The border itself is stunning, really basic, just some shacks and a nice set of gates, but it's set in the highest point of the mountain pass, surrounded by mountains and lots of snow. I pull out my camera to photodocument this moment, but Abobakrmahmode who's sitting next to me freaks out; "No no! Soldiers! Danger danger!". The crossing itself is a breeze, no problems at all. Well, except for a short moment when an immigration officer asks me for my purpose of travel and I have my thoughts elsewhere and respond "terrorism" instead of "tourism". Abobakr quickly jumps in to explain things after which the officer starts laughing. Abobakr laughs too, but looks more nervous.

On the Iranian side, I share a taxi to Piranshahr with Abobakrmahmode and the other Iranian who came with us from Erbil. Abobakr takes me to his brothers store; he creates gravestones. Then he invites me to his house for lunch. It's pretty cool, he lives together with his 3 brothers, 2 sisters, dad, wife, daughter and probably more people. There's a sitting room where we spend all the time. No furniture, just a carpet on the floor and cushions against the walls. Not at one point do I get to see the women, they keep in the kitchen, and when the men need something (tea, fried eggs, soup, etc) they just yell. When it's ready, the youngest brother goes to get it.

Only Abobakrmahmode speaks English, but still not really. He has a phrase book that he keeps flipping through and mixes phrases like "I am twentyeleven year old" and "This was an exquisite meal". The brothers are thrilled to meet a foreigner and they take me around town in their old beat up car, show me the garage where one of the brothers work, their fathers antique shop, etc. I give Abobakr a fluorescent keyboard that I brought from Sweden. He's really happy, even though it's in Swedish and not Farsi. In the evening we have dinner at their house and then they take me to the bus station where I'm getting on a night bus to Tehran. Abobakrmahmode tries to convince me over and over to stay at their house in Piranshahr, but I have to continue. He tells me "You go, I sad" and "Thank you for shiny keyboard", he kisses my cheeks three times and they all wave me goodbye as the bus leaves. I think I'm going to love Iran.

Mountain at Haji Omaran border crossing.

Taxi driver taking us from the border to Piranshahr.

Main street in Piranshahr. The gravestone store is first on the left.

English phrase book.

Dinner with Abobakrmahmode and his family. Abobakr is rightmost.