IRAQ | Tourism & Archaeology

[Yousifovic]

Elusive ..
thats a great effort..
post it in photography or baghdad cafe ?
as visit iraq or somthng?
im ready to make a video from those photos as well

[elusive]

Originally Posted by Yousifovic

Elusive ..
thats a great effort..
post it in photography or baghdad cafe ?
as visit iraq or somthng?
im ready to make a video from those photos as well

thanks yousifovic, yeah i'll post it there and international threads too...that would be great

[zaidoun123]

Ishtar Hotel Baghdad

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFX5b...yer_detailpage

Airport Road Baghdad

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8nUu...yer_detailpage

[elusive]

thank you very much zaidoun! the interiors of the ishtar look excellent

[IraqiPlan_et]

Estonia, Madagascar and Iraq Emerging Summer Hotspots for Brits
July 25 2011

Though Spain remains the Brits’ favourite place to spend their summer holidays, many ‘off the beaten track’ destinations are seeing a rise in popularity this year.


With the summer holidays just beginning and airports now bustling with holidaying families destined for flights to Spain. However some tourists are now looking beyond traditional vacations with their sights set on some surprising new holiday destinations.
Estonia saw the biggest rise in interest compared to summer 2010, with a 54% increase in flight searches on the Skyscanner site. Tallinn’s status as this year’s European Capital of Culture, which includes a programme of events and exhibitions, has led to increased publicity and evidently attracted many more British tourists.

Madagascar followed closely behind with a 48% rise in flight searches, possibly a result of the recent BBC documentary series showcasing the diverse beauty of this island.

Iraq, for years only synonymous with war, appears to be carving a niche for tourism too. Since the last US troops pulled out last summer, there’s been a 37% rise in interest from UK travellers. In an attempt to bring back tourists, millions of pounds have been invested in Iraq’s tourism infrastructure, with 700 new hotels planned to open by 2014. Despite the FCO still advising against all but essential travel to most places in Iraq, there has been the inevitable interest from intrepid travellers keen to explore somewhere that so few others dare to tread.

Bosnia and Herzegovina was in fourth place, with interest in the city of Sarajevo growing by 36%. The bullet-scarred but beautiful hillside city was named by the Lonely Planet named as the 43rd best city in the world to visit in 2010, which has doubtless helped raise its profile.

Cape Verde, an archipelago of 10 islands off the coast of West Africa is also growing in popularity, with interest rising by 33% year on year.

Sam Baldwin, Skyscanner Travel Editor commented:

“It’s great to see lesser-known spots receive well-deserved interest and Skyscanner’s data may be indicative of a growing trend to visit places off the beaten track.

“While the numbers searching for flights to Iraq are still small, it will be interesting to see how tourism grows there in the coming months.”

Top 10 Emerging Summer Destinations for British Travellers (from 100 most popular destinations)

1. Estonia +54%


2. Madagascar +48%


3. Iraq +37%


4. Bosnia & Herzegovina +36%


5. Cape Verde +33%


6. Malawi +30%


7. Bulgaria +26%


8. Thailand +23%


9. Bangladesh +21%


10. Philippines +20%

[IraqiPlan_et]

Can someone confirm that I'm reading this correct

[Persi]

Originally Posted by IraqiPlan_et

Can someone confirm that I'm reading this correct

hahaha Happy July Fool's Day

[IraqiPlan_et]

Originally Posted by Persi

hahaha Happy July Fool's Day

Is that a confirmation?...hehe....

But maybe they feel drawn to Iraq cuz 80% of Brits originate in Mesopotamia (or so I read somewhere)

[elusive]

Pizza and progress in war-weary Baghdad

Most people know that for truly great pizza you should head for Naples, or at a pinch Rome. But Baghdad? Yes, you can occasionally escape the chaos of the Iraqi capital in one of its unexpectedly good pizza restaurants.

"I have been making pizza for so many years now that I come up with recipes in my sleep," says Waleed Al Bayati, the owner of Pizzeria Napoli. "When I wake up in the morning, I get into the kitchen and roll up the dough, sprinkle on the ingredients and place it in the oven."

Mr Al Bayati's restaurant, whose walls are adorned with pictures of Rome, is in the Jadriya neighbourhood of southern Baghdad where Jalal Talabani, Iraq's president, and several notable government ministers live.

His menu, which boasts "The Only Hardwood Fired Brick Oven Pizza On This Side of the Tigris", includes a long list of pizzas including marinara, calzone and capricciosa. Mr Al Bayati's best-selling pizza, however, is a simple but delicious thin-crust aubergine, squash and olive combination for US$11 (Dh40).

He says he imports his buffalo mozzarella cheese from Italy.

Pizzeria Napoli is just one of many restaurants that have opened since the ousting of Saddam Hussein in 2003.

In the nearby Karada neighbourhood, shoppers cluster around fire pits to buy masgouf, the barbecued carp that is a favourite among Iraqis.

"Iraqis love to eat," says Amer Fayad Mousa, a 27-year-old contractor waiting for his fish. "As long as you can think of a new and creative idea, it will sell."

And it's not just restaurants that are opening. The Rasheed Hotel, Iraq's only luxury commercial lodging inside the Green Zone, reopened this month to cater to foreign investors. The Rasheed and five other hotels were closed for almost a year to be renovated ahead of the Arab League summit that was scheduled to take place in March but was put off.
The National Blogs

The Rasheed's renovation, which included imported wallpaper and glitzy chandeliers, cost $60 million. The hotel is now managed by the Kempinski group of Switzerland.

And plush nightclubs operate between 12am and 6am, closing their doors during the curfew, like it or not. The most notable is Khayyam, located in the Sunni district of Adhamiya and popular with sharp-suited businessmen.

According to the government-run national investment commission, Iraq could attract $500 billion of foreign financing over the next five years, much of it in the oil and gas sector, but nearly 30 per cent of that could be drawn to the hospitality industry.


A view of a posh new restaurant and club on the Tigris River. Spencer Platt / Getty Images

[kurd123]

Originally Posted by IraqiPlan_et

Can someone confirm that I'm reading this correct

Alot of westerners travel to Kurdistan, including Brtis.

[Persi]

Taking a break in BAGHDAD

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891...74033#44074033

[elusive]

lol how weird, it was in playboy

[Persi]

hehe

[Basrawii]

Originally Posted by kurd123

Alot of westerners travel to Kurdistan, including Brtis.

When I visited Bssra, my EK flight was full of brits! they come to iraq in dozens ... even some for tourism, I have been contaced by some of them asking if they should come visit Basra and South Iraq.

[elusive]

Iraq Encompassed - 15 day tour

http://www.babeltravel.com/site/html...ncompassed.php

[elusive]

http://www.kurdistan-adventures.com/

[elusive]

http://www.hinterlandtravel.com/

[elusive]

Iraq travel guide:

Iraq Holidays – Tours & Adventure Travel Guide

PureTravel Says
“Iraq is located at the north end of the Persian Gulf. It has a total area of 438,317 km2. Arabic and Kurdish are the basic languages spoken by the people of Iraq. The Euphrates and Tigris are the two main rivers of Iraq, which also assists people to get drinking water. Baghdad is the capital of Iraq but attractions in Iraq are also present in other cities like Sadr City, Al Fallujah, Karbala, Al Hillah, Umm Qasr, Al Kut and of course Al Basrah. The entire region of Iraq has a great importance from Islamic point of view as there are several holy cities like Karbala and Najaf. Apart from visiting Iraq to check these cities, you must endeavor to visit Iraq because it allows you to travel to other surrounding countries like Turkey, Kuwait, Jordan, Syria, Saudi Arabia and Iran.”
Iraq Holiday Highlights

Trekking and Walking - Trekking is a good activity to get indulged on your Iraq holidays especially in the area around Tigris River and the lower districts of the Euphrates. Walking in Iraq is also a good activity to understand the local customs and culture. You must not miss the chance to walk through the main bazaar in Baghdad, which offers a wide range of the goods coming from different parts of the country. Here, you will also find few mosques and Islamic schools which will make you understand the Muslim culture. Walking through the streets of Mosul is a great experience as this is the place where Muslim cotton originates. Moreover, making a pilgrimage to Karbala is another great way to explore the core values and principles of Islam.

Biking and Bird Watching - Biking in Iraq is a good experience especially in Euphrates River Valley. This is the place where you will come across a diverse range of birds like stilts, lark, herons and falcons. For nature enthusiasts Iraq is a heaven as there are more than 400 species of birds. As there are several reedbeds, ponds and trees so it is easy to see passerines, shorebirds and waterfowls. White headed duck, darter and great white pelican will also be there to make your bird watching expedition more fascinating.

The best bird watching experience can be acquired on the Tigris River in the Samarra Dam Area. The best sight to see in here is the beautiful white fronted geese, which remain in Syria for much of the winter. Moreover, flamingos and kingfishers will also give you a great company on your bird watching tour in Iraq.

Animal Viewing - Because of the abundance of flora and fauna, Iraq is perfect for wildlife viewing especially if you are interested in seeing Asiatic Cheetah and Lion. Since there are lots of papyrus, reeds and lotus trees so it becomes easier for animals to hide them. In terms of animals, Iraq has some of the most unusual animals along with some common ones. For instance, there are jackals, foxes, gazelles, mole, jerboa, porcupine, desert hare, bats and many more. When it comes to rare species, your Iraq tour will become really fascinating especially when you will witness ostrich, beaver and wild ass. Different types of wild pigs are also present in some regions of Iraq.
When To Go

July and August are probably the hottest months in Iraq when temperature can reach 48C. The temperature can touch the other extreme in January when you can experience a freezing cold. The rainy season starts from December and lasts till March.
Top Tips

* Adhere to the local customs especially in terms of clothes. For women, it is essential to wear long clothes while in Iraq. Also, it is better to wear a headscarf for extra coverage.
* If you are traveling in summer, long and loose clothing.
* While in Iraq, respect the religion and culture.
* Avoid visiting live animal markets in case of avian influenza.
* Take special care while photographing in Iraq.
* Currently, security situation in Iraq is not perfect for tourism so do check before planning a holiday in this region. Baghdad however is one of the safest places to visit in Iraq.

Classic Itineraries

* Walking through the main Bazaar in Baghdad
* Trekking through the area around the Tigris River

http://www.puretravel.com/Guide/Asia/Western_Asia/iraq

[elusive]

[elusive]

National Museum of Iraq in google 3D!

http://maps.google.com/help/maps/str...q-baghdad-iraq