After several days in Iraq, we crossed into Iraqi Kurdistan, the autonomous Kurdish region in the north of the country. There was a passport check at the border, and our Iraqi guide was replaced...
Mosul was one of those names that appeared constantly in the news for years. Then, almost suddenly, it disappeared from the headlines. For many people, Mosul became synonymous with war, ISIS and destruction. Yet...
On our way north toward Kurdistan, we first stopped in Samarra before continuing on to the ancient city of Hatra. I have to admit I was disappointed that the most famous spiral minaret in...
There is something special about visiting a place you have heard about since childhood. For me, Ur was one of those places. Long before I became interested in travel, archaeology or history, I had...
We arrived in Karbala after dark. The city centre is largely car-free, so our bus had to drop us off at one of the gates. From there, we carried our luggage through security checkpoints...
After leaving Baghdad, our next stop on the journey through Iraq and Kurdistan was Babylon, one of the most famous names in history. Most people know it from the Bible or from school, but...
Before travelling to Iraq, Baghdad was one of those cities I felt I already knew. For decades, television news had shown wars, bombings and political turmoil. Yet Baghdad was once the largest city in...
Before travelling to Iraq, most of what I knew about the country came from television news. Wars, sanctions, invasions and endless reports about violence had shaped my image of Iraq for decades. Yet Iraq...
I think many Europeans who have visited Brazil have been to Rio de Janeiro and only there. Who can blame them? When you are down in the city’s streets, you can feel like you...
In this little mountainous town, Ouro Preta, which is a little jewel box, I have found more churches than grocery stores. Of course, UNESCO’s heritage has also impacted this town. On my trip around...
