Tehran's Standoff With West See Tourists Snub Persian Treasures

The Guardian (UK) ^ | 4-12-2007 | Robert Tait

[blam]

Tehran's standoff with west sees tourists snub Persian treasures

Industry faces collapse as tension grows over nuclear issue and sailors' detention

Robert Tait in Tehran, The Guardian Thursday April 12 2007

Siosepol Bridge in the ancient city of Isfahan. Iran's tourist trade has been badly damaged by recent events. Photograph: Alamy

With its enduring relics of a glorious imperial past, spectacular glittering mosques and breathtaking landscapes, Iran lays claim to some of the finest cultural jewels in the Middle East.

But a potentially catastrophic collapse in the country's tourist trade is threatening to leave this dazzling array of attractions largely unseen by foreign eyes, as international tensions with the west deter a growing number of overseas visitors. The problem has been exacerbated by the recent detention of 15 British marines and sailors, which prompted mass cancellations of foreign tours to a land described this week by its president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, as a cradle of civilisation.

Fears of military conflict over Iran's nuclear programme and disquiet over Mr Ahmadinejad's infamous remarks on the Holocaust had already caused a sharp decline in the number of affluent western visitors, a vital source of foreign currency in a struggling economy.

[blam]

FYI.

[DogBarkTree]

I hope to go to Iran someday to see the world’s largest field of glass.

[SolidWood]

With its enduring relics of a glorious imperial past, spectacular glittering mosques and breathtaking landscapes, Iran lays claim to some of the finest cultural jewels in the Middle East.

Too bad Iran also has one of the most repressive, backward and dangeorus terrorist regime in the Middle East. I guess lacking tourists is the least thing Iran should worry about. They better look out they still have their national treasures in a few years. When things work out without someone launching a nuke there will be plenty of time for sightseeing.

[Beckwith]

Iran lays claim to some of the finest cultural jewels in the Middle East.

All built before 1,200 AD.

They ain't done squat since!

[Titus Quinctius Cincinnatus]

Yes, it’d be a shame to destroy what realy is a repository of cultural heritage.

Simple solution is to whack the mullahs with targeted assassinations, and let the student uprisings against the remnant of the theocratic regime do the rest.

[SolidWood]

Actually all built before 1979.

They ain’t done squat since!

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks. Until “spectacular glittering mosques” is “spectacularly burning mosques” I won’t be interested in seeing Iran. :’) This could be a GGG topic, eh? I’ll have another look.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Blam.

To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list. Thanks.

Please FREEPMAIL me if you want on or off the
"Gods, Graves, Glyphs" PING list or GGG weekly digest
-- Archaeology/Anthropology/Ancient Cultures/Artifacts/Antiquities, etc.
Gods, Graves, Glyphs (alpha order)

[colorado tanker]

There are some beautiful sites in Iran, both ancient and medieval. Maybe someday, if and when the mullets’ reign of terror ends.

[ZULU]

They should date things in Iran as B.J.C. and A.J.C.

Before Jimmy Carter and After Jimmy Carter.

[happygrl]

Any news on the former FBI agent “tourist” that went missing in Iran ?

[SunkenCiv]

I think he was there on business. I suppose he’s in a torture cell somewhere.

[Lady Jag]

Tourists Snub Persian Treasures

                       
Proof that Iranians have significant loss of brain cells.

Threaten your tourists with nuke power and whine when they don't visit you and give you money.

[NY Attitude]

I have crossed that “33 Arch Bridge” many times.

[Safetgiver]

Sh!t. If you can’t eat it, drink it or screw it, blow it up. All up.

[Lady Jag]

Is it as beautiful as it looks?

One of the rings I wear is of Persian turquoise.

I can’t help but be constantly reminded what a sad loss Iran is to the rest of the world.

[NY Attitude]

Yes it is. Also, there is a beautiful park nearby where Iranians celebrate the last day of NoRuz (New Years). There are many beautiful buildings and structures in Esfahan, Shiraz, Qum and Tehran.

[NY Attitude]

I can’t help but be constantly reminded what a sad loss Iran is to the rest of the world.

I was there during the Genesis of the revolution and left 2 months prior to the hostage situation.

[Lady Jag]

What was that like? Right now it’s looking like you might have gotten out in a timely fashion.

[NY Attitude]

Had to be constantly wary of spontaneous rallies and crowds. Some were Pro Shah and others were Pro Khomeini. Driving in some areas required that pictures be prominently displayed of the person that was supported. Having the wrong picture could be hazardous to one’s health as the mobs had clubs and such. Exciting to say the least. Our housing area was overrun more than once. The Iranian Air Force put soldiers with machine guns in our housing area. They were ineffective because we were still overrun. I had an interesting time departing Iran. I departed Iran in 1979.

[NY Attitude]

This is one of the souveniers that I brought home. It is from Qom, made of pure silk and measures approx 2 ft x 4 ft.

[MediaMole]

It’s surprising the “students” left any buildings un-looted after 1979.

[Soaring Feather]

Beautiful, just beautiful. Thanks.

[SolidWood]

Hey man! I was also in Iran pre-Revolution (1975-77)!
I left a while before the revolution and I have fond nostalgic memories of the Pahlavi-era Iran. Iran IS really most beautiful.

Regarding souvenirs... I stuffed two suitcases full with Pahlavi-era Militaria, Medals, Gold, Uniforms and Paraphernelia (beside obligatory rugs, artworks and food...). This stuff is now (post-1979) almost impossible to get.

[NY Attitude]

There were good times prior to the revolution and times that had excitement during the revolution. I was in Esfahan for slightly over 2 years.

[Lady Jag]

What an exquisite piece!

Thank you for letting us see it.

[NY Attitude]

Because of it’s value, I had it placed in a glass frame. Of course I could soak it, apply soap, scrub it with a brush and throw it out in the middle of the street and let cars roll over it like they do in Iran. 8^)

[wildbill]

I remember pre-Revolution and in the immediate aftermath, all the Left could see was the autocratic regime of the Shah, our firm ally, and the role of the Savak, his secret police, in keeping the dissidents under surveillance and control by typical means that were antithetical to our concept of civil rights.

After the Revolution, the Mullahs virtually took over the Savak and doubled the atrocities via the Revolutionary Guards. All of a sudden you were seeing dissidents and so-called heretics being hanged in public.

Iran, under the Mullahs, is still one of the most repressive regimes in the world—and not a peep out of the Left. Now they want to jihad with atomic weapons

[Suzy Quzy]

Nancy Pelosi and that dracula guy will boost tourism!!

[Lady Jag]

Okay, I’ll bite. Does rolling cars over pure silk Persian carpet make it more Aryan?

[NY Attitude]

The theory is just not for silk but for wool carpets as well is: that constant traffic on the carpet beats up oils and other things to make the carpet have more of a sheen. Brand new carpets do not have the sheen or the value of older carpets. I figured that you would think that the story was far-fetched but it isn’t.

[Sam Ketcham]

If we keep up the smug attitude - “Kingfish. weez in trouble”
IRAN will only accept Euros, not dollars for oil - they do not ship directly to us, but it will affect us. CChina will not accept additional reserves inn US Dollars. Gold is close to $700-. The Euro is about $1.36 and climbing. It isn;t just Teheran who snubs us.

HIGH INTEREST RSATES ARE ON THE WAY! - We are IRAN’s target!
JMO