Iran - Kurdistan

Today I will take you to Kurdistan...

...Kurdistan in Iran is an area in the West of Iran, close to the border to Turkey and Iraq. We did not go as far up as Turkey but rather stayed close to the border of Iraq. Kurdistan is absolutely overwhelmingly beautiful! Since I took so many pictures, and since I find them all very beautiful, I could not stop myself from putting a loooot of pictures here :) 

The first few pictures are from Lake Zarivar in Marivan - we went there for sunset and had this most delicious fig juice (basically just figs left in water over night - I tried it at home too and its sooooo good (when you have good figs as the ones from Iran ;))!) while walking on the promenade. This was the first place we saw when we arrived in Kurdistan and of course we immediatly fel in love with this area.

The next day we took the car through the mountains... the landscape is just breathtaking (especially for someone who is living far away from any mountains and is not used to this sight). We were very close to the border to Iraq the whole time but we felt very safe. Even when we were that close that we could see some Iraquian villges we felt safe. Kurdistan is also different from the southern part of Iraq and its not too dangerous around there at the moment. 

We also went to visit the Howraman villages. The villages are build in the mountains and the houses are made from the stones of the mountains. The streets in the villages are basically the rooftops of the houses underneath. These villages were the most peaceful places I ever went to. It seems like the march of time stopped there. People were wearing traditional clothes, they made everything in handwork, there was no cellphone connection. It was magical and really really beautiful! 
 

The entire roadtrip through Kurdistan was definetly a highlight of our vacation (which was a highlight on its one already) and we are so very grateful that we got the chance to visit this impressive, intersting and beautiful part of the world. We never, anywhere, met as friendly people as we did on this trip! I travelled a lot (Africa, America, Asia, Europe...) but I promise I never ever met as friendly and hospitable people as I did in Iran and from the people I met in Iran the once I met on our trip through Kurdistan were the most hospitable. Just to make you understand what I mean; I did not spend a single dollar on our trip! I simply was not allowed to! This is a kind of hospitality I really did not know before. 

By the way, on these last two pictures we are looking into Iraq so the villages that you can see on the last picture are actually not in Iran anymore.   

How did you like these pictures and stories? I have to say that I was surprised and very happy when I read several comments from friends and followers who also want to visit Iran and who find Iran as interesting as I do. I can really recommend anyone to visit this wonderful country. You wont regret! And feel free to ask me any questions in case you are planning to go there and need any advice about general behaviour, clothing, visa etc. 

Have a most wonderful weekend everyone! Enjoy it to the fullest :)
Sending much love!