries in Europe and taking a nice car-trip to very north of Germany (Schleswig-Holstein) and finally managing to visit one of my absolute favourite sites, Haithabu (Old Norse Hedeby), the site of the very important and very famous southern Danish emporium which dominated the Baltic Sea trade for most of the 7th-10th centuries.
I am off to Istanbul and hopefully Antakya (the famous Antioch-on-the-Orontes of the Bible fame and once the largest city in Late Antique Syria). I have no idea how easy/hard it is going to be to travel in Turkey, but I shall try...
Posted by Khodadad at June 27, 2007 06:31 AM
Comments
If anyone told you you can't go to Iran, just remind them that there is little to be feared by "collaborationists."
Posted by: Amir at June 28, 2007 05:09 AM
If anyone told you you can't go to Iran, just remind them that there is little to be feared by "collaborationists."
Posted by: Amir at June 28, 2007 05:09 AM
Well, Khodadad I send you my best wishes for a smooth trip to and from Iran. I don't really think you will have any trouble. I hope you make some new and interesting discoveries at the archeological sights. :)
Hey, take a few pics inside the Hagia Sophia for me if you get the chance. Its a place that I would love to see someday!
Take care and keep us up to date.
Posted by: David at June 28, 2007 09:34 PM
Salam Khodadad,
David had told me about you a while back but we never e-met properly. I stumbled on your blog accidentally.
Enjoy Iran.
It is not a police state as they portray it to be here. I hope the gas rationing will not limit your mobility though. What I love most about Iran is the infinite liberty to "move".
Posted by: Naj at July 3, 2007 06:43 AM