Iran
[I decided to blur Shanaz‘ face to not put her at risk. In solidarity I also blurred mine.]
Friday, 2nd of June
There’s not many shop-keepers I’ve met who are as friendly as Shanaz. After our first visit she already gifts us some homemade Mango-Torshi. During our days in here we visit a lot. She tells us which are the cheaper products, she gifts me some fresh fruits for my trip back to Isfahan. I ask her how she and other Iranians can be so amazingly kind even though they have so many problems. „We have to make the best of it“, she tells me through the translation-app. „And we are not free. We live our freedom through travelers like you“, she adds. That one hits deep.
Saturday, 3rd of June
Back to Isfahan to finally collect my passport. After a short visit to the visa office I get it back after two weeks. And not gonna lie, it’s a relief. As a former journalist, carrying around equipment to record @dove_podcast I am anxious ever since I have entered Iran. A type of anxiety mixed with some paranoia that you don’t get in a free country. People telling me that you never know who you can trust doesn’t help. Back at @chilla.hostel some fun guests are playing Mafia. A game with the goal to spot the people who are deceiving or kill everyone if you are indeed Mafia. Oh the irony. Unfortunately I can’t play due to my very limited Farsi language skills and get everyone coffee instead.😅
Sunday, 4th of June
I finally get to face the ultimate Iranian foodie-challenge: Kale Pache! With all the different parts of the sheep’s head. Brain, tongue, eyes. Apparently it splits Persians into people who absolutely love or hate it. The flavour is really good and a couple of drinks help to make my own brain lazy and not care about the „fact“ that it’s supposed to think eating sheep brain is gross. Speaking of the brain. It’s a mystery to me. Sometimes it may even trick us to believe, we fell in love because it wants more of that juicy dopamine and norepinephrine! But can or should the brain and the heart really be separated when it comes to love? Food for thought. Kind of like Kale Pache
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#freedom#free#mafia#kalepache#foodie#food#brainfood#iran#freeiran
