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Google Guide Surprise - I never expected this!

By Jim Paulson

Real Estate Agent with Progressive Realty (Boise Idaho) www.Progressive-Realty.info DB-17066

March 04, 2017 11:54 AM

I am a huge fan of Google, and only recently became a Local Guide for Google. I love posting my photos and helping them update data for places. I have lived in many different countries and most of the United States of America so I thought I might as well contribute. I am amazed that one of the photos I uploaded has been viewed 31,295 times so far and I only uploaded it seven months ago!

Today's email from Google didn't intentionally have anyting to do with me, but the photo that popped up reminded me of a place I lived nearly 40 years ago! Here is what popped up:

Shahyad Monument aka Azadi Tower

Back when I lived in Iran (during the overthrow of the Shah), this was called the Shahyad Monument. Since he was overthown, many of the street names have been changed as well. It is interesting to log into Google Earth and view places I have lived and visited around the world.

Here is another view of the monument inside what might be the world's largest traffic circle.

Shahyad Monument Azadi Tower Traffic Circle

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Jeff Dowler, CRS

eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA

The Southern California Relocation Dude

That's pretty cool, Jim - both the photo AND the fact that it's on Google Guide. I haven't looked into that but will now.

Jeff

Mar 04, 2017 12:22 PM

Jim Paulson

I will be writing a blog about being a Local Guide for Google in the next few days. I am enjoying it. If I am somehwere it needs data, the app even asks me now what it wants me to post. Pretty amazing!

Mar 04, 2017 12:38 PM

Jim Cheney

Saint Francis Property Santa Rosa, CA - Santa Rosa, CA

Rincon Valley Realtor 707.494.1055

Wow, interesting. Are the windows at the top a viewing platform?

Mar 04, 2017 12:22 PM

Jim Paulson

Jim Cheney yes, there is a large viewing area. The windows are shown in the first photo. A really nice museum is in the basement. The Persian Empire is very interesting.

Mar 04, 2017 12:41 PM

William Feela

WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN

Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

Jim.I bet This was a surprise...a very nice surprise for sure

Mar 04, 2017 01:08 PM

Jim Paulson

Boise, ID

Lynnea Miller

Bend Premier Real Estate - Bend, OR

Premier Real Estate Service in Central Oregon

Really interesting. I have a good American friend who was born and raised in Iran. I will have to ask her about this structure.

Mar 04, 2017 05:20 PM

Jim Paulson

Boise, ID

Jim Paulson

Lynnea Miller did your friend go to Tehran American School? That is where I graduated from High School from in December 1978. I loved it there and welcome the opportunity to go back and ski at Dizin Ski Resort again. It is a world class ski resort. She would probably know it as the Shahyad Monument.

Mar 05, 2017 11:19 AM

Troy Erickson AZ Realtor (602) 295-6807

HomeSmart - Chandler, AZ

Your Chandler, Ahwatukee, and East Valley Realtor

Jim - Very interesting and unique piece of architecture. I have never heard of Google Guide before either.

Mar 04, 2017 08:40 PM

Jim Paulson

Troy Erickson I will try to write my blog on Google Local Guides today.

Mar 05, 2017 11:20 AM

Paul S. Henderson, REALTOR®, CRS

Fathom Realty Washington LLC - Tacoma, WA

South Puget Sound Washington Agent/Broker!

Wow Jim Paulson! I don't think I have heard of the Google guide program...

Mar 04, 2017 11:28 PM

Jim Paulson

Paul S. Henderson, REALTOR®, Broker, Tacoma Washington Google Guides is pretty new. I will blog about it today in detail.

Mar 05, 2017 11:21 AM

Endre Barath, Jr.

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties - Beverly Hills, CA

Realtor - Los Angeles Home Sales 310.486.1002

Jim loved this post; on a side note I have a land listing that is next to another parcel of land which was owned by the Shah's sister at one point. My understanding is that Beverly Hills/Los Angeles has the largest Iranian population outside of Iran...

Mar 05, 2017 02:20 PM

Jim Paulson

Endre Barath, Jr. I didn't realize that there were that many Iranians living there. I guess if the Clampett family moved to Beverly Hills after striking oil, that the Iranian's would too during the regime change. In the late 1970's, if you talked about the Shah in Iran, it drew a lot of attention; therefore, my friends and I called him "Fred" in public.

I need to brush up on my Farsi and come work with you in Beverly Hills. When I was in Las Vegas, I went to a Persian Restaurant and the owner looked a lot like the Shah, but I didn't ask if there was any relation. When he learned I lived there and spoke to him in Farsi, he treated me like royalty.

Mar 05, 2017 04:11 PM

Jim Paulson

Endre Barath, Jr. I just used your comment in today's member only blog on how to respond to comments on ActiveRain. Hope you don't mind the recognition and free advertising (grin). Check it out at: http://activerain.com/blogsview/5030142/tips-on-responding-to-your-blog-posts-on-activerain

Mar 05, 2017 04:45 PM

Anonymous

Ehsan Dadvar

Hello Jim,
I am also impressed the Google guys decided to share my picture of the monument.
That's really amazing you remember all names; as you mentioned in your post, the monument was called "Shahyad Monument". "Shahyad" is combination of two Persian words: "Shah" which in Persian means "King" and "yad" means "memory" or "memorial" so "Shahyad" means "King's memorial"... As you might know or follow the news about Iran after 1979 revolution, not many memorials somewhat related to Pahlavi government (i.e., Shah) survived but this one could survive due to its historic role during the 1979 revolution (more info: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azadi_Tower) and it is called now Azadi Monument/Tower/Square. "Azadi" means "freedom" in Persian.
I took the picture few years ago (I guess it was March 2009) and I guess back then, the museum was not open to public due to maintenance or other reasons. Have you been in the museum? I knew there was one but I have never been inside.
Based on your Google+ profile, I noticed you have done your College Prep at "Tehran American School", I heard about that school and I know some relatives studied there but again as you might know there is no longer such a school in Tehran. You have also referred to "Dizin Ski Resort" which still keeps that name, that sounds you had pretty nice time in Iran!
Good luck with Google Local Guide!

Mar 06, 2017 06:56 PM

Anonymous

Ehsan Dadvar

Have you been in Iran after 1978?
I noticed you have lived in different countries and states. Well, that's a lot of experiences.

Mar 07, 2017 10:19 AM