Istanbul, Turkey

Istanbul, Turkey is the classic city of East meeting West, half in Europe and half in Asia where the author lectures there. He admires the two main railway stations there, particularly the bazaar nearby Sirkeci Station on the European side of the city.

Lake Van, Van Golu

Lake Van is a large lake in Eastern Turkey. The train cars are loaded on a ferry that crosses the lake to the line to Iran. Though this is still in Turkey, on the Eastern side of the lake, an Iranian conductor takes over.

Teheran, Iran

Teheran, Iran, the Iranian capital at this time is an oil boom town with thousands of Western oil men and contractors there. Modernity conflicts with Muslim religious tradition. Businessmen and Westerners flock to strip clubs to see women without veils.

Meshed, Iran

Meshed, Iran is the terminal city of the train line traveling...