My Party Bus in Iran

During a trip to Iran, I decided to see a 1000 year-old fortress. I was excited to learn about the rich Persian history, but realized that I had not signed up for a historical tour but a party.

I arrived at the bus stop at 5 am ready to sleep for the 5-hour ride. Thirty 20-somethings entered the bus and I tucked myself in a window seat ready to fall asleep. But before I could do so, the tour guide grabbed the microphone and welcomed us. I took a deep breath and thought, “He’ll just introduce himself and then I’ll sleep.”

I was wrong. “Please stand up and say your name, age and if you want to get married,” he said excitedly.

One by one, people stood up and followed his order. The bus roared with laughter as a young woman with beautifully coiffed hair peeking out from beneath her headscarf said, “Hi I’m Sara, I’m 26 and I don’t want to get married.”

Once the last person finished, I was excited to take my nap. But then the tour guide asked, “Who wants to hear some fun music?”

The bus resoundingly cheered. Before the music started, he made us close the curtains and announced, “No photography allowed.”

A pop song came on and the tour guides shimmied up and down the aisles encouraging others to dance. Women stood up, headscarves came off and the sounds of clapping and whistling filled the bus. When we arrived at a toll, the tour guides stopped the music while the women put back on their headscarves and sat down. I then realized why they closed the curtains and forbade photography. Guys and girls cannot dance together publicly and the headscarf is mandatory. Though there are no clubs in Iran, the demand still exits. The tour company managed to meet the demand by creating a club on wheels.

Once we arrived, I was ready to climb to the top of the fort but then the tour guide announced, “For those of you who don’t want to go up, just stay by the bus.” I realized what I saw as an opportunity to see Persian ruins, was really a chance for young Iranians to let loose.