Discover Iran’s Hidden Warmth: Tourist’ s Surprising Journey

Quick Smiles:

• Chiara Herlemann’s trip to Iran was a delightful surprise, defying her initial fears.
• She discovered a warm and welcoming culture, contrary to popular misconceptions.
• Her experiences highlight the country’s vibrant life, independent spirit, and rich history.

Chiara Herlemann, originally from Germany and now residing in London, embarked on a journey to Iran at the end of May, just before tensions escalated in the region.

Despite her initial apprehensions fueled by online news reports, Chiara found herself pleasantly surprised by the country’s hospitality and charm.

“I was very nervous to go and a lot of my friends were warning me that it was really dangerous,” she shared.

“Every time I saw something about Iran in the news it was just some blurry pictures that looked like North Korea.”

Upon arrival, Chiara’s perceptions were immediately challenged.

“Everything was so different from what I expected. The people were so friendly. The men were helping me with my bags and making sure I was okay.”

Her ten-day adventure took her to Kashan and Isfahan, where she observed a society going about its daily life with contentment.

“People seem quite content there. They are getting on with normal life, picnicking, children were playing in ponds. There was no haggling or catcalling. It was just normal.”

Chiara, who works remotely for an investment company, often seeks out destinations that are “unusual for tourism” to uncover the realities behind the headlines.

In Iran, she found significant misconceptions, particularly regarding women’s rights and the public’s support for the government.

“There are definitely misconceptions. Mostly about women’s rights and people being supportive of the government. They are not extremists. The population is separate from the government.”

To her surprise, many women were not wearing headscarves, a stark contrast to the image often portrayed in the media.

“I was surprised that most of the women are without headscarves. That was always in the news that women aren’t allowed to show their hair, but it was very different from what I thought.”

Chiara noted the westernized feel of the country, despite its Islamic identity.

“As a woman you have an instinct when something isn’t right, and there wasn’t a single moment where I felt like that.”

Her favorite aspects of the trip included the “kind people” and the local cuisine, with the Blue Mosque being a standout sight.

However, she also noticed the impact of international sanctions, such as needing to switch sim cards due to her own being inoperative in Iran.

Yet, the sanctions have fostered a sense of independence within the country.

Chiara returned home before the onset of conflict between Israel and Iran in mid-June, sharing her experiences on social media where her video garnered over 400,000 views.

The video, captioned “POV: you landed in a country with a level 4 travel warning,” sparked a mix of reactions, with many expressing newfound interest in visiting Iran.

Chiara hopes to return one day, particularly to explore the southern regions where she notes, “people can drink and women can wear bikinis… Iran is so big. I wish I had more time there.”

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