In 1969, it was proposed that individuals from city councils across Iran attend an international municipality conference in Vienna, organized by the Ministry of the Interior. The intention was for participants to pay for their travel expenses, while the Ministry facilitated the arrangement. A special organization within the Ministry estimated the travel cost at twenty thousand Tomans per person. I expressed my willingness to attend, paid the fee, and joined seventeen other council members. The conference lasted about a week, where attendees shared their experiences and successes in municipal management, fostering intellectual exchange.
During my stay in Vienna, I experienced an interesting incident. I got lost in an area filled with similar-looking large buildings and parking lots, having forgotten to bring the address with me. Unable to communicate with locals due to language barriers, I fortunately met a member of the Istanbul city council who knew some Persian and helped me find my way back to the conference venue. The Vienna city council’s building was impressively large and beautiful, and I have a souvenir photo from there.
Vienna, despite its small size, boasts numerous attractions, including about nine hundred parks. Another noteworthy feature is a water canal running through the city, flanked by roads and parks on both sides. Inspired by this layout, I proposed a similar project for the area around Karaj River (Chamran Park), envisioning a recreational space with boating facilities. Dr. Homayoun and the city council were supportive of the idea, but the river management authority did not approve, reportedly due to objections from a royal affiliate who operated boating activities at the Karaj Dam.
Following the conference, our group was scheduled to visit various cities, each with a specific focus. For example, our visit to Rome was centered on ancient ruins, London on waste management, and Geneva on water supply.