Some impressions of Iraq

Feb 21, 2020,14:25 PM
 

Why did I go to Iraq? Well, I simply like the unusual but it's also because I'm heavily addicted to the middle east. I like their food and girls. biggrin
As a kid I travelled around europe with two exceptions like Dubai and Tunisia. Last year I started my own journey by visiting Israel, the first step to accomplish my ultimate goal to travel all countries in the world.
Choosing Iraq next was very random. I was searching for travels into middle east and it popped up. Lots of paper but better than a lame Explorer. wink

1:15 a.m. arriving at Baghdad International. Although the visa was already checked in Germany and Turkey it has to be verified, which took some 30 to 45 minutes.
Thinking you can finally pick up your luggage it actually took some 30 more minutes to get it. Leaving the airport you have to go by a shuttle service which will take you outside the "green zone" where you have to be picked up to drive into Baghdad or somewhere else.

Driving to our hotel we had to pass through some military checkpoints. Military and police presence is something you get used to pretty fast because they're literally everywhere, especially in Baghdad. There is not a corner where you don't see any of these.
Throughout the whole trip passports were checked at least 20 times and it took up to 30 minutes. Sometimes you passed a checkpoint where passports were checked, you move on and one mile later you hit another checkpoint where they do same. Ridiculous.

Walking through the streets, people were extremely curious. Not only because I'm white, young and decent looking but also because I was the only human being in Iraq wearing a short sleeved shirt.
I was like a showplace for them and both men and women stared but only men approached... to take a selfie with me. I didn't count but it was at least 30 people, even soldiers came up.
Many more were secretly taking pictures and others were starting a talk. The people here are very warm-hearted and welcoming, I've never encountered anyone being rude.

Enjoy!




Our hotel was located in Karrada, a district for the upper and middle class. It was very close to the Kahramana fountain which resembles a scene from Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves.






The must-go shopping street in Karrada. Funnily I was followed by a military patrol after I took one of these shots, thinking I was picturing him.



Necessity is the mother of invention. Washing machine drum modified to toast sunflower seeds.




A Buick. You see a lot of old cars but you barely see any classical oldtimer.


Baghdad is rich of monumental artworks. Unfortunately some picture are locked in my brain only.



The Flying Carpet, close to Fidors Square, once place of the toppled Saddam Hussein monument.




The Magic Lantern, Al-Fateh Square.






Al-Shaheed Monument. Today the monument not only commemorates the fallen soldiers during the iran-iraq war but also the murdered people on behalf of Saddam Hussein.






Underneath the domes is a museum. Originally it was a showplace of Saddam, now it's a showplace of Saddam's crimes. During the iraq invasion the americans used it as a hotel and modified the fountain into a swimming pool.




Baghdad Tower, formerly known as International Saddam Tower. Height of 205 meters.




Al Rasheed Street. Origins back to the ottoman empire.




A side road close to Al Rusafi Square.




Mutanabbi Street. You wanted books back in the day, you'd go there.






Al-Mustansiriya University. One of the oldest islamic university in the world.




A picture that describes Baghdad. Rotten, dirty and a lot of cabs.




Blackouts are on a hourly basis. You see these generators on every corner. In our hotel they were getting a ring every time the local power was up again, so they could switch the power supply.




And yes, we had snow in Baghdad. We actually had everything. Snow, Rain and Sun.




Zubaidas Tomb.




From the top of Zubaidas Tomb. Looking at Saddams Mosque... or the skeleton of it. It can't be destroyed because it's a mosque and it can't be finished because it's associated with Saddam.




Also from the top. Looking at the mosque built on top of the Sheikh Maruf cemetery.




Ziggurat of Aqarquf, once capital of the kings of kassites.




Ancient Baghdad city wall, Al-Dhafariya gate.




Looking towards Baghdad old city with view onto the Ministry of Finance (building on the right).




The spiral minaret of the Great Mosque of Samarra.



Spectecular view from the top. Looking towards the Al-Askari mosque which suffered mulitple bombings in the 2000s.



Of course we went by. Security checks were the most strict of any mosque we visited.



Al Khalifa palace. Reconstructed by the megalomaniac Saddam Hussein.




Hammurabi statue near Babylon.




Welcome to Babylon. The Lion of Babylon.




Procession Street.




Saddams Babylon Palace.

The whole place was looted by americans and locals until the last wire.











Bathroom with a hot tub.




His bedroom view.




His throne...




View from the rooftop. Al-Hilla river, a branch of the Euphrates.




Ancient ruins of Babylon, reconstructed by Saddam Hussein.




Borsippa.




Al-Ukhaidir Fortress.




Vegatable and fruit souk in Basra




Jewellery souk in Najaf.




Sought after sporties are easy to get here...




Local kids playing football in Kufa.




Great Mosque of Kufa.




The ziggurat of Ur.




Some bread makers in Baghdad.




Basrah Breeze, formerly known as Qadissiyat Saddam.




The typical toilet in Iraq.




This picture doesn't do justice. The amount of trash in Iraq is insane. It's like walking on trash.






Some livestock...




Making a tour through the marshes.




Three little marsh arab boys.




A marsh arab transporting reef.




Water buffalo spotted.




Water buffalo munching some grass.




These water buffalos can roam free and find themselves back to their barn.




Martyrs Monument in Chibayish.




Up close.


Of course I did see a lot more but first, making a report is an insane amount of work and second, some things are not eligible to discuss in such place.

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Comments: view entire thread

 

I was transfixed

 
 By: Mark : February 21st, 2020-14:37
This was a fantastic ten minutes for me looking at all the pictures. What a different environment. Thank you so much for posting them.

Thank you for the background and docu-post...

 
 By: cshimokita : February 21st, 2020-15:00
Ambitious travel plans... good luck with that. I particularly enjoyed the street scenes. I guess one could read the street scenes in different ways. For me, I just wanted to look without any personal interpretation... to enjoy one by one... the young boys... 

Certainly I'll go again because I didn't get to visit Kurdistan Region.

 
 By: Pour le Mérite : February 22nd, 2020-03:13
I'm a tough guy so dirt and filth won't put me off easily.

Interesting!

 
 By: M4 : February 21st, 2020-15:37
I must say that you didn't whet my appetite to visit Iraq but I enjoyed the photos. M4

Amazing photo report! Thanks

 
 By: descartes1 : February 21st, 2020-15:57
We’re you ever concerned about your personal safety? Iraq is on the USSD’s no travel list for alleged safety reasons.

We 're never concerned about our personal safety. You certainly have to follow some rules to avoid bad.

 
 By: Pour le Mérite : February 22nd, 2020-03:30
In some regions there are still some militant factions left. These and demonstrations in any region should be avoided. Forces wouldn't let you go anyway because they're keen to avoid any international incident with tourists. One destination was actually d... 

While this is not a place I aspire to see I'm very glad you took us there!

 
 By: Brandon Skinner : February 21st, 2020-17:41
One question... How did you pass up on that custom engraved 5711?

Very interesting travelogue—

 
 By: orahu : February 21st, 2020-18:46
I admire your spirit in undertaking what I would perceive to be a dangerous trip. Some beautiful images among those of squalor. Very personal. Thank you.

Thank you

 
 By: seanggu : February 21st, 2020-20:08
For the amazing post

What an adventurous journey

 
 By: JohnFM : February 21st, 2020-22:50
Thanks for sharing these powerful and memorable photos. In some ways, more enlightening than all the news stories over many years.

Yep, thats one reason why I travel. To see things from the other side.

 
 By: Pour le Mérite : February 22nd, 2020-03:35
I'm glad you liked it!

Amazing report!

 
 By: Mary Anny : February 22nd, 2020-10:40
So fascinating. Some pictures remind me of Syria, wonderful people. Love the first buffalo photo. Thanks for sharing!

Thank you very much for your superb report

 
 By: Geo : February 23rd, 2020-03:50
about a trip, not many of us would make. Very interesting to see your photographs and hear your story. Personally I would not walk around in any Middle East country, except the UAE, with short sleeves, just because it is not common to do so. I have been i... 

Amazing pictures that show us the other side

 
 By: stere : February 24th, 2020-05:17
.. the normal life (in case that "normal life" is possible in that region). How do you travel there? Did you had a guide who translates and organize the transfers or do you use public Transport (I have seen a Train on one picture) and taxi? Thanks for sha... 

We travelled with a private shuttle bus. As far as I'm aware there is no official public transport like we know.

 
 By: Pour le Mérite : February 25th, 2020-11:39
I've seen a bus in official duty only once. You can take a taxi which can be anything from handcart to a bus. ...