We have been trying to get our visa at the Iranian embassy for weeks. Unfortunately, the website there is on something like a Christmas holiday and our visa has been delayed. But now we have the OK, we can go.
So we decide in favour of a domestic flight from Batman to Ankara. By train it would be just under 27 hours, with Felix probably a day or two. One way.
When we arrive in Ankara, we get on a bus and head straight to the Iranian embassy. However, contrary to the information on the website, it is closed in the afternoon. So we quickly head to the hotel. We have booked a small hotel in an old caravanserai. Very central, says Google Maps. Unfortunately, Google Maps has forgotten to mention that we have to climb a mountain. Tired, we trudge up the steep alleyways. Fall into the hotel bed and onto the sofa and realise: We like it here. We're staying here.
Tired, we later sneak into the lobby, listen to the sounds of the piano over tea and sink into the deep sofas. Not much else happens today; we walk exactly 20 steps to the hotel restaurant for dinner. Mantı, Gerd's favourite dish from Turkey, and a fresh salad. And above all: little. As wonderful as the last few days have been, no one can eat that much. Hospitality or not, these quantities are simply too much even for us "always-eaters".
The view from the window, high above the city of Ankara with its 5 million inhabitants, is magnificent, but is of little interest to us today. Tomorrow is another day.
We are looking forward to the days here, to Ankara and hope that everything will work out with our visa. And yes, we do keep an eye on the political situation, we are not out of the world. And we are certainly not dreamers.
Merci for "travelling with us
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Date: 27 September 2024
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Date: 24 - 28 October 2024 (exact dates to come, but definitely on a weekend day!)
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Hello travellers
After your report in which you describe how you ended up in the Turkish earthquake zones more or less by chance - or unprepared - I was already thinking about whether I wanted to continue "travelling" with you.
And now your route will take you to Iran. Admittedly a fairytale country. But: a country disastrous for women, restrictive, dangerous for people who want to think and realise their own ideas*.
Foreign travellers run a considerable risk of being arrested, interrogated and detained for no apparent reason; they may face long prison sentences.
https://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/de/home/vertretungen-und-reisehinweise/iran/reisehinweise-fuerdeniran.html
I have read through the EDA information, I am probably not completely wrong with my concerns.
*
Many people were probably killed that night...
https://www.zeit.de/politik/ausland/2023-09/iran-gefaengnis-proteste-folter-demonstrantinnen
You will probably continue to meet nice, hospitable people who will share the last meal with you and make the last cup of tea for you. You're sure to find cats and dogs to pet and feed. And you're sure to take some wonderful photos.
Have a good journey!
I ask you to remove me from your mailing list.
Regula
Dear Regula,
Regarding your last question: it's a shame that you no longer want to follow us. Of course we understand that. However, we would like to ask you to do this yourself in the mails (at the bottom), as we do not have access to your data.
Now to your concerns, which we of course understand and partly share. We are also informed. However, the AA's statements are mostly irrelevant to us.
We also like to look at the websites of other foreign offices, for example in Switzerland and Austria, but also in English and other language countries. Here we often find significantly different statements about travelling to our destination countries. We use all this information to form our own opinion and then decide.
We are also in close contact with many travellers who are currently hitchhiking, cycling, motorcycling and camping in Iran. So here too, we are well connected and well informed.
About your link: It is from November 2023, it will soon be February 2024.
We will travel in a way that suits us. There is always a risk. On the road, at home, near and far. We understand your fears and of course accept them. But we don't share them. That's why we're travelling a little further.
We would also like to comment briefly on this: We are often invited. Yes. But we would never accept something if we realised that it was the last thing these people would have to eat or drink. Never. And if you have been following us for a while, you will know us and know that we are very hospitable and generous, preferring to give rather than receive. But when encounters with people are accompanied by shared meals, it is always a gift for us, which we respectfully accept.
Perhaps our lines will help you to understand our journey a little. And maybe it's also good to reflect on your own projections from time to time.
All my love to you. In connection with the hope that you will stay with us and want to travel with us. That would be nice.
Best regards Gerd & Heike