Thank you, LuxuryRogue. Yes, always great to see the non-CNN version of countries.

Thank you, Askartus. Yes, you definitely need to add Persia to your bucket list.

Thanks, HighlandExpress. I always love to 'stretch' my mind with experiences in new and interesting places.

Many thanks, shogunate03. No, no issues whatsoever with photo's. For the close up portraits (in the bazaar etc.) I introduced myself and asked if I could take their picture. For the photo's on the streets I tried to be a bit more discrete (as much as you can anyway with a DSLR), but people just smiled when they saw me.

Thank you, macdonaldj2. Definitely one of those places where it is easy to take great photo's.

Thanks, JohnnyColombia.

Cheers, exilencfc. There were a few europeans (Italians, Germans and a few Brits) and some Chinese and Japanese. Probably about 90% of the people at the popular sights like Persopolis etc. were Iranians though.

Great TR and amazing pictures.

Can I ask what nationality/citizenship you are to get visa on arrival?

I'd love to do Iran but when I checked it seemed like a PITA to get the visa

Thanks, jphripjah. My tour agency organised pre-approval for the visa on arrival, but I could have just applied for it directly at the airport if I wanted to. Had to wait ~30 mins when I got to Shiraz, but no problems at all.

Cheers, mjr1975.

I used my New Zealand passport. Apparently most nationalities can apply for a visa on arrival now: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_policy_of_Iran

Thanks for the link. I have a UK passport which is not only exempt from visa on arrival but also the most expensive too. I wonder what the history is behind this. And I wonder why Colombia is also singled out too in S America.

UK passport holders have to take a tour too like US citizens (no independent travel), not that it made a difference in my case (although I left my UK passport at home).

This might offer some clues with regard to Colombia being singled out(?).

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomac...emium-1.530088

Do you read the news at all?

The UK expelled the entire Iranian diplomatic staff from London in 2011 in protest to the UK embassy in Tehran being insufficiently defended from violent protesters. The UK and Tehran only re-established diplomatic relations in February, although negotiations to enable embassies to re-open are still on-going.

On my mobile so apologies for the brevity. Thanks for the links and no, I had absolutely no idea about the diplomatic wrangling between uk and iran.

If there is no uk mission, how do you even get the visa? Is another country's consulate processing them?

The Omanis are or were representing Iranian interests in London, so I suppose you could start there. Alternatively there is an Iranian embassy in Brussels. I suspect there might be one nearer to BOG which may be better for you though?

Very cool trip report! Wanted to go there for a short trip, until I saw that the beer in Iran is 'non-alcoholic'

How was it to run? Traffic?

Amazing TR! The awesome photos made me want to go to Iran, a place that was not high in my go-to-places list!

Congrats!

Fantastic trip report (thought I posted that after reading it but realized I had not!) - amazing photos. Thanks for taking the time. Enjoy the destination you head to.

Thank you, HangukStyle. Apparently alcohol is still around if you know where to look.

The run was great, especially in Isfahan on the tree-lined streets. I had to wear trackpants & polo shirt (I normally run in shorts & singlet) though.

Traffic was fine, pretty crazy and chaotic in Tehran though!

Cheers, FlyingGnu. Yes, I definitely recommend adding it to your list.

Thanks, bowdenj. Just sussing out my next trip now, North Africa.

Thanks for posting, food looks delicious....