Iran Hearts America (in Private)

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad may denounce the U.S. as the “Great Satan,” but we all know that most Iranians are welcoming to American travelers and are curious and open-minded about American culture, right? Lest anyone forget, a couple of recent articles highlight the point.

“People think that we are all religious extremists with nuclear weapons and beards down to our stomachs,” a carpet vendor named Vahid Mousavifard told writer James Vlahos in a recent New York Times story. “But Iran is actually very safe for tourists.”

It’s also one of the most beautiful countries in the world. If you can handle the weeks-long wait for a visa, expect to be rewarded with kaleidoscopic scenery.

For a taste, check out Greg Von Doersten’s slideshow in The New York Times.

Related on World Hum:
* Tehran’s Hidden Vault of Western Art
* Welcome to ‘Tehrangeles’
* Stephen Colbert’s New York City Travel Tips for Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

Photo by Kian1 via Flickr (Creative Commons).

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