Island Life Magazine Ltd December 2008/January 2009 | Page 57

INTERVIEW
to travel no faster than 50mph. Knowing
no better, and not having the language to
understand the radio news, they assumed
the military presence was normal, and they
smiled and waved as the soldiers gawped
at their vehicle. Then, a text from Carolyn’s
brother asked them to re-think their route
“due to the political climate”, which
alarmed Nick somewhat. “I was anxious
to get over the border, and had read an
Internet “top tip”, advising travellers not
to hand over original documents but give
colour photocopies instead. Well the bloke
knew instantly it was a copy and went
berserk. Blooming internet top tip!”
They did get through, and passed, Nick
says, from “scary but shambolic Turkey
to Iran with its big gates and intimidating
picture of the Ayatollah. But then a big
bloke in a suit and tie came and shook my

hand and welcomed us to Iran. I will sort out
currency, visas, tourist map.’ What tickled
me was I obviously looked really concerned,
because three times he patted me on the leg
and said ‘don’t worry my friend, it will be
fine.’ “
Indeed despite the severity of the law –
they witnessed a public flogging one day –
the friendliness of the people was at times
extraordinary. Chitty was dangerously low
on fuel, which was severely rationed: queues
of 50 cars were seen waiting for the next
tanker to arrive. “Then a bloke pulled up in
a car, shared his sandwich with us and then
flagged down a lorry, drained off some fuel
and would accept no money. We gave them
a Chitty photo card and they were really
pleased!”
Chitty’s charm frequently helped them
evade trouble. Often they didn’t realise

life

they were on a military road until they came
across a bunch of soldiers with a rocket
launcher, and a Chitty card and a prompt
U-turn saved the day. “Of course,” said
Carolyn, “we had no idea at the time that all
the military were there because Turkey and
Iran were about to go to war. Spies were
in the Turkish mountains, it was all about
to kick off with Afganistan. T