An immersive travel narrative following a visitor who learns Farsi, studies Persian poetry and returns to the wrestling mat to explore how creativity and combat coexist in Iranian life.

Starting in Tehran and traveling through provincial towns, the author shares long conversations in tea houses, observes everyday ritual and visits shrines linked to Hafez, Ferdosi, Omar Khayyám, Attar and Shahriyar. Local wrestling halls and regional techniques appear alongside verses quoted by taxi drivers and students.

Moments of hospitality, tense encounters with officialdom and intimate cultural detail combine into a nuanced portrait of contemporary Iran — ideal for readers interested in travel writing, cultural history and poetry.

Highlights:

• Engagement with Persian poets and pilgrimage sites
• Exploration of traditional wrestling disciplines
• Firsthand observations of tea-house culture and daily life

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