Adrienne Smith, the Constant Traveler: An Iranian 'Idyll,' Part IV

By Adrienne Smith

Jun. 24, 2015: It's time now for a little education about Iran, some items the result of personal observation and others found on Internet sites, and, most certainly, of varying importance:

Iran's geographical area is slightly smaller than the US's largest state, Alaska.
Almost half of Iran is desert.
Its population exceeds 80 million people, making it the second largest in the Middle East and 18th in the world.
People of Persian extraction make up roughly 61% of the population, followed by 16% Azerbaijanis and 16% Kurds.
70% of Iranians are under the age of 30.
Somewhere between 90 and 95% of Iranians are Shia Muslims, representing the largest Shia Muslim population in the world, followed by India.
Iranians, who at least for the 61% prefer to be called Persians, do not consider themselves to be Arab. This is because they have their own language, Persian (Farsi), are Shia, rather than Sunni, Muslim, and have maintained a distinct national culture over the centuries.
The current president of Iran is Hassan Rouhani, who is considered a moderate, at least compared to his predecessor, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
The supreme leader of Iran is Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the second ayatollah to serve since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
There are many ayatollahs, including a few women. Ayatollahs obtain their status via study and discourse.
Iran is the only country in the Middle East that offers a high school course of study equivalent to the A-levels and the International Baccalaureate and a university entrance exam equivalent to the A-level and IB exams and the SATs.
Iran sided with the Axis in World War II, which led to its occupation by the British and Russians in 1941.
Iran has the largest proven gas reserves in the world and is fourth in oil reserves.
Roughly 14.2% of Iranians are obese, compared to 33.9% of Americans.
Starting at menarche, young girls start wearing the hijab.
Girls of 13 or more may marry with the permission of their fathers.
Iran is the nose-job capital of the world. Young women with white bandages on their proboscises can be seen in all the big cities.
Iran is the locus of more sex-change operations each year than anywhere else in the world except Thailand. The procedure is legal and, often, state-financed.
Men who do not marry continue to live at home and are known as na-mard (not-men).
Private ownership of satellite TV dishes is officially banned but violations are mainly overlooked.
Polo had its origins in Persia in the sixth century.
Women in Iran can vote and drive but cannot wear bathing suits in front of men. Beaches and athletic clubs are segregated, the former with barriers down each side.

And now for my favorite factoid. Certain Shia men are allowed to enter into short-term marriages, called siigheh, regardless of whether they have wives and children at home. This is done by contract and can specify a time period ranging from an hour to years. The origin of this procedure seems to derive from pilgrims' "needs" on long, lonely trips to Mecca.

Add to this that there are no beggars on the street, littering is rare, cars don't honk, and young children seem remarkably even-tempered, and you have quite an unusual country.

Pictured here: Ayatollahs in Shiraz.

Photo by Adrienne Smith

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Adrienne Smith, the Constant Traveler: Malaise in Munich

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Vacation Ideas: The Four Seasons Washington

Enjoy a weekend in Washington, DC during Cherry Blossom Season (late March/early April). Stay at the Four Seasons Washington, an elegant hotel that is part of the Four Seasons chain. Located right in the center of Georgetown, the hotel is “great for kids” providing welcoming touches in the room (confetti, yellow duck, balloons, cookies) as well as an indoor pool. Enjoy everything that Washington has to offer.

2800 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20007
202-342-0444

Martha’s Vineyard

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128 Main Street Box 239
Edgartown, Mass 02539
508-627-9510
www.hobknob.com

Mayflower Inn and Spa

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118 Woodbury Road, Route 47
Washington, Connecticut 06793
860-868-9466
www.mayflowerinn.com

Mohonk Mountain House

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1000 Mountain Rest Road
New Paltz, New York 12561
800-722-6646 (reservations)

Mont Tremblant Ski Resort

Mont Tremblant Ski Resort makes for a ski vacation with an international flair. Best of all, you can combine great skiing with site seeing in beautiful Quebec and create a family ski vacation that is a little different from most. There are many ski-in, ski-out hotels and condominiums right on the mountain.

www.Tremblant.ca.

Nantucket

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508-228-0145
www.wauwinet.com

Newport

A weekend or vacation in Newport, Rhode Island is always fun. Depending on your mood, consider staying at the Castle Hill Inn and Resort, which was built in 1874 as a summerhouse and has a variety of accommodations including rooms right on the beach or The Chanler at Cliff Walk, which was voted “one of the 15 best new luxury hotels in the world” by Food & Wine (2003). Your weekend can include a Mansion Tour, Cliff Walk, tennis on the grass courts of the Tennis Hall of Fame and, depending on the time of year, a jazz festival, folk festival or flower show.

Castle Hill Inn & Resort
590 Ocean Drive
Newport, Rhode Island 02840.

The Chanler at Cliff Walk
117 Memorial Boulevard
Newport, Rhode Island 02840
401-372-2578
www.thechanler.com
888-466-1355
www.castlehillinn.com

Skytop Lodge

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Skytop Lodge
One Skytop
Skytop, Pennsylvania 18357
800-345-7759
www.skytop.com

The Hamptons

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The Maidstone
207 Main Street
East Hampton, New York 11937
631-324-5006

http://www.themaidstone.com/

The Homestead

The Homestead is America’s oldest destination resort. Located in the mountains of Virginia, the resort is “steeped in the rich and timeless tradition of Southern hospitality” and offers every activity imaginable for adults and children. Take a closer look!

1766 Homestead Drive
Hot Springs, Virginia 22445
Reservations: 866-354-4653
www.thehomestead.com

Woodstock Inn & Resort

If you’re looking for something to do for a week during the Holidays, consider the Woodstock Inn & Resort. Located in the heart of lovely Woodstock, the Inn offers easy access to skiing at Suicide Six. You can also enjoy a sleigh ride or spend time in the low-key athletic facility that includes tennis courts and an indoor pool. Finally, you can walk to town for dinner and simply enjoy the beautiful scenery.

Fourteen The Green
Woodstock, Vermont 05091-1298
802-457-1000
www.woodstockinn.com

A Bar A Ranch

Plan ahead if you want to stay at the A Bar A Ranch in Wyoming. Families come back year after year and it can be difficult to get a reservation. Located in Encampment, Wyoming, the A Bar A offers simple phone-free cabins, fun riding, great fly fishing and the opportunity to relax. They also have a small pool, one tennis court and a quirky golf course if you can’t leave those clubs at home. Many of the summer staff are college-age men and women (many from the south) who are there to help you with a smile. Finally, the A Bar A offers a camp for kids age four and up.

Encampment, Wyoming 82325
307-327-5454

Beaver Creek Resort

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888-830-SNOW (lodging)
www.beavercreek.com

Caneel Bay

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PO Box 720
St John, Virgin Islands, USA 00831-0720
340-776-6111
www.caneelbay.com

The Coral Beach & Tennis Club

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Coral Beach & Tennis Club
P.O. Box PG 200
Paget PGBX, Bermuda
441-236-2233
www.coralbeachclub.com

The Gasparilla Inn & Club

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P.O. Box 1088
500 Palm Avenue
Boca Grande, Florida 22921
800-996-1913

The Golden Door

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Golden Door Reservations
Post Office Box 463077
Escondido, California 92064-3077
760-744-5777
US Toll Free 800-424-0777
www.goldendoor.com

The Ritz Carlton in Key Biscayne

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455 Grand Bay Drive
Key Biscayne, Florida 33149
305-365-4500
http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/KeyBiscayne/Default.htm

The Tryall Club

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876-956-5660
www.tryallclub.com

Deer Valley

If you are looking for a great ski vacation with your family, Deer Valley is for you. An easy flight from New York (Delta flies direct to Salt Lake City), Deer Valley is less than 45 minutes from the airport. There are no snowboarders allowed and they have a large number of groomed slopes that are good for children. They also limit the number of skiers during peak times to avoid overcrowding. Consider staying at the Stein Eriksen Lodge, which is nestled "mid" mountain and is considered the premier hotel in the area. You can rent your equipment there, store your skies and boots, which are dried overnight, and enjoy all the convenience of ski in/ski out accomodations. If you want to take advantage of ski school, make reservations well in advance. You can eat a casual cafeteria-style lunch at the Silver Lake Lodge. Other restaurants good for the evening include the Mariposa at Silver Lake Lodge, The Glitretind Restaurant at the Stein Eriksen, the Seafood Buffet at Snow Park Lodge or the the Fireside Dinner at Empire Canyon Lodge.

Stein Eriksen Lodge
7700 Stein Way
Park City Utah 04060
800-453-1302
www.steinlodge.com

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