Visiting Mosul was an eye-opening experience, offering a glimpse into the resilience of a city that has borne the weight of history, conflict, and now transformation. Once a cultural hub in northern Iraq, Mosul has seen immense destruction in recent years, particularly during the battle to liberate it from ISIS control. When we arrived we got brought on a walk around the city and to this day the remnants of war are still evident in the city’s architecture, with many historical buildings and neighborhoods reduced to rubble. You could sense that this place had seen things I & many more wont ever have to but even among the visible damage & ongoing work to make sites safe there was a sense of hope. Walking through the narrow streets, we could hear the hum of local markets and see children happily playing & offering gifts to our group which was a marble or maybe a playing card, which really makes ye think "Do we really need all fancy gadgets to be happy"
Mosul's history and heritage is amazing however, are not easily erased. The city’s ancient landmarks which was visited such as the iconic Al-Nuri Mosque, where ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi declared the caliphate, has since being taken over by UNESCO and will be renovated to previous standards. Along this trip we visited Qaraqosh where in 2021 Pope Francis visited along with many other parts of Iraq - https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-56309779
That evening, we were invited to a local cafe where we heard first hand stories from a local who lost many friends and families during the ISIS takeover, and while during those stories it was very clear from everyone in attendance that while we complain about little things in our very safe countries we all came from it was a million miles from everything these people went through during this unimaginable time.
On the last day of this amazing trip we went to Akre which is in Kurdistan and had a local breakfast which as we learned in Iraq etc is usually way to much for even the most hungriest of people. Once we were finished that mammoth meal it was time to walk around Akre Mountain and its surrounding town - https://spirit-travelers.com/en/visit-akre-iraqi-kurdistan/
That afternoon it was time to drive to Erbil to visit the Erbil Citadel for sunset, followed by a walk in the local market. The Erbil Citadel, perched on a hill in the heart of Erbil, is one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited sites, with a history spanning over 6,000 years. This ancient fortress, which has witnessed the rise and fall of multiple civilizations, including the Assyrians, Parthians, and Ottomans, is a remarkable blend of old and new. Offering breathtaking views of Erbil and the surrounding landscape, the citadel was packed with families and friends enjoying life while taking in the amazing sunset while overlooking the market which while walking around was really a shock to the senses. Plus being a westerner in this place was overwhelming as everyone was staring and those brave enough wanted a photo
Iraq it has being a pleasure and I will definitely be back but time now to move onto a new country that I never thought I would see..... JORDAN & more importlanty PETRA
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