I went there last December (2005) to visit my family for the first time. It was absolutely incredible. The culture is beautiful. And although I had to be covered up (which I disliked a great deal), it was completely worth it. I saw mountains. Beautiful mountains. And the flowers at the Bazaar-eh Gol… I had never seen such big blossoms, smelled such fragrant flowers. The food… you’ll taste fruit and vegetables for the first time. The bread and cheese is to die for, especially because the bread is baked hot and fresh every morning at 5 am. It is a very dirty city, and driving in a car, you may get woozy. It’s also very hot in summer, I’ve heard. And it was not really all that cold in winter. So it’s rather mild. But overall… an amazing experience. People are friendly. The things you hear in America about the violence.. I never saw any of that. People are very open. Basically, it’s a true once-in-a-lifetime unforgettable experience.