Iran - east, as it is

• Iran - east, as it is

Women in hijabs, sea food and frantic traffic on the roads - so I remember Iran. For a few days I went into a completely different world - east, as it is.

In Iran, talk about the development of tourism, but I've seen these days on the street only one European, and even then in a taxi. I have not met one person with the camera, except for local journalists. Women are turning away from the camera or cover the face with his hands, to be photographed - not in local traditions.

The Iranian mountain on approach to Mashad

The hotel immediately became clear one interesting feature: the Iranian toilet - it's just a hole in the floor. These toilets have been installed in most of the rooms of our hotel:

In Iran does not recognize the American products, but Coca-Cola and Fanta are everywhere. In Iran, the dry law, so the first jar on the left - it's non-alcoholic beer. However, the beer really has no relation - the usual lemonade.

The traditional Iranian food: meat and kebab with baked vegetables. Together with meat often served fish. Fish deflating and dry kebab - juicy and soft.

In the streets of Mashhad:

Imam Reza shrine - the center of tourism and pilgrimage in Iran. Near the entrance to the mausoleum hang signs with the words "No Photo". In general, a person with a camera people watching the habit. Women on the streets often cover their faces or turn away, avert their eyes to the side.

Remember the old computer game "Prince of Persia"? That's where were these pictures:

Little girls in hijabs, too:

Iranian friendship:

It is widespread myth that Eastern Islamic countries women are sitting at home and doing nothing. This is not quite true. Women in Iran are working and drive cars. Here are some photos from the Iranian industries.

Plant for production of porcelain tableware, it employs both men and women:

Furniture Manufacturing:

Workers and Steel Works:

The next day we made a flight to Ahvaz, Khuzestan province. Ahvaz is located in the south of Iran, and it was very hot - 45-48 degrees in the shade.

In the morning from your hotel window, I saw that the city dropped the dusty haze. We were told that it is the effects of dust storm in Saudi Arabia. Dust and stood for a few days until our departure.

very few new cars in the provinces of Iran. Basically, all the cars ride on the French thirty years ago, as well as on other cars of unknown origin.

The police Ahvaz. The mask protects against dust suspended in the air:

Roads are often found these old trucks:

Port of Imam Khomeini, located on the Persian Gulf:

Date palm, first I saw the green dates.

Ahvaz University, here the girls bolder than in Mashhad:

Tetrarch Astrakhan personnel:

Iranian journalist:

In Ahvaz so many bridges, some of them look very nice at night.

Cable-stayed bridge:

A bridge with a waterfall:

Night Quay:

Way home:

Finally information for travelers: Iran blocked access to all social networking sites. Facebook, Twitter, LiveJournal, VKontakte - nothing works. So if you go to Iran - be prepared for the fact that publish information online will be problematic. Even through proxy servers - they are also blocked. East, in a word.