{"id":3219,"date":"2013-03-17T19:08:52","date_gmt":"2013-03-17T19:08:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/janetgover.com\/?p=3219"},"modified":"2013-03-17T19:08:52","modified_gmt":"2013-03-17T19:08:52","slug":"a-visit-to-iraq","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/johnhocking.net\/jg2025demo1\/history\/a-visit-to-iraq\/","title":{"rendered":"A visit to Iraq"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Grand Mosque in Erbil, in the Kurdistan region of northern Iraq<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I never thought I would go to Iraq.<\/p>\n

The Middle East has always fascinated me \u2013 its history and its culture. I remember learning about the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers \u2013 the cradle of civilization \u2013 when I was at school. I’ve been to other parts of this region before, but the troubled and tragic recent history of Iraq seemed to put it out of my reach.<\/p>\n

But I have spent the past week in Erbil \u2013 the main city of the Kurdish region of northern Iraq \u2013 and I had a wonderful time.<\/p>\n

I warn you \u2013 there are a lot of photos in this blog \u2013 but I really wanted to share this experience with you.<\/p>\n

This was a work trip, of course \u2013 but wasn’t going to let that stop me exploring this fascinating place.<\/p>\n

It’s not all desert here \u2013 but it is pretty dry and dusty\u2026 and so warm compared to the terribly cold spell hitting the UK right now.<\/p>\n

The Kurdish people have been scattered and their traditional homeland divided up among neighbouring countries – but here in Kurdistan they are working to regain their national identity. They have a national flag and a national language \u2013 their independence and culture are very important to them.<\/p>\n

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The ancient citadel seen through my very dirty hotel window<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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I have seldom been made more welcome in any country. In fact, a taxi driver refused to allow me to pay him for taking me to view the ancient citadel in the oldest part of the city. He said I was a guest and refused my money. That has never happened to me any other place I’ve visited.<\/p>\n

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A house in the citadel undergoing restoration. It was so cool inside compared to the heat outside.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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As for the citadel \u2013 it is one of the oldest continually inhabited cities in the world \u2013 something like 6,000 years.<\/p>\n

It’s been badly damaged by wars, and by weather as well as time \u2013 but a project is now underway to restore it.<\/p>\n

It is an impressive walled city on an oval mound that rises above the plain where the modern city is steadily growing.<\/p>\n

Because of the restoration, I was limited in what I could visit \u2013 but what I did see was fabulous.<\/p>\n

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The Grand Mosque really is grand<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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From there I went to the Grand Mosque \u2013 which was a glorious site as night fell.<\/p>\n

I expected only to see the mosque from the outside, but as soon as the prayers were finished, I was invited inside to visit this spectacular example of Islamic architecture.<\/p>\n

All they asked was that I remove my shoes, cover my head and show respect for their place of worship \u2013 something I was more than happy to do.<\/p>\n

I cannot describe how lovely it was.<\/p>\n

I was told to go ahead and take photographs – but my poor skills as a photographer just cannot do justice to the beauty that was all around me.<\/p>\n

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The patterns on the ceiling of the mosque were incredibly intricate<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Patterns in the mosque tiles<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Entering the park under a canopy of colour<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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After the mosque, it was on to a nearby park where a cultural festival was being held\u2026<\/p>\n

I was thrilled by the park entrance \u2013a path under a canopy of umbrellas lit by fairy lights.<\/p>\n

After music and dancing to celebrate the New Year, it was on to dinner.<\/p>\n

The food in the Arab world is wonderful\u2026\u00a0 Here’s what I have been eating this week.<\/p>\n

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A mixed grill kurdish style - there were hot coals under the grill to keep the food hot<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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It looks like wine - but it was spiced turnip juice - an acquired taste....<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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The flaming pots held a really tasty stew - beef I think - but I'm not quite sure.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Of course, I shopped too\u2026 exploring the maze of narrow lanes in the marketplace of the old city\u2026 where several centuries of design and manufacture can be found on a single shelf.<\/p>\n

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Shopping in old Erbil<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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A dertermined knitter can find wool anywhere -although why anyone knits in this hot country is beyond me.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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It’s been a good week \u2013 thank you to my new Kurdish friends for your hospitality. I hope I can come back again.<\/p>\n

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The mosque inside the citadel - which is still being used today.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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