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Tehran Events Guide: Cinematheques in Tehran
Maybe it will be big news for some of you, but in Iranian cinemas you can watch ONLY Iranian movies. A couple of years ago a recently built shopping center Kourosh with 14 (!) cinema halls started showing some new Hollywood movies every now and then, but, unfortunately, it didn`t last long. Now foreign movie screenings are limited to cinematheques which have, however, become quite popular in Tehran. Their number is growing and there are more and more opportunities to watch a brand-new Hollywood movie or a good old European film. While some cinematheques show the retrospective of one director (like Museum of Contemporary Art) or relate their screenings to…
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Complete Travel Guide to Qazvin
Qazvin is a city of ornaments and gorgeous tiles, “a city in the middle of a garden” (that`s how Nasreddin-Shah described it to his European counterparts in the 19th century). Finally, Qazvin is the gate to amazing Alamut valley with its impressive castle. Unfortunately, Qazvin is often missed out by tourists, while it can be an amazing stop on the route to Rasht, Zanjan or Tabriz. I have prepared a travel guide for you where I am going to write about the vibe of the city, its people, main tourist attractions, share some useful tips and my own experience of traveling to Qazvin. Hope you enjoy! I have gathered all the…
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Moharram: There Is Never Too Much Of Nazri
I know, I have already written about it on the blog a couple of years ago, but every time I see it I just can`t keep silent! Yes, I`m talking about nazri and people`s excitement about getting more of it. Let me first remind you what nazri is. It`s food (or drinks or snacks) given out for free by people for various reasons. Some give out food to thank God for something, some – for the memory of Imam Hossein, while others – just to keep a tradition. I have written more about nazri in this post. So, during the first ten days of moharram people give out food almost at…
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What Is the Best Ice Cream Shop In Tehran, or Ultimate Guide to Iranian Ice Cream
Summer is coming to an end just like my ice-cream challenge. Summer heat has given way to autumn chill, but the sun still warms us up, and you still can give summer delights one last shot! And I hope my recommendations will help you to choose the best! Let me remind how it all started. It was around July when Tehran heated up to +40. The heat was getting unbearable. And to survive it we decided to check out some popular ice cream shops in Tehran. After searching different sources in Persian, asking friends for recommendations and just browsing various ice cream places on the web, we came up with…
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Cheat Sheet On Iranian Food: Eat Out Like A Local
I have seen lots of tourists who came to Iran (several times even) and tried only kebabs in Iranian restaurants. And that`s very sad, because Iranians have amazingly delicious cuisine that is worth trying and kebabs are only part of it. There are several reasons why tourists order mostly only kebabs in restaurants. First of all, Iran is famous for its delicious kebabs. Made of different types of meat, they are prepared in various shapes and sizes, and in many parts of Iran you can find local types of kebabs which can`t be found anywhere else! And of course, kebab deserves to be the first must-try on foreign tourists` lists. …
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Ramadan In Iran: How Not To Starve!
Ramadan is almost over. People have adjusted to a new pace of life, waiting for its ending, though. But this year Ramadan is not as it was last year. Iranian society changes so fast that you can see little changes every year. Take a look at how things were here last year and it has changed. I remember meeting a friend from the UK who was travelling around Iran during Ramadan 2-3 years ago. After visiting a museum around lunchtime, I remember, driving around Tehran in search of food, and there was literally no place to get any decent food. Finally, we went to the first supermarket we could find and…
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Moghaddam Museum of Tehran: An Oasis of Peace in the Hustle of Tehran
Are you tired of the hustle of the city? Are you fed up with chaos of people, cars and motorcycles on the streets of Tehran? Need a break? Need just a couple of hours of peace? Then, Moghaddam Museum of Tehran is the right place for you! This traditional house with a splendid garden hidden in the heart of the city will bring you needed rest and tons of beautiful photos!
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Some thoughts on marriage in Iran
My husband`s close friend is getting married, and when he announced it to us, I realized how happy I was for him, even happier than for my own close friend`s wedding! And that made me think that marriage is still a big deal here in Iran, and I believe, it`s a positive thing, something people, unfortunately, lost in the Western world. Marriage in Iran takes a LOT of effort, and couples face LOTS of obstacles on their way to marriage. Let`s say, due to lack of opportunities for socializing, it`s simply difficult to meet new people. But once the mutual affection is reached and a relationship is formed, mostly the…
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One Day Trip From Tehran: Vardij & Varish Villages
Seeing spring coming, it`s almost impossible to stay home. That`s why at the end of March, on the first day off, my husband and I picked up a backpack, hopped in the car and drove out of the city. This time, we were going to a place recommended to us by our friends years ago. And finally, its time came! We set off to two small villages lost in the mountains right outside Tehran: Vardij and Varish which are famous for human-shaped mountains formed by the wind and beautiful gardens (look for the map in the end of the post).
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Guide to Events in Tehran: The International Tourism Fair
Tourism Fair is a very colorful event – there are lots of dancing, music, singing and other authentic stuff! If you happen to be in Tehran in February, make sure not to miss the International Tourism Fair which is usually held in February. It can be especially useful, if you are in the beginning of your trip, and let me explain why. One of the halls, and the most colorful one, I must say, is usually dedicated to Iranian provinces. And visiting it you can see the whole Iran at one glance and decide which parts seem more interesting to you. Less popular places can be found here a well.…
