Just got back from Baghdad

MickeyFinns · 16 Oct 2018 at 10:09

Hi all!

I know a few people have always enjoyed reports from some of the more unusual trips I end up doing. I've just got home from visiting Baghdad and Saudi Arabia. Baghdad was to research as a tourist destination for my employer and Saudi was to escort a tour group around the country. I've linked to a gallery of some pictures from Baghdad as well as the shrines at Karbala and also Saddam's palace at Babylon

.

Full gallery
https://m.imgur.com/gallery/H9BWAN6

OldBobby · 16 Oct 2018 at 10:11

Wow, I'd quite like to see some of that for myself sometime. Thanks.

subbytna · 16 Oct 2018 at 10:15

Balls of ~~steel~~ titanium to go to that country.

KillBoY_UK · 16 Oct 2018 at 10:19

subbytna said:
Balls of ~~steel~~ titanium to go to that country.

I rather go to Baghdad than say Mexico City

MickeyFinns · 16 Oct 2018 at 10:24

subbytna said:
Balls of ~~steel~~ titanium to go to that country.

It's not as bad as you might think. Baghdad is getting more stable and the kidnap risk is low right now. I've been to Iraq a few times before but only to Kurdistan in the north, this was my first time in Federal Iraq.

Ayahuasca · 16 Oct 2018 at 11:01

Find any WMD's?

glenimp617 · 16 Oct 2018 at 11:42

I have some great pics from Jubail city if anyones interested

dirtychinchilla · 16 Oct 2018 at 11:54

TheOracle said:
I have some great pics from Jubail city if anyones interested

I am. I love all these things, great pics MickeyFinns.

Scania · 16 Oct 2018 at 12:02

KillBoY_UK said:
I rather go toe Baghdad than say Mexico City

Absolutely.

Look at the top 50 most dangerous cities in the world, most are in Brazil!

http://uk.businessinsider.com/most-...zil-had-3705-homicides-per-100000-residents-3

Know a few people who drive trucks in Iraq (military convoys) and they all say it’s calmed down a lot - hardly any I.E.D’s these days.... :eek:

FTM · 16 Oct 2018 at 13:02

anywhere where you need an armed guard to go on holiday is not what I would call a relaxed destination

Nasher · 16 Oct 2018 at 13:03

Your probably more likely to get attacked in London these days.

Iran and Iraq used to be places to visit a long time ago. But ridiculous stuff like the "Islamic revolution" in Iran put a stop to that and sent them backwards.

233 · 16 Oct 2018 at 13:05

My uncle used to work in the Middle East many moons ago and talks fondly of his time in Iran, fantastic city with a great social scene back in the day and fantastic people.

wish it would calm down a bit out there as I'd imagine it would be a great place to visit.

MickeyFinns · 16 Oct 2018 at 13:22

FTM said:
anywhere where you need an armed guard to go on holiday is not what I would call a relaxed destination

You don't need an armed guard in the areas I visited, I personally lean on the low profile side of security anyway, armored vehicles and guards just do more of making you a target. I almost went to Mogadishu last year which was the only time I'd hired guards, but had to cancel the trip.

Nasher said:
Iran and Iraq used to be places to visit a long time ago. But ridiculous stuff like the "Islamic revolution" in Iran put a stop to that and sent them backwards.

233 said:
wish it would calm down a bit out there as I'd imagine it would be a great place to visit.

Both are still great places to visit. There's a lot of tourists in Iran, just not so many UK, US and Canadian ones due to the travel restrictions. I've been to Iran twice myself and seen coach tours of French, Italian and Greek people in there 60s bobbing around.

Iraq is far less visited, but the Kurdistan region gets a decent amount of tourists (my employer takes in about 4 groups of 18 people a year).

jsmoke · 16 Oct 2018 at 13:39

You need this good to Mexico or Brazil next.

danoliver1 · 16 Oct 2018 at 13:41

Would like to go but heard its all ******.

clubb699 · 16 Oct 2018 at 14:18

That shapes awesome, but christ cant they rework them steps it lets it down.

ttaskmaster · 16 Oct 2018 at 14:19

~>Dg<~ · 16 Oct 2018 at 14:21

great pics. :cool:

VincentHanna · 16 Oct 2018 at 14:26

Nasher said:
Your probably more likely to get attacked in London these days.

Umm, no.

Scam · 16 Oct 2018 at 14:26

KillBoY_UK said:
I rather go to Baghdad than say Mexico City

Really? Call me naive but as a white British man I'd imagine regardless of statistics, you're way more likely to get targeted in Baghdad compared to Mexico. I was looking at doing an Intrepid/Trailfinders tour of Mexico which included a few days in MC (as well as other cities, obviously). Although the girlfriend had voiced concerns I would have thought a lot of the violence there is between cartels/gangs -- compared to somewhere like Baghdad where Islamic extremists will actively target Western people just for funsies.

:confused: