Service for Women is Forbidden-- In Iran, women are barred from entering certain places (this is based solely on the prejudice of male owners and has nothing to do with religion). Women were prohibited from going inside this cafe in Isfahan, but I decided I'd enter it anyway--just to see what would happen. The men inside were, to put it mildly, very unhappy with me.

Kira Hiking in "Hejab"-- I was required to completely cover my body with "hejab" (a long black gown, head scarf, and pants) while hiking, even though it was over 100F degrees. While crossing rivers, I couldn't pull up my pants legs, which would have meant exposing leg skin.

Camping in the Valley of the Assassins

Behind the Chador-- Many Iranian women in Tehran were very fashion-conscious. In their private homes, they could shed the "hejab" and wear whatever they wanted.

Among the Lur People-- I was the first Western journalist to visit the nomadic Lur tribe of northwestern Iran. Of Kurdish ancestry, they maintained a fierce identity separate from that of other Iranians. (Note the more liberal, traditional dress of the women.)

Scenes of Iran