KISH Al Hillah, Iraq June 1, 2023 This is yet another ancient site that is not visited by many and I had an uphill task trying to get there. Abu Mustafa’s son Yusuf was already disgruntled because I had spent too much time in Babylon but agreed to go with an air of resigned good … More Cradle of Civilization II
Babylon, Iraq June 1, 2023 A long, long time ago, sometime around 3000 BCE, on the banks of the Euphrates grew a small village. Unimportant at the time, it was to become the capital of the Akkadian-speaking empire of 1800 BCE. The old Akkadian name of Bab-ibil, meaning Gate of Gods morphed into the Greek … More Bab-ibil Gate of Gods
Borsippa or Birs Nimrud, Iraq May 31, 2023 I had read of the ruins of ancient Borsippa, a sister city of the more famous Babylon. It is close to the town of Al Hillah and of course was eager to go there. Abu Mustafa, the taxi driver who had helped me find a hotel in … More Ziggurat of Nabu
Kerbala, Iraq May 30, 2023 The name of the city is odd mix of the Babylonian word for a prayer room – kerb and Aramaic for God – El, thus Kerbala is God’s prayer room. Being the home of the shrine of Imam Hussain, it is one of the two major sites for Shia pilgrims … More Temple of God
Samarra, Iraq May 29,2023 The name Samarra immediately brings to mind an ancient Mesopotamian tale that was retold by W. Somerset Maugham. The tale goes: There was a merchant in Baghdad who sent his servant to the market. The servant came back trembling with fear because he said he had bumped into Death at … More Appointment in Samarra
Baghdad, Iraq May 27, 2023 Al Rasheed street is the oldest street in Baghdad. In between modern concrete and glass are older buildings in a sad state of disrepair but they have a grace that the modern ones lack. I field hellos and “welcome to Iraq” as I walk along, heading toward the markets. In … More The Streets of Baghdad
ITCHY FEET TRAVELS 