In Iran everyone is a millionaire, but that is sadder than it seems, because due to the enormous inflation, money is worth almost nothing anymore.
1 million Iranian lira is converted about €3.20. I still find it extremely difficult to pay because sometimes the price is shown in Rial and sometimes in Tuma (1 Tuma equals 10 Rial) and the banknotes are difficult to read due to the many zeros. But when I have to pay 280,000 Rial (almost 1 euro) for a full tank of petrol at the gas station on the way to Rafsanjan, I still laugh. Diesel is even cheaper and is not counted per liter for trucks but per route (!). So it doesn't matter whether your 1965 truck here burns 5 liters of diesel per km or has a super eco-friendly Euro-5 standard.
While driving my trip meter jumps at 10,000 km. Actually it's a bit more, because I forgot to set it to 0 when I left home, but I'm glad all those miles went smoothly and I hope it stays that way. Along the way I stop at a beautiful caravanserai in the desert along the long, straight highway, but unfortunately it is closed. I do meet, for the third time, a couple from Germany who are on their way with 2 children in their old VW camper and who have spent the night outside. I also met them in the city of Yazd, where their 2 blond sons attracted so much attention and were approached that they went in search of the tranquility of the desert.
Rafsanjan has about 160,000 inhabitants and there are only 3 hotels, which indicates that there is little tourism here. When I walk around the city it also becomes clear why, because there is little to see outside the mosque and a small bazaar. I think I'm the only tourist in ages because everyone looks at me like I'm from Mars. Also in the hotel only Iranian businessmen. At a coffee shop in the center I get into a conversation with the son of the owner, who speaks excellent English. High school kids are taught English at school and it amazes me that they can even read the western alphabet. Very clever and I think this is comparable to students who learn the Russian language with us and learn to read and write in Cyrillic. If I want to leave, I am absolutely not allowed to pay and I promise to come back tomorrow, provided I can pay.
I've had a bad night because I have a bad cold and so today I make time to prepare my visa for India and rest a bit. I can apply for the visa online, just like that for Pakistan, but I will probably have to pick it up myself. The visa for Pakistan in Zahedan (Iran) and that for India at the consulate in Islamabad (Pakistan). That's why I don't go out much today and that's not good for my mood. Today is my oldest son, Pim, birthday and for the first time this trip I would rather be at home. Congratulations Pim!
