Ride the Peace Train
Images of Tehran
Dear Travelers,
Tooraj Fooladi, a friend of mine who is Iranian, lives in Spain, and has led tours for my company since 1999, just sent me this slideshow of his home country. It takes as long as the Cat Stevens tune "Peace Train" to watch it. I remember waking up one morning almost frantic to take my TV crew to Baghdad to show the humanity of that city, and its similarities to each of ours when it gets right down to people. I was too late. Now I have the same urge for Tehran. I hope you can enjoy a short and thought-provoking trip to Iran (a place that many in our country would personally profit from if we decided to destroy it) by visiting this site:
www.lucasgray.com/video/peacetrain.html
For another peek at Iran with some great Iranian music, check out Iran: Another perspective
Thanks,
Rick Steves
Iran is a beautiful country with a rich history. It is unfortunate that we, as Americans, don't have the opportunity to travel there freely as we do to Europe. I keep praying that one day things will change. My memories of when I travelled to Iran as a young child will be with me for a lifetime!!! May I suggest that everyone look past the ridiculous politics that have been going on for almost 30 years and see an Iran with a rich culture and kind people.
Taj
Sarasota, FL
I have been seeing an Iranian man for the past year and have such a desire to visit the country. He is here as a refugee and unfortunately will not be able to return to his country. He describes it in such a beautiful manner and he is one of the most gentle people I have met in my life thus far. To me, my situation represents the closeness of humanity; for a girl in Oklahoma to come together with a man from Iran is beautiful to me. We have lived such different geographical lives and experienced vast continental complexities but we understand eachother. People need not look at the unfamiliar images they see but rather into the eyes of the person, who probably isn't that much different from themselves. I appreciate the unforseen beauty in the unknown and would love to visit Iran and all it has to offer.
Kristin
oklahoma city
Could we all start traveling to Iran like crazy? Could this keep the US military out? Just a thought.
Ann Mikkelsen
Minneapolis
I am no fan of the Islamic Republic of Iran, however, any change must come from within Iran. This is already happening. Bombing Iran should not be an option. We know what has happened to Iraq. 5 more of our best were killed today with countness Iraqis.
Let's not have another Iraq in Iran!
Naveed
Portland, Oregon
No, Thank you, Rick. I'll be passing this along.
Erica
DuPont, WA
We say we worship the Prince of Peace but we act like war is the only answer. God help us.
Pat Frederick-Perona
Minden,nv
I guess its okay they fund terrorist bombers to blow up jewish children in Israeli pizza parlors. Thats just a sort of minor quirkyness,but if they carry out there repeated threats to nuke Israel it will spoil my opinion of them totally.
Dave
Boston
Please don't let the politics mar your judgement. We aren't talking about government policies in this forum...we are talking about travel, history and culture. What a government stands for should not reflect on its people.
Taj
Sarasota, FL
People like you give me hope that there are a few sane people left in the world. Our generation fought so hard for peace, and now some of us from that same era fight just as hard for their wallets. We all must learn diplomacy. It is the only way. We all have something in common. It is time for us all to find those common interests and work for peace together. War (murder) should always be the last resort. I agree with Taj: the people are the country, do not forget that. God help America if the whole world thinks Mr. Bush is reflecting our opinions. That's what the November elections were all about. I just came back from Paris; a conversation with a lovely man there noted that a lot of them were praying for us... how warm is that! He indicated that it was America that inspired their independence! I'd like to think we've come a long way from "Freedom Fries".
Lynn
New Jersey
My wife has actually been to Iran, and found it to be a beautiful country with wonderful people.
But on the other hand, this is a nation whose leaders and people hate us -- and they ARE crazy enough to use nukes against us if they are able to make them! Their 2-bit President has called for "wiping Israel off the map", and they are directly responsible for killing our troops in Iraq, as well as innocent civilians in Israel. Those who think "diplomacy" will keep them from nuking Israel, Europe, or even the USA -- they are naive! If it becomes clear the Iranians have working nukes, then Sorry, but we MUST bomb them! THAT is reality, folks.
To Kristen, and anyone else who wants to visit Iran today (or even date an Iranian), I'd advise you to watch the Sally Field movie, "Not Without My Daughter". That movie tells the TRUTH about Iran.
Allen
Indiana
Faculty, staff and students from my workplace, Eastern Mennonite University, have visited Iran several times in the last 18 months, and Iranians have visited us. The exchanges have been largely positive.
Iran has its problems. Few would argue that it is a democracy with full human rights. But the U.S. has its problems, including being the world's biggest bully at the moment. On a people-to-people basis, warm friendships are not only possible, they should be sought. Such friendships will motivate us all to work harder to pursue alternatives to war and threats of violence.
Concerning nuclear weapons, when the U.S. and Israel stop investing in them, they be standing on higher moral ground from which to address others who do the same.
Thanks, Rick, for courageously speaking out for greater efforts at peace and international understanding. (P.S. I am typing this from Turkey, which I am visiting with one of your books in hand.)
Bonnie
Virginia
Thank you thank you for the Tehran images and music. I travelled in Iran in 1995 and know how beautiful the country and its people are. It was a trip I shall never forget, and hope to do again if the people in our government can give up their hate filled rhetoric and pursue diplomacy with Iran. A story in today's NYTimes tells of lost opportunities. Rick Steves' publicity fpr Iran could help Americans understand that Iranians have culture, music, sports, and lives like the rest of us. Thank you.
Susan Burns
San Mateo, CA
I would be so very interested if you decided to visit Iran and would love to take a tour there as my husband is from one of the 2% Jewish families who lived in Tehran (most fled to the US & EUR in the 70's & 80's). For 33 yrs. I've been waiting to go there with my husband to see the few surviving members of his family who remained there. The culture is rich & varied & the food wins hands-down -- esp. the rice. If I can be of any assistance to you, please feel free to contact us as this is something we are extremely interested in. The pictures & videos you showed here are most of what I've seen before and the music is wonderful. I grew up loving Cat Stevens back in the 70's & glad that you support him although many "fans" abandoned him since it was announced that he become a moslem. Such a shame that people are this naive! By the way, thank you for the many, many TV programs that you've broadcast over the yrs. You are our inspiration to see the world!! Again, thank you, Steve! Nancy B
Nancy Bokhoor
NC
Iran is a terrorist country led by a madman....His country is exporting IED's to Iraq and killing americans.....
Jeff
San Diego
"Not Without My Daughter" does not represent Iranian culture, any more than, say, "Psycho" represents Americans. Wake up.
H
Belltown
Rick, you reek like a liberal. If you listen to Peace Train a google times, Iran still wants Israel nuked, and all non-Muslims dead. Let's band together, hold hands, burn incense, and nuke Iran before its too late. Liberalism is a mental disease, and puts the good people of the USA at risk.
Charles Lohr
Ann Arbor MI
I visited Iran independantly last year (though i am American, I am also Irish, so i oculd go alone). I was very moved by the genuine kindness and deep spirit of the people there. THere are so many misconceptions about Iran here in America- and to go there alone, as a woman, not knowing anyone.. and then leaving with a dozen new families, and friends, and nothing but good memories, just blew my mind away. As it does everyone i tell my stories to. I am heading back there again- this summer. THis time i will be doing a solo bicycle ride across the north of Iran. I will let you know how it goes. If you happen to be there when i am (June 25-Aug 7, 2008) please let me know: meshelmay@gmail.com All the best & enjoy Iran-- you will no doubt be compelled as i am to tell the real story of Iran when you return. It is a much needed story to tell these days, as you pointed out here.
Michelle May
San Francisco, CA
Steve- Are you going to lead a tour? I'd love to go back. Thank you for the Cat Stevens piece- tears came down my cheeks at the thought of what our government may inflict on the many hospitable and welcoming people who live in the country. I'd hate to be held accountable for what the current administration of my government is doing.
chris
seattle
I think you are right the only wait to wage peace is through understanding and that starts with one person at a time face to face and not face to face on a battle field but in homes, schools and across tables. It always amazes me how limited some people believe other human beings are when they themselves can't see what it really takes to be human. Keep up the good work.
Rita Chavez
Seattle
Hi Rick,
I'm a friend of Tooraj when we were studing at the University of Oregon in Eugene in the early 1980's. Please tell him that Bijan says hello. I bumped into his brother Manoochehr who was watching the Spain-Gernmany football game in a bar!
bijanm@netzero.com
Bijan Mashayekhi
Maryland, USA