
Sean Reeve, from Bristol, England, on his second trip to Iran, here touring Chehel Sotoon palace, Isfahan.
“I’m an accountant with Rolls Royce, in Bristol, England. This is my second trip to Iran. The first one was three years ago. Both trips for 20 days, because that’s how long the visas were issued for.
“I came to Iran because I wanted to know what Iran is really about and go beyond what BBC tells me.
“Most of the information we receive in the press about Iran is negative. If only the English knew about the friendliness of the Iranian people, they would have a completely different opinion.
“I had my first surprise on the first day of my first trip. I was trying to find a place and I asked an old man, who just stared at me because he couldn’t understand me.
“Then this little girl, maybe seven or eight years old, came up to me asked, ‘what is it you’re looking for?’ I couldn’t believe that she spoke English. I told her and she responded, ‘Okay, come with me.’
“That was my first big impression of Iran. This would never happen in England. First of all, a stranger walking with a little girl—that just isn’t done there. Also, the friendliness, helpfulness of the people, the way they would go out of their way to help you—this is not in my culture in England.
“Another thing that persuaded me to come back is the way people interact with you. Many people are eager to practice their English. You can get a good impression of what they’re thinking.
“Then you got so many historical sites scattered across a huge country.
“I am never followed by anyone. I don’t think I am ever watched. I can go anywhere I wish. Going to places is easy. You just show up at the bus station.
“I had an experience with a bogus policeman [trying for a shakedown], but that can happen anywhere. I just kept walking and he went away. In Isfahan you actually feel pretty safe because there are so many [real] policemen everywhere.
“I know I’m the center of attention here and I don’t mind it; it’s kind of flattering.
“There have never been any expressions of hatred whatsoever.
“Everybody [back home] thinks I’m crazy for coming here because of the press images of Iran; they enforce the stereotypical opinions.
“Things are so cheap here, you don’t even bother to look at the numbers anymore; it’s not even worth the trouble of converting it back to your currency.
“You come here [to tour the Chehel Sotoon] for 5,000 [rials] and it’s like 33 p’s. No, it’s less than 30 p’s. I’m an accountant; I need to get that right.
“The toilets are alright. The only thing I would change is the visa process. The first time I was rejected for no reason and you lose your money [the visa fee] even if you’re rejected. So I went to an agent and he got it for me. The whole thing cost me 164 pounds. This time I spent 137 pounds and had to wait five weeks.
“But then it costs 80 pounds for Iranians to get British visas and they have to go through the fingerprinting thing.
“Eighty pounds is a lot of money for an Iranian. I think it’s extortion.”