As we got closer and closer to t he Iranian airspace, a feeling that I could not even describe as anxiousness, excitement, warming heart, or what have you, increased in intensity. There was no announcement or declaration of any sort, as I had heard it had been the norm in the 80s, reminding the ladies to adhere to dress code of the Islamic Republic, when entering the Iranian airspace. So I had to stick to maps and landscapes I knew to sense the moment.
A midday flight, with an almost empty airplane, in October 2024, was a fantastic opportunity to take pictures of the landscape below. In this post I am going to share them with you.
Once passed the immigration and within one of huge corridors of the Istanbul’s new airport, I was excited that at last, after 10 years, a big gap partially due to COVID, I am going to see my hometown again. At the same time, I was apprehensive and anxious that an imminent Israeli strike while on air can make that impossible, or if I am already in Tehran, will make me of plan B to return in 10 days, and report back to work, as I had promised to my team and boss. Plan B could have been also exciting. Taking a bus or train and coming the whole way back to Istanbul, via a versatile and most scenic mountainous regions of Iran and Turkey, is one of things I might do when I have ample time to do so in future, anyway!
Lake Van, was a definite landmark. For a moment, I forgot the destination and distracted by the journey, and enjoyed the beauty of Lake VAN from thousands of meters above.
