A few facts about my birthplace, my vatan:
- It has several wickedly cool five-star hotels in Tehran, Isfahan, the Island of Kish, and many other cities.
- Nearly 70% of Iran's population is under the age of 30, and the median age is 23. That's an awful lot of young people who are chomping at the bit for change.
- Persepolis (Takht-e-Jamshid), the city that Alexander supposedly had one of his mistresses set afire, is still fairly intact, and an amazing, awe-inspiring monument to the Persian Empire.
- Some of the best snowboarding in the world can be found in Iran's Dizin ski resort
Anyway, why am I waxing poetic about Iran today? Well, March is upon us, and with it comes the Persian New Year. It's a season full of celebration, food, dancing and revelry. It's a time to clear away the cobwebs of the past year, and start fresh.
Over the next few days, I will share traditional Nowrooz recipes, traditions, stories and more.
I invite you into my virtual home, to share a cup of tea, a story and a sweet. And, to each of my wonderful visitors I say, Aid-eh Shoma Mobarak (Happy New Year!).