Day 11

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Created on Thursday, 17 September 2015 20:29

09/15/2015 Tehran – Isfahan (Iran)

After we have escaped the chaotic traffic in Tehran this morning (here everyone goes as he wants, anyway the are less accidents , for  us Europeans  it is way of driving  getting used to), we were on higway  7 direction Qom and then to our today´s destination  Isafahan.

At the tollgates on the highway we were acclaimed by the cashier,  he waved us trough the gate  without paying the toll.  “ You are free,  you can go “ was the standard phrase. Something like this in Europe?  Inconceivable….

On the way we made a stop to refuel our cars and hundreds of thousands banknotes changed hands…. of course Iranian rial , converted one gallon liter of fuel is about $1.

After the refuel stop we need to make a short rest period even with a original Iranian Magnum ice cream

We were standing less then 2 minutes as the Deloreans were rounded by a crowd and parents want to take picture from their children with and inside the Delo. It is amazing how kind and friendly everybody is, they gave us icecream and fruits and try to make a small conversation with a very little knowledge of English.

On the highway we saw again , laughing , beckon to us , taking pictures and blowing the horn from uncounted passing cars

Of course there were again amazing views of countryside

Today´s destination Isfahan tourist hotel with an rustic parking place

On the evening we strolled through the shopping street of Isfahan , which look very modern and offered a lot of shops and stalls, it not the picture we all had from the Iran.

Translation by DWT-Translation-Team

Day 10

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Created on Wednesday, 16 September 2015 21:33

09/14/2015 Tabriz - Tehran (Iran)

For today there is not much to talk about. About 391 miles on good roads , which sometimes were a bit rough , but almost continuously three lanes on the Iranian highway.

We started at 8:45 am and we arrived at the hotel in Teheran at about 4:45 pm with a few breaks in between.

After a short technical check at the Deloreans we had dinner and after that we sorted photos and typed reports

Here are the pictures from today

We have also seen an animal transport:

Countryside:

our Deloreans

And the team:

Translation by DWT-Translation-Team

Day 9

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Created on Wednesday, 16 September 2015 21:16

09/13/2915 Dogubayazit (Turky) - Tabriz (Iran),  approx.  210 miles

On the descent from Dogubayazit, the Mountain Ararat (see Old testament) showed in the morning mist.

The entry into Iran was half as bad as expected, past a line of waiting trucks we reached the exit barrier from Turkey.

Immediately there was a tug who took us through the procedure. Without the tug the whole thing would have taken much longer, because nobody tells you when and where and in what order what documents need to be stamped. OK, in half an hour we went there through, then it was waiting before the roll-up door, which separates Turkey and Iran. This gate is always only open for a few minutes so that cars can drive over, then the border is tight again. And here again, immediately smugglers stood back, but without them it’s not possible, unless you speak fluently farsi… We already felt a little queasy when we saw passports and carnet for the cars in the hands of always someone new, sometimes a punch here, a signature there and then wait again until someone looked at the car, scribbled something on a pad and disappeared again.

Of course photography is strictly forbidden!

After about two hours we were finally allowed to enter Iran, once only in 'smuggling accompaniment' to the insurance office, because we needed an Iranian liability insurance. After three hours it was done, we were allowed to leave the customs area and were 'inside'. We have also changed money, we are currently all multimillionaires (current rate: $30  = 1 Million Rial).

Thanks in advance organized Navigationrouts from OpenStreetMap also the plan routs worked flawlessly and we started to Tabriz, our first destination in Iran. The enthusiasm for our DeLorean was simply unimaginable, almost every passing car honks, the inmates greet laughing, taking pictures like crazy or call 'Welcome to Iran', we would not have expected.

Hotels we had not booked in advance, Iran is not affiliated to any booking platform and we did not even know if the entry really works today. Klaus already picked out a few hotels with address, but either their telephone was unavailable or they were already booked out… We had already set out to search locally, but as luck would … 50 miles away from Tabriz we made a stop to let the DeLoreans cool down, as a car stopped and the two female and three male occupants got out to take pictures of our vehicles. We started talking and the five introduced themselves as architects, who were on the way to Tabriz. Spontaneously they offered to organize a hotel and eat dinner with us. Said and done, we followed the cargo to Tabriz, then there waiting for us another Iranian who proved to be a tourist guide and a friend of the architects. After dinner in the restaurant the tourist guide led us to the hotel, unfortunately a 0.5 to 1 Star Hotel.

Doesn’t matter, now it was after 10 p.m. and we didn’t had more energy to search for another hotel, it is anyway always only for one night. Dead tired from that day we fell into our bed.

Translation by DWT-Translation-Team

Day 8

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Created on Saturday, 12 September 2015 17:48

09/12/2015 Erzurum - Doğubeyazıt (Turkey), about 170 miles

Today there was a short day's ride of only 250 km, which led us to Doğubeyazıt close to the Iranian border.

The eastern Anatolian landscape is quite stunning; the roads lead through wide open spaces and through high mountain passes.

The previous altitude record we outdid with 2207 meters of altitude (according to the navigation system).

On the roads through the villages there is plenty to see:

Even today the quest for our hotel emerged to a rally through the city center, but finally we found our home and parked our DeLoreans.

On the top floor of the hotel there is a fantastic view of the surrounding mountains.

Tomorrow morning we will start our adventure Iran. As soon as we have a stable internet connection, you will hear again from DWT-team.

Day 7

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Created on Saturday, 12 September 2015 15:37

09/11/2015 Sivas - Erzurum (Turkey), approx 273miles

Today on the the trip from Sivias to Erzurum we only had countryside , alternating with hills and wide valleys, right and left of the street ware high mountains to see

On the top the weather was unfortunately very hazy , according to this we had no clear views and the mountain range was partially disappeared in the fog. Here is a panorama photo:

On the map our route looks very plain , but truly we were driving up and and down. On the highest point the navigation system had displayed 2162 meters (1,35 miles high)

At a brief rest for by a photo-shooting we found a new Delorean fan ……

Shortly before Erzurum we made a stopover at a petrol station to restock our petrol. Afterward the 3 Deloreans had an technical maintenance with checking and lubricate the ball joints. Of course immediately we were surrounded by onlookers. ( The petrol station is also a bus station)

Now our cars are one week on the road and according to this they were dusty and dirty. Maybe he had a pity or he saw a chance for a business , but the guy that had cleaned the buses had offered , also to clean our cars. We have gladly accepted and has actively supported him.

Today we found our hotel straightaway and when we were parking our cars close to the front desk we had – by now as usual – a crowd around us . Tomorrow we have the last trip in Turkey  on our map , before we start our trip to the Iranian border on Sunday.

Translation by DWT-Translation-Team