Expatriate Forums in Iraq

Iraq Travel & tourism

andreina — Sat Jul 11, 2009 9:07 am

Author: andreina

Posted: Sat Jul 11, 2009 9:07 am

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IRAQ TOURISM : Iraq Travel & Tourism GUIDE

Admin2 — Thu May 18, 2006 6:48 am

Author: Admin2

Posted: Thu May 18, 2006 6:48 am

IRAQ TOURISM : Iraq Travel & Tourism GUIDE

Iraq is the country of Mesopotamia or Land Between the Rivers in classical times.
Anyone travelling in these lands should read about the many civilizations that have passed through here. As a minimum be prepared on Sumer, Babylon, Assur, Persians, Greeks, Romans and finally Arabs. You will find many hundreds of ruins of cities everywhere you go.
It has a subtropical climate, with a tendency in direction of continental climate in the north. Iraq is very dependent on water from Tigris and Euphrates, as there is little rain falling here. The west and south is mostly stone desert. The country became known as Iraq in the 7th century. It’s the land were paradise allegedly once was. The region's extensive alluvial plains gave rise to the world's earliest civilizations, though in recent times it was not all that civilized. The modern Iraq was created in the aftermath of World War I and gained independence in 1932. Since then there was war on Iran, Syria, and most recently the invasion of Kuwait that led to the Gulf War. Internally the country has known violent uprising of Kurdish minorities answered by bloody suppression. After the monarchy was overthrown in 1958 there was a period of political instability with coups and countercoups until Saddam Hussein seized power in the 70s.

Iraq used to be one of the world's leading oil producers. In recent decades a steady cash flow generated by the black gold was the engine behind ambitious building projects and development programs and to build one of the largest and most powerful armies in the Middle East. Its strength was demonstrated during the Iran-Iraq War (1980-8 and in the 1990 invasion of Kuwait.

Everyone that has seen the images of missiles and bombs falling on the capital Baghdad will understand that this is not a holiday destination for the mentally sane. Economy has been totally disrupted by the war and reconstruction is slow. Tension between US and UK troops are still high.

Theoretically there’s the possibility to cross the northern borders from Turkey or Jordan, but the ongoing struggle for Kurdish independence also makes this area hazardous. There are no commercial flights to Baghdad and the borders to Iran, Syria, Saudi Arabia and of course Kuwait are closed of.

Should it become easier to visit Iraq then the highlights of your visit would include Mosul in the north, with the big Assyrian cities of Ninevah and Nimrod close by, Baghdad , the capital, Karbala and An najaf just south of Baghdad, with the tombs of Ali and Husain, two very important Shiite religious leaders and Basra in the south.

Irak is the dream of any historian and archeolog. For the west, its were it all began. All those small hills you see on the highway, those are Tells, the ruins of ancient cities.

Sights in Iraq:

Historic Buildings

Mustansiriyah School

Built in the 13th century, during the reign of the 37th Abbasid caliph, Mustansir Billah, this was once a highly-esteemed university. Angela: It is incredible to stand in the courtyard of what is believed to be the world's first university. The buildings are in good condition for such an age and you can wander through them. Upstairs, you can look out over the Tigris River flowing past. If only these walls could talk...

Khan Murjan

The Khan used to bean inn for travelers. It was built in the 14th century and has a central hall more than 45 feet high.

Abbasid Palace

Built in the same era as the Mustansariyah and in the same architectural style, the palace overlooks the Tigris. Joon:

Murjaniya School

Originally built in 1357, this school building was demolished in the early part of the twentieth century and rebuilt as a mosque, known today as the Marjan Mosque.

Mosques:

Al-Khadhimain Mosque

This is one of the most important mosques in the Islamic world, with gold-capped domes and minarets rising above its courtyard. The mosque was built on the site of the shrines of two imams (Musa al-Kadhim and Muhammed al-Jawad) said to be descendants of the Prophet. The building dates from the early 16th century.

Marjan Mosque

Built on the place were the Murjaniya School used to be. sabu:

Museums

Museum of Popular Heritage

This is a collection of traditional old Baghdadi houses, and contains displays of traditional crafts, such as basketwork, carpets, woodwork and metalwork.

Baghdad Museum

Contains life-size models of the traditional life of Baghdad presented in tableau form.

Iraqi Museum

One of the best museums in the Middle East. It has a great collection of artifacts from Sumer, Akkad and other old civilizations.

Some of the objects on display here are reproductions, with their originals removed by conquering nations to be displayed in foreign museums. The Louvre in Paris, London's British Museum and the University of Pennsylvania Museum in the US all contain antiquities from ancient Mesopotamia. Some pieces have been returned, but the effective closure of the country seems to preclude any further returns for the foreseeable future. jackie more..

Museum of Pioneer Arts

This is another old Baghdadi house, built in 1922, with rooms constructed around a central courtyard containing a fountain. It is furnished with traditional old Baghdadi furniture and has an interesting collection of paintings on display.

Source: world66.com

Iraqi Embassies Overseas - Iraq Embassy List

Admin2 — Thu May 18, 2006 6:34 am

Author: Admin2

Posted: Thu May 18, 2006 6:34 am

Iraqi Embassies Overseas - Iraq Embassy List

Belgium

Email Address :-
iraqyia@swing.be
Tel No :2-374.59.92
Fax No :2-374.76.15
Address :-Embassy of Iraq , Av. des Aub�pines, 23, 1180 Bruxelles, Belgium

Bangladesh

Dhaka
Email Address :-Na
Tel No :-600298, 600299
Fax No :-Na
Address :-Embassy of Iraq, 112 Gulshan Avenuedel , Dhaka-1212 , Dhaka, Bangladesh

Bahrain
Manama

Email Address :-Na
Tel No :-786929
Fax No :-786220
Address :-Embassy of Iraq, Box 26477 Manama, Bahrain

Canada
Ottawa

Email Address :-Na
Tel No :-(613) 236-9177, -9178
Fax No :-(613) 567-1101
Address :-Embassy of the Republic of Iraq, 215 McLeod Street, Ottawa, Ontario, K2P 0Z8. ,Canada

France
Paris

Email Address :-paris@emassyiraq.com
Tel No :-01.45.53.77.00/33.70
Fax No :-01.45.53.33.80
Address :-Section des Int�r�ts Irakiens � Paris, 53, rue de la Faisanderie - 75016 Paris, France

Austria
Vienna

Email Address :-Na
Tel No +43 / 1) 713 07 42-43, (+43 / 1) 713 82
Fax No +43 / 1) 713 67 20
Address :-Botschaftskanzlei, Johannesgasse 26, P.O. Box 599 , A-1010 Wien, Austria

Austria
Vienna
Email Address :-Na
Tel No :- (+43 / 1) 713 81 95
Fax No :- (+43 / 1) 713 67 20
Address :-Konsularabteilung, Johannesgasse 26, Postfach 599 , A-1011 Wien, Austria

United States
Washington

Email Address :-Na
Tel No :-(202) 483-7500
Fax No :-(202) 462-5066
Address :-Embassy of Iraq (Iraqi Interests Section), 1801 P Street, NW, Washington DC 20036, USA

Beijing, China -
No. 25, Xiu Shui Bei Jie, Jian Guo Men Wai, Beijing, China.
Tel: (86 10) 6532 3385.
Fax: (86 10) 6532 1596.

Jakarta, Indonesia -
Jl. Teuku Umar # 38, Menteng, 10350 Jakarta, Indonesia.
Tel: (62 21) 390 4067 (-9).
Fax: (62 21) 390 4066.

Tokyo, Japan -
8-4-7, Akasaka, Minato-ku, Post Code:107.
Tel: (81) 3423 1727/ 28/29/30.
Fax: (81) 3402 8636.

Islamabad, Pakistan -
57, Street 48, F-8/4, P.O. Box No.1142, Islamabad, Pakistan.
Tel: (92) 253 393, 253 391.
Fax: (92) 253 394.

Lisboa, Portugal -
Rua Arriaga, No. 9 (Alapa) 1200, Lisboa, Portugal.
Tel: (351) (21) 396 0944.
Fax: (351) (21) 396 0962. E-mail: iraqem_lisboa@netcabo.pt

Bangkok, Thailand -
47, Pradipat Road, Samsen Nai, Phya Thai, Bangkok 10400.
Tel: (66) 278 5335/7.
Fax: (66) 271 4218.

Source: helplinedatabase.com & embassyworld.com

IRAQ TRAVEL TIPS (Traveling to Iraq Essentials)

Admin2 — Thu May 18, 2006 5:36 am

Author: Admin2

Posted: Thu May 18, 2006 5:36 am

IRAQ TRAVEL TIPS (Traveling to Iraq Essentials)

Language
80 per cent Arabic, 15 per cent Kurdish. Assyrian and Armenian may also be spoken.

Religion
More than 50 per cent Shia Muslim, with the remaining Sunni Muslim, and Druze and Christian minorities.

Time
GMT + 3 (GMT + 4 from 1 April to 1 October).

Electricity
230 volts AC, 50Hz. Various two- and three-pin plugs are in use. Electricity supplies were severely affected in the recent conflict.

Currency Information
The new Iraqi Dinar was introduced in October 2003. Iraqi Dinar (IQD) = 20 dirhams = 1000 fils. Notes are in denominations of IQD25,000, 10,000, 5000, 1000, 500, 250 and 50. Coins are in denominations of IQD100 and 25. This information is subject to frequent change in the current conditions.

Currency Exchange
Foreign currency can be used at special duty-free shops in Baghdad up to a value of US$200. To obtain this concession, goods must be purchased within 20 days of arrival and passports must be produced.

Credit / Debit Card Information
Not widely used.
Travellers Cheque Advice
These are not generally accepted.

Currency Restrictions
The import of local currency is allowed up to ID25 and export up to ID5. The import of foreign currency is unlimited, provided declared on arrival. The export of foreign currency is limited to the amount imported and declared.

Banking Hours
Sat-Wed 0800-1230, Thurs 0800-1100. Banks close at 1000 during Ramadan.

Mobile Telephone
Roaming agreements with international mobile phone companies are still in progress. There is extremely limited coverage.

Internet
There are no ISPs in Iraq at present. However, although connectivity within the home is rare, Internet access is sprouting everywhere via cafes and hotels, mainly in Baghdad.

Media
There has been a surge of media outlets since the downfall of Saddam Hussein. During his dictatorship, satellite TV was banned.
Press: Newspapers published in Arabic include Al Mada (website: www.almadapaper.com), Al Mashriq and Al Dustur. Al-Sabah (website: www.alsabaah.com) is the main English-language daily , Al-Zaman (website: www.azzaman.com) is a London based daily printed in Baghdad and Basra and Iraq Today (website:
www.iraq-today.com) is an English-language daily.

TV
Al-Iraqiya, Al Sharquiya, Kurdistan Satellite Channel and KurdSat.

Radio
Republic of Iraq Radio, Radio Nahrain, Voice of Iraq, Hot FM and Radio Dijla.

Post
All mail may take several weeks to process and is inadvisable.

Transport
Orange and cream taxis are in service on routes between towns and cities. Taxis can be shared or hired individually. There is also a good inter-city bus network.

A railway line connects Baghdad to Mosul and Basra, but the service from Baghdad to Istanbul has been suspended since the Iran-Iraq War.

International airports are located at Baghdad and Basra, but national carrier Iraqi Airways has been grounded since the Gulf War. The sanctions regarding air travel are still valid against Iraq.\

Source:worldtravelguide.net