Iraq 2012

TK-12 - Eastern TURKEY, Kurdistan (part of IRAQ) Date of travel: May 7 - May 28, 2012 ITINERARY: On May 7, 2012 at noon I fly on Turkish Airlines from Prague, Czech Republic to Istanbul, TURKEY. I land there in midafternoon. A van takes me to hotel in center of the city. Here I meet the rest of our group. Next day early in the morning we fly from Istanbul to Erzurum in eastern Turkey. By bus to our hotel outside the city. A city tour starts before noon. We visit the “Grand Mosque,” a madrasa, and Royal Tombs. After lunch we see more mosques, a museum, and “Tas Hani” caravanserai. Final stop is at a jewelry store. In the morning on May 9 we drive by bus from Erzurum through a wild mountainous region to Kars near Armenian border where late afternoon. Russian tsars and Ottomans fought about this place 4x. Some houses were built by Russians, some by Turks. There is a visit to the 10th century “Church of Apostles” changed to a mosque. There is a fort above the city. The streets are full of mainly young people. Overnight in a hotel. After leaving Kars the following day, we stop at excavations of “Ani.” About 1000 years ago it was a capital of Armenia. Earthquake destroyed it. After lunch, we visit caves of an active salt mines. We pass through the town of Igdir under the famous Ararat Mountain. From here it is close to town Dogubayzit. Near this town we explore Ishak Pasha Palace. We stay in a local hotel. On May 11, we drive to city of Van lying at a large lake of the same name. Some 7 months ago there was a 7.2 strong earthquake in this area. Many peoples died and the damage is still visible. We see ruins of the capital of Urartian State from 8th century BC. It is Van fortress now. Next stop is in a carpet factory. Then to our hotel. Next day we visit a Kurdish “Hosap Castle,” then “Cavustepe” (second capital of Urartians) and in a boat to an island in Lake Van to see an Armenian Church. On May 13, we leave Van and drive to Tatvan. Here from a bus to a van to go to 3000 m high Mt. Nemrut. Along the way we visit an Armenian Church changed to a mosque. During WWI, the Armenians were either killed by Turks or were forced to leave Turkey. So, there are no parishioners here now. Due to snow, our van can’t get near the mountain. Sciatica is giving me problems, so after about 1 km walk I give up. In midafternoon, we are brought to a hotel in the mountains. Next day our bus takes us to Diyarbakir. On our drive there, we stop at caravanserai “El-Aman Hani.” Now and then they are police check points manned with machine guns. We reach the 2 mils. people Diyarbakir early in the afternoon. We visit the “Grand Mosque” then “Syriac Christian Church” from 3rd century AD. Our hotel in this city was originally a caravanserai and its name in Turkish is “Kervansaray.” It is far less comfortable than other hotels. Before leaving Diyarbakir on May 15, we take photos of the Tigris River from the city walls which encircle the Old Town. At noon, we are at Lake Ataturk formed by damming the Euphrates River. We take a 15-min ferry across. Then we drive to city of Adiyaman. From there to a burial mound of royal family Kommagene from 3rd c. BC, next stop at a Roman bridge from 2nd c. AD and later at burial tumulus and complex of king Antiochus dated to 1st c. BC. I rent a donkey to take me to the top to see the ruins of a palace, carvings of gigantic heads and the tumulus. From here to our hotel in Adiyaman. The following morning, we depart Adiyaman with a stop at Ataturk Dam and coming to Gaziantep at 1PM. In the afternoon, we visit a new museum showing mosaics from a Roman city of Zeugma. Then we do sightseeing of the old Gaziantep. Next day we drive to the town Urfa. At one new dam, we visit the Roman town of Zeugma. The water of the dam partly submerged this town. Before that happened, the mosaics were removed and put in Gaziantep museum. However, those houses above the water level are still being excavated and protected by roofs. Those we explore now. We do a sightseeing tour of Urfa afternoon. We see a park with so called Abraham pool. It is said that Abraham was born in this place. There are two mosques near. There is a citadel above the park. Many local families have picnic here. On May 18, we take a trip from Urfa to ruins of “Harran” reaching to 3rd mil BC. Near we are visiting beehive houses of local people. Our next stop is in “Gobeklitepe”. It is a newly discovered Neolithic settlement up to 11 thousand years old. Back in Urfa for lunch we see a demonstration of local Muslims, who want their daughters can wear hijab to school. Next day we leave Urfa for Mardin where at noon. In the afternoon, we visit a “Syriac Christian Monastery” outside the city. Back in Mardin we go to a museum. Our local hotel is again a caravanserai. I am not happy about it. On May 20, we drive farther east to town Midyat. South of it we stop at “Mar Gabriel Monastery.” Its oldest part is from 397 AD. Then we return to Mardin to visit “Kasimiye Medressa” built in 15th c. The town is on a sheer incline and the streets are on horizontal strata with staircases in between. After lunch, we climb 100 stairs to “Zinkiye Madrassa.” Later we see “Ulu Cami” from 11th c. May 21 is the last day of our East Turkey trip. In the morning, there is still a walk through a “Syrian Christian Church” built in 569 AD. But later most of our people fly home, while I and Marcia continue the trip to Kurdistan in the northern Iraq. In a car, we go along the Syrian border east. In 4PM we are at the Turkish-Iraqi border. With some difficulties, we cross the border. After finding our Kurdistan guide we drive to town of Zakho to take pictures of a Roman bridge. We are in autonomous Kurdistan which is part of IRAQ. After that we continue to Dohuk. There is our hotel there. Next day we do sightseeing around Dohuk. We make a visit to Al Qush village, where Jews used to live. There are Christians there now. The second stop is at “Hurmiz Monastery.” We must climb 150 stairs to it. Then to town of Latish with a most important temple of Yazidis, which we visit. Late in the afternoon we explore downtown Dohuk. Then we are driven to see the Zoroastrian’s fire temple in “Chewar Stoon Cave.” There is a park called “Dream City” with various attractions for young people. On May 23, we leave Dohuk for Rawanduz. Along the way we visit an ancient city Amadiya high on a mountain. In town Barzan we stop at the grave of Barzani who fought Sadam Husain. His son is president of Iraqi Kurdistan. Next stop is at “Shanidar Cave.” There were 15 skeletons of Neandertals found in it. We are overnight in a resort above Rawanduz. The following day we go through a valley to Iranian border. The day after we drive with stops like “Zarzi Cave” to Sulymania. On May 26, morning we visit a “Red House,” where Sadam tortured thousands of Kurds. After noon, we reach the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan, Erbil. We do sightseeing of the Erbil Citadel. Then to our hotel. Next day I have a talk with an American colonel about the situation in Iraq. After midnight on May 28 I and Marcia are taken to the Erbil airport. We fly to Istanbul. From there she flies to USA and I to Prague, Czech Republic, where I land before noon. Travel office: Spiekermann Travel Service Who took part: There were 14 tourists and a local guide Ali in Turkey. There were 2 of us in Kurdistan and a local guide.