. 
>>> THIS WEEKEND, ON PARTS 
UNKNOWN, ANTHONY BOURDAIN 
EXPLORES IRAN, IT TOOK YEARS FOR
HIM TO GET CLEARANCE TO DO SO.
IT IS REALLY A FASCINATING LOOK 
AT THE FOOD AND THE PEOPLE AND 
THE POLITICS OF THE ISLAMIC 
REPUBLIC.
I TALKED TO HIM ABOUT THE TRIP.
YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO GO TO IRAN.
>> FINALLY GOT TO GO AND SAW A 
COUNTRY THAT IS VERY DIFFERENT 
FROM WHAT WE PERCEIVE, WHAT WE 
SEE OF IT FROM OUTSIDE.
YOU KNOW, WE SEE ITS FOREIGN 
POLICY.
THE MILITARY, THE WAY IT 
PROJECTS ITS MILITARY AND THE 
SECURITY SERVICES.
AND WE SEE WHO THEY FUND.
AND YOU KNOW, WHAT THEY HAVE 
DONE.
BUT FROM THE INSIDE IT IS A VERY
YOUNG COUNTRY.
WE HUNG OUT WITH A BUNCH OF 
YOUNG PEOPLE WHO COLLECT 
BASICALLY AN INFORMAL CAR CLUB 
OF COLLECTORS OF AMERICAN MUSCLE
CARS.
IT FEELS VERY MUCH LIKE SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA OR BARCELONA IN 
TEHRAN AT TIMES.
A VERY HOPEFUL PLACE FILLED WITH
YEARNING, WHERE PEOPLE, 
PARTICULARLY WOMEN, ARE IN SMALL
WAYS TESTING THE LIMITS OF WHAT 
IS PERMISSIBLE.
TRYING TO DEFINE IN FITS AND 
STARTS, WHO THEY WANT TO BE AS A
COUNTRY.
WHAT IS APPROPRIATE.
WHAT IS OKAY TODAY THAT MAY NOT 
BE OKAY TOMORROW.
IT IS A VERY INTERESTING THING 
TO SEE. 
>> DID YOU FEEL RESENTMENT 
TOWARD -- 
>> ZERO, CLERICS, EVERYWHERE WE 
WALKED PEOPLE WOULD SAY WHERE 
ARE YOU FROM?
AMERICA, OH, GREAT, YOU LIKE OUR
COUNTRY, THANK YOU FOR COMING TO
TEHRAN, YOU MUST COME TO OUR 
HOUSE.
HAVE YOU TRIED OUR KABOB, IT IS 
VERY GOOD.
PEOPLE ARE -- HOWEVER THEY FEEL,
THEY ARE PROUD OF THEIR COUNTRY 
AND SURPRISINGLY SHOCKINGLY 
OUTGOING AND FRIENDLY AND 
GENEROUS. 
>> WERE YOU STAYING AT THE HOTEL
THAT HAS THE -- LIKE DOWN WITH 
USA?
>> YEAH, WE STAYED RIGHT UNDER 
THE DEATH TO AMERICA MURAL.
WE HAD ONE MEAL AT A RESTAURANT 
WHERE THEY PUT LITTLE FLAGS ON 
THE TABLES OF FRENCH OR ITALIAN 
VISITORS AND THE MAN CAME OVER 
SAYING WE DON'T HAVE AMERICAN 
FLAGS.
THE UNDERLYING -- WE HAD TO BURN
THEM LAST WEEK.
BUT THEY WERE 
