Bagdad, Iraq (BGW)

Advantages: none at the moment
Disadvantages: many at the moment

...Baghdad till 15 years ago was the meaning of caliphs, odalisques, belly dance, wealth, gold, dates, palms. Then, with the first Gulf war (1991), all TVs started to show us everyday death, atrocity, genocides, conventional and nuclear weapons, dictatorship and tyranny. I'm an electrical engineer (but now I'm in a different business) and I have worked in Iraq from beginning 1979 till May 1985 when I left the country without advise (but this is an another story). As a consultant for one of the Ministry of Iraq I was able to move freely around the country and to visit all cities and places including the ones forbidden to foreigners. My memories are dated back at the day I left Iraq even if I kept some contacts and I got information from my Iraqi friends. My hope is to be able, one day, to return to Iraq and to Baghdad that I think keeps its... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Can't seem to find any
Disadvantages: No goods to buy or use, Nothing to see or do

...Iraq, as everyone must know by the amount of media coverage is not a plce that one would place on their holiday hit list. For starters the US and UK blockades of goods has put a high demand for desirable goods onto the market and this has meant that it is very hard to find the basic ammenities nowadays. Their leader, Saddam Hussein is a very controlling and it means that there aren't many people who are allowed visas into the country. Even when you get into the country then you can expect people to be disgruntlede with you because of the blockades and then thereisn't a lot of things to see. There aren't any ruins that people might want to see because archaeologists haven't been able to look at the country. The only ruins you will see will be bombed out buildings reminisent of the gulf war. So to top the hole plot off, Iraq wouldn... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: beautiful and interesting
Disadvantages: the bombs being dropped!

...i went to iraq several times in the summer and i was fascinated by it. obviously now is not the right time to go as the war is still on but...i went when saddam was in power! now...of course you cannot say his name but he who would want to? apart from that it was great fun! went to see babylon, malwiya and a whole bunch of other stuff and some mosques there which were archietectly beautiful. the people there are warm and welcoming and generally friendly. the summers are very hot though but coming from england no matter how hot it is you appreicate it!!!! :) facilities are difficult there because of the situation but you would actually be surprised what you can get! some shops bring imported goods from jordan and technology there is cheap and great! restuarants are lively with music and good food! you do have to take a blood... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful