update
IRAQ
Today is actually the last day of the very first Wandering Earl Tour of Iraq that I have organized. And I'm absolutely thrilled to announce that this tour has been a major success in ways that even I could never have imagined!
Along with our local team, a group of 12 wonderful travelers and myself have been traveling all over this country over the past 12 days. It's been one of the most powerful, life-changing trips that we've ever run.
We visited Baghdad, Babylon, Najaf, Nasiriyah, the Mesopotamia Marshes, Fallujah, Samarra, Hatra, Mosul, Nineveh Plains and Erbil (in Iraqi Kurdistan) and finished off celebrating the spectacular Nowruz Festival in the village of Akre last night.
Imagine this:
- The Iraqi people are so genuinely warm and welcoming that we had to change the plan every single day due to random hospitality shown to us by locals we met along the way.
- The historical sites are SURREAL and will leave you in complete awe - Babylon, Samarra, Hatra and so much more!
- The resilience of the people is beyond inspirational and heart-warming. Despite the extremely difficult situations that so many have lived through, the desire to create a better future is extremely palpable.
- The food is truly delicious everywhere, as we tried regional specialties throughout the trip, for breakfast, lunch and dinner!
- Safety was never a concern. There are checkpoints all over the country, but we were treated only with kindness every single place we went. As I say often, it's not what you'd expect at all.
- Traveling here is more than an adventure. It's important. It's important to learn about the reality of this country and meet a diverse range of people in order to understand the 'other side' that we don't often get to see in the media.
This trip has been so full of beautiful surprises, smiles, handshakes, hugs, laughter and yes, some tears as well. Every day has involved a great deal of activity - from morning until night - but at the same time, our group did not want to miss a single thing.
As our group discussed yesterday, the Iraq travel experience is unlike any other. It will, without a doubt, leave such a deep and lasting impression that it instantly becomes one of the most memorable and important trips you could possibly take.
As a result, I'm so very excited to announce a second Wander Across Iraq departure...
