High Temperatures and Warm Hospitality In Iran

Days in Iran
Dogubayazit-Maku 57km
Maku - Qarah Ziya Oddin 80km
Qarah Ziya Oddin - Marand 105km
Marand - Tabriz 70km
Tabriz - Bostan Abad 65km
Bostan Abad - Miyanh 103km
Miyanh – A place in the middle of nowhere 86km
A place in the middle of nowhere - Zanjan 60km

Days and kilometres go by in this land of constant human surprises. From the moment we stepped in Iran, a country which is a complete mystery to the Western civilization, we have been surprised very frequently. Recently an Iranian friend asked me what I thought of his country and I answered that 75 million people cannot be the cause of all evil, perhaps a few hundred or even a few thousand but not the entire population of 75 million inhabitants. He, of course, thanked me for coming to visit his country, a country which is not easily travelled.
Our adventures in the country a combined with temperatures that can go as high as 49ºC and warm welcomes on behalf of complete strangers that take us into their homes.
It might be a coincidence but our first two families were headed by taxi drivers. The first one was in Marand and the second in Bostan Abad. The first taxi driver offered his house after we asked him the way to a hotel. That day we slept and had dinner at his home. We rested as only those who have a tired body and a peaceful mind can.
The second taxi driver offered his home after he had observed us for quite a while desperately look for a hotel without success in a town in the middle of nowhere. The day had been hell, like many of the ones we have lived so far, but his kind heart allowed us to meet yet another wonderful family. Logically, we talked about many things but the world is so small that it wiser not to speak. We dined, slept and felt at home. Breakfast helped us to continue on our long journey.
Tabriz has many sights to be visited but on our day off we got lost in the 35 km of medina the second most important city in Iran has, according to some of the locals. Its medina takes to back to the Medieval Times of the Silk Route but it also strangely enough allows you to perceive the Plastic Route of the 21st century. You can buy absolutely everything, from feathers to fill up your duvets, to plastic brought from China or Gallina Blanca chicken stock cubes.
We are in the Silk Route, enjoying it and suffering it while going through an endless International road that joins Europe and China. The road is chock-a-block with trucks releasing black fumes and crazy Sunday drivers. In Miyaneh we were lucky enough and had the privilege to meet Mozaffar Ajalli, an enchanting PE teacher and an ex-member of the Olympic weightlifting team who participated in Barcelona 92. We spent two incredible days with him, including a trekking route and an Iranian countryside breakfast.
Yesterday, in the middle of nowhere we had to set up camp instead of sleeping in a hut that some young farmers had allowed us to use for the night. All this due to a sudden attack of vicious mosquitoes.