Got up early in the morning and got to the Turkmenistan embassy again.

Tried to apply for a transit visa so I can cross Turkmenistan soon. There were quite a number of people applying as well since the embassy was closed for a week. Even though I was the 3rd in line but still waited for 2 hours. The person at the embassy just took a photocopy of my passport and Uzbekistan visa, then asked me to come back in 5 days for the visa. The 5 days process was considered an express service and cost USD$55. I will try to get the visa in Mashhad.
Went back to the hotel at 12pm and changed to a dorm room (Iranian Rial 50,000 ~ USD$5).

Transportation in Tehran is inexpensive. The metro is subsidized by the government and cost around 15 cents each trip. Taxis here are not that expensive and usually passengers take shared taxis which cost around 3000 Iranian Rials or 30 cents. There are also many motorbike taxis as well.

Imam Khomeini square

There are some sign boards with verses from the Quran along the street. I thought this one is interesting.

Visited the Palace Complex

National Library

Iran National Museum

Some Iranian school kids

The museum is not very big and the Islamic museum was closed for renovation.

Went to the old US embassy with Ralph. The old embassy is just right beside Taleqani metro station. It’s also called the Den of Espionage because US conducted some spying operation here during the 70s. There were many anti American slogan written on the wall.

Surprisingly there is a greek church just opposite from the old US embassy

Non alcoholic beer

Walked to Valiars street, a street with many shops

Across the street from Hotel Mashhad, there is Hotel Firouzeh which provide internet access for USD$3 a day. In Iran, many websites are blocked such as facebook, youtube….and internet connection is slow here.

One Response to “Tehran 2nd day”

1. Min says:

   November 21, 2009 at 7:32 pm

   China also blocks facebook and youtube….