Brave New Travel World

I usually get various reactions from editors when I send them submissions about traveling in Iran. They usually range from complete silence to cheeky replies regarding the sanity of those who travel in such places.

So it was with great surprise that I got an email the other day from Trazzler asking me to write about Iran, in an attempt to dispel some of the myths surrounding the place.

Click over here for the first installment about Persepolis.
Alexander the Great in Yadz
Sufi mysticism in Ardabil
Marivan's Kurdish Market
Hash Smoking assasins in Alamut
Silk Road Shopping in Kashan
Cool in Tehran?
Relaxing in Isfahan
The Birth of the Renaissance in Soltaniyeh
Rolling Green in Masouleh

Odd Choice Don't You Think?

Think of Spain and many things come to mind...Flamenco, siestas, olive oil, beaches, red wine, bull fights etc...

Older tourists might remember that, yes, a brutal dictator recently ruled these lands and of course there is all that black legend stuff associated with Spain...Inquisitions and the likes.

With all that in mind, when choosing an image to promote the country, or flights to it, what would you choose?

The Alhambra?

Barcelona?

The beaches?

Well, you would if you were working for any other company than Hungarian Airlines.

It seems in a recent promotional campaign they have unfortunately chosen the "Valle de los Caidos", Franco's mausoleum that was built with slave labour, as their promotional shot.

Kinda like Germany using Dachau in a discover Germany campaign don't you think?

Walking Through Extremadura

Paying homage to my adopted homeland once again, this time for Romar Traveler. Click over and take a walk through Extremadura with me.