GoNOMAD's editor joined a group of about 120 travel industry representatives and traveled to Iran recently. It was an eye-opening journey, mostly because the people were so friendly in contrast with what we hear from the government. He had the most fun when he took a trip into the vast central desert called Dasht-E-Kavir, where people can finally feel free. Below is part of his story.

Rolling Down the Dunes

But Iran's biggest desert had more gifts for us, as we found when we stopped next to high dunes. It was getting toward sunset, the light was sharp and perfect to frame the beautiful faces of Iran's lovely people.

Scrambling up the steep sandy face of the hilly dunes, some of us folded hands on our chests and rolled all the way down. Others set out to walk far out to the tops of the highest dune peaks. The light was perfect, that soft glow of a late fall afternoon, and we were glad we had brought along jackets to ward off the chill after sundown.
After a break for tea and cakes, we made our way back to the town square of Aran, where in the shadow of a giant mosque, lit up in bright lime green, we switched back to the comfortable modern coach. After we set out, the red curtains were drawn, and our guides selected the funkiest Iranian dance beats on the coach's stereo.

On the way home, we closed the curtains and danced to Iranian rock music on the bus.
To the blasting beat, one by one men and woman got up to dance, swaying seductively and smiling, defying the rules against such ungodly pleasures. No one could stop us as we rolled along in the desert, no one could see what fun we were having as we let the music move us.