An Awfully Big Adventure : Nothing is so dangerous as being too modern...

"Nothing is so dangerous as being too modern;

one is apt to grow old-fashioned quite suddenly."

Oscar Wilde

After the typical evening nap I headed out on a drive around town. At night the cultural heritage sites are lit up and look absolutely beautiful. Rising above the old bazaar (which is still in use today) is masjid jummeh with its elegant blue tile work illuminated at night in a glowing blue light. Did you know that the mosques are traditionally decorated in a turquoise-ish blue because in ancient times this was the color of victory?

Iran is forever confusing me. The Farsi phrase for historical/heritage site has been somehow translated to English as historical texture. Therefore, I encounter a dozen or so signs proudly stating in English "Historical Texture this way" as I drive around looking for Alexander the Great's prison or the famously charming Dolatabad Garden (which is probably my favorite place in Yazd).

To those wanting a one paragraph summary of modern Iran:
(from a young American's point of view)
Iran was once considered a modernizing country (pre-revolution), however, it now seems stuck in time and in some ways traveling backward. How I long to say that the look of the country is progressing, but, alas I fear it is not so (Yes, there is a new president who is very VISIBLY trying once again to move in the right direction). The clothing style is more suitable to the disco era along with the makeup style and average look of cars around (cars in Tehran, however, are in fact mostly modern). I even saw a few collectors style bicycles being ridden around town when I venture out. Fortunately, this time warp is only present in the physical appearance of people and things. The minds of the youth and young adults are as much engrossed in Facebook, YouTube, texting, video chatting, music, sports, cars, fashion, travel, and politics as elsewhere in the world. The youth are searching for a modernization of the physical to support the modernization of their thoughts, unfortunately, no approved outlet can be found. In general the young people of Iran love all things western including western people (especially tourists). However, I have encountered several people in both the big cities and smaller villages, that dislike all things western (including westernized people) and are not affraid to make their opinions known.