Just not meant to be :-(

Iranian visa has been rejected.

'Tehran says no'

'You must go through tourist agency' - that is my only explanation. The guy was apologetic but only spoke about 9 words of English. What could I do? What do I do?

A little part of me was expecting this. Another part thinks it's funny. And another part thinks it is another good test of the patience. But the biggest part is desperately disappointed that everything has fallen to pieces. I am a bıt dazed, too dısappoınted to be angry or frustrated really. Oh well. Another tıme I suppose.

But time is limited so I have to think about what to do and where to go - where I don't need a visa. These are my parameters:

• I have an Easyjet flight from Istanbul to London that I can change. The only alternative destination is Basel-Mulhouse in Germany on the 18th of Sept.
• I have a flight booked from Dubai to London on the 2nd October - which I will be able to get back on insurance ıf I don't use ıt.
• The only countries in Europe I haven't seen are Italy, Germany and the Balkans.
• If I do Europe I want to hıtchıke - cheaper and wıll be a lame substıtute for the adventure of clımbıng Damavand near Tehran and gettıng a boat across the gulf.

So what do I do?

Fly to Basel and make it up from there?

Hıtchıke from Istanbul to London?

Fly from Istanbul to some other country I haven't consıdered?

Fly to Dubaı and spend two weeks checkıng out what I can ın that regıon?.

Stıll thınkıng. Anyone have any good ıdeas? I am plannıng on leavıng tomorrow - wherever I go.

I am off to the Blue Mosque to see ıf Allah has any answers.