Day 5 LEAVING ISTANBUL FOR IRAN

Today, we made it to the Istanbul Airport in record time and, rather than just roam around aimlessly, we went straight to our gate after checking in.  We were sitting there for about one hour but no one showed up at that gate.  It turned out that the gate number had changed.  We were now expected to board within the next 15 minutes at a gate at the other end of this gigantic airport.  We arrived just as our tour organizer was about to have us paged.  Our flight was uneventful but we were already forced to get used to no alcoholic beverages.  Oh what a hardship for me!  Once in Tehran, most Americans had to be fingerprinted but not the Canadians, most probably because Canada does not do it to Iranians so they don't do it to us.

Our hotel is very nice and we went out yesterday afternoon and evening and all I can say for now is that the Iranian people are happy to see us, asking us if we like their country and welcoming us. After a well deserved rest in our hotel we got back in the van and drove to the Northern part of Tehran, and then climbed for a half hour to a very interesting part of the city, full of small restaurants, candy shops and other forms of entertainment. We sat, rather uncomfortably on a raised platform covered with carpet, and were served a delicious dinner of various types of kabobs humus, eggplant and other things that we couldn't reach from our cross legged position. When we had finished our meal, it was a major maneuver to get uncrossed and erect again! When it was time to return, it was already quite dark, and one had to be quite careful to the many breaks in the pavement to avoid falling into the holes. This was our first day in Tehran. Let's see what tomorrow brings.