Photo and caption by Laurie Besteman

Americans are an unusual sight in Iran, as only 500 of us visit each year, so we were the object of much curiousity, especially by schoolgirls. They all seemed to have cameras or camera phones, and we are in countless numbers of photos taken throughout the country. This is a group we encountered at the magnificent ruins of Persepolis, begun by Darius I in 518 BC and destroyed by Alexander the Great in 330 BC.

Location: Persepolis, Iran