Tehran, Iran | A Pre-Dawn Arrival

In the early hours, Mahan Air’s A340 descended toward Imam Khomeini International Airport. Through the cabin window, the first hints of dawn revealed Tehran’s sprawling silhouette—a city of low-rise buildings and wide avenues, flanked by the snow-capped Alborz Mountains to the north. (Yes, those peaks once hosted world-class ski resorts!)🎬 🚖 Lost in Translation (But Not for Long) At arrivals, I flipped through my Lonely Planet while half a dozen taxi drivers gestured wildly. Language barriers turned "Laleh International Hotel" into a game of charades—until an English-speaking savior emerged. An hour later, we pulled up to the hotel, grateful for Iranian hospitality. ❤️ The Kindness of Strangers In Tehran, looking lost is an invitation. At metro stations, restaurants, or bazaars, locals—young and old, men and women—would approach with offers to help. Their warmth wasn’t performative; it was a genuine joy in sharing their world. 🎞️ A Farewell to Film (and a Region in Flux) The last batch of Kodak Ektachrome E100VS rolled out in October 2013, expiring in 2016. Its vibrant hues mirrored the unreachable beauty of the Middle East in recent years—a place where politics and perception often overshadow the humanity that lingers in every frame. #IranTravel #TehranDiaries #MiddleEast #FilmPhotography #Kodak #Ektachrome #E100VS