Among the countries I traveled to during my first trip, Iran is the one that stayed with me the most. At the border, I was a bit hesitant and slightly scared, influenced by all the prejudices about this country. But as soon as I entered, I was welcomed with open arms. Everyone stopped to say, "Welcome to Iran," and countless people wanted to help me. As I usually do when I visit a new country, I went looking for a local SIM card (unfortunately, I can’t live without internet). I asked a taxi driver for information, and he gestured for me to follow him. We tried three shops, but none of them had SIM cards. Finally, at the fourth shop, we succeeded. The driver spoke on my behalf (since I don’t speak Farsi and barely know two words in English) and managed to get me a SIM card. When it was time to pay, I experienced my first taste of Iranian hospitality: the driver insisted on paying for me, even though it was clear that I was far better off financially than he was. I tried hard to insist on paying, but it was impossible to convince him. Then I faced another issue: I needed a VPN to use WhatsApp in Iran, as it’s blocked there. I hadn’t realized this because I never research my destinations beforehand (I like to travel this way, unprepared). Without hesitation, the taxi driver decided to help me with this as well, guiding me through the process. I thanked him a million times, but he wasn’t done yet—he even invited me to his home for dinner and to spend the night.

I was speechless. This time, though, I managed to politely decline, as I wanted to cover some distance that day. After riding a few kilometers on my motorcycle, I stopped to grab something to eat. In the distance, I spotted two BMW GS motorcycles. I waved at the riders to stop, and that’s how I met Jens and Susi, a couple of seasoned travelers. We clicked instantly, and I asked if I could join them. Jens, smiling, replied, “The real question is, do you want to follow us?” Of course, I said yes. We rode a few more kilometers together and started looking for a place to camp for the night. Along the way, many people kept inviting us to their homes, but eventually, we found a perfect spot with some trees and decided to set up camp there. We pitched our tents and started eating, when suddenly, a car pulled up. It was the owner of the orchard where we had stopped. He immediately asked, “Why are you here?” We explained that we were just looking for a place to spend the night. Instead of asking us to leave—as someone in Europe probably would—he invited us to his home without hesitation. I was in shock, and Jens exclaimed, “Stefano, this is Iran.” At that moment, I realized that after just a few hours in this country, I already loved it. I could go on for hours talking about Iran, about the incredible things that happened, and the amazing people I met. But I think this first day alone gives you an idea of how the rest of the journey unfolded...