Isfahan, Ispahan, Esfahan, اصفهان

My first real experience of Iran was in the streets of Isfahan, which boasts some stunning mosques around the Imam Square.

The friendliness of people here is amazing. Families will invite you to drink tea with them as they pic-nic, people will stop you in the street, not to hassle you, or try to sell you something, but just because they are curious to know what you’re doing here, and more importantly, hwo you perceive their country.

The contrast between the side of Iran that we see in the media, vis-à-vis politics, and the lives that the Iranians lead is large.

More photos from Ispahan here.