Wednesday, October 31, 2012


Friday 31st October

The journey last night was great fun. Stopped a police car to ask the way to tourist information. No one spoke English and before we knew what had happened another car with siren drove up and out stepped an officer. He didn’t understand either so with much laughter and handshaking we parted company and headed for what we thought was the town centre. 



Before we had gone 500 metres the police overtook and with much hand-waving led us to the centre. Here we changed some money with a shopkeeper and drove out to the airport to Tourist Information and obtained a map. Next morning we left early for Babylon. What a let down  Nothing but ruins and as for the “wonder of the world” – the hanging gardens of Babylon – nothing. 



Back to Baghdad to see the Golden Mosque – tomb of two descendants of Mohammed and Holy City of the Shia sect of Islam. Beautiful golden domes but we were not allowed inside. Returned to camp site and met Swiss couple travelling for five months. They had phoned an Iraq friend so all of us toured the city in their VW bus. 



Round the copper market – the tomb of the unknown soldier, the “hanging” square – monument to the “revelation” when the army killed the king and back to see the golden mosque by night. Had a great free feed in a shop – owner kept on giving us more things to taste.

On the banks of the Tigris to watch fish being cooked in a circle around a fire. They are live – you choose what you want and it’s cooked while you wait.

Back to camp where we slept ready for the early start tomorrow. 

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