Internet, Persian Style! | Persian Nooks & Crannies in Cyberspace – Part 2

“@NIACouncil Anthony Bourdain: #Persians are the nicest people in the world

متشکریم آقای بوردین٬ خوبی از خودتونه! pic.twitter.com/6ZJi0A95k5”

— NousheJan (@NousheJan) July 25, 2014

Let’s start part 2 of the Persian nooks and crannies of cyberspace (see here for part 1 and the series’ mission statement) with Anthony Bourdain – the chef and food critic bar none who visited Iran this past spring. Very much look forward to seeing this episode when it airs.

Before continuing, let’s please note that all of the images in this post are scoured from social media sites and are live links — just hover the mouse over the image and/or the handle name. I encourage you to click and go right to the source to explore and follow their content!





 

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A completed work by Elahe, which combines tazhib and gol morghi patterns (flowers & birds). #Iran pic.twitter.com/HiDXXxILdW

— Dirt Road (@pedestrian) September 16, 2014

Artwork by the Iranian artist Elahe Shahbani. So beautiful! I can’t stop gazing at it.

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Travelers carrying their luggage to #Ramsar Old Hotel. #Mazandaran, #Iran. Photo by Maryam Fatourchian @maryam_fatourchian #everydayiran مسافران در حال حمل بار و بنهِ سفرشان به داخل هتل قدیم #رامسر. #مازندران، #ایران. عکاس: مریم فتورچیان

A post shared by Everyday Iran (@everydayiran) on Sep 7, 2014 at 4:56am PDT

Ramsar Hotel in the northern region (‘shomal’) of Iran in the Caspian sea region. If not for the telltale sign of women wearing the hijab, I would have mistaken the mood and architecture for that of a sleepy European town.

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At the tomb of Iranian mathematician, astronomer and poet, Omar Khayyam. She wanted the kids to line up neatly for a photo. They just wanted to run around. Better than most they understand Khayyam's words: Alike for those who for today prepare, And those that after some tomorrow stare, A Muezzin from the Tower of Darkness cries: "Fools! Your reward is neither Here nor There."

A post shared by @ many_roads_ on Sep 5, 2014 at 3:43pm PDT

An Iranian mom lining up her kids for a photo op at the tomb of Omar Khayyam, the Iranian mathematician, astronomer and poet.

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Spot the little foodie! @samanehalaei

A post shared by Leilee (Cafe Leilee) (@cafeleilee) on Sep 19, 2014 at 8:35pm PDT

A little Persian foodie! Growing up in an awesome foodie Persian family must be so nice!

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http://instagram.com/p/tE16-CTgGT/?modal=true

The courtyard of the Grand Bazaar, in Tehran. The Grand Bazaar was one of my favorite places to explore when I was in Tehran. I barely scratched the surface.

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Gifs frm #Tabriz 4 #AutumnSolstice Will feast on nuts,drink chai & burn wild rue whilst reading #Daryabandari pic.twitter.com/ecdaNthsKG

— Simi's Kitchen (@SimisKitchen) September 22, 2014

One of my favorite Persian food bloggers having herself a cozy, lovely time with yummy Persian snacks and the 2 volume masterpiece cookbook of Mr. Najaf Daryabandari.

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John Simpson: Iran is the most charming country on Earth – http://t.co/wV9aEaljvv pic.twitter.com/pjnKcfnQIV

— Digital Resistance (@dgtlresistance) September 10, 2014

Iran is definitely a poetic and charming country. A whole bunch of you are entirely cynical of this pronouncement, I know, but it’s true. I mean, would a British dude write in a UK publication that Iran is the most charming country on Earth were it not true?

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Perhaps we can contemplate the veracity of this point over the weekend. These are turbulent times that feel dark and ominous, but let’s all have a beautiful weekend, focusing on good things and light, and let’s send some positive energy into this awesome and awful world of ours.