I jut got a call from my office offering me some work in Northern Iraq (I’m in the oil business). Anyone been there? What’s to see and do? Are there any good nightspots in Ebril?
NB I don’t need safety tips. Been there, done that
I’ve never been to the Iraqi part of Kurdistan, but I have travelled around the Kurdish areas of Turkey and Iran and I think the whole area is pretty culturally homogenous. What you find depends a whole lot on what you’re interested in: Wonderfully friendly people, beautiful art - both contemporary and historical, and great architecure. Nightspots - not so much, I think. I would go immediately if I had the opportunity. Erbil is a large and very old city so I’m sure it should be an interesting place.
A thought: If Erbil has a real expat community I’m sure they will have spawned a few places. NETA: they have.
As for what it’s like to live there I have no clue. A google search reveals quite a few relevant sites - including an expat forum or two.
I spent about 2.5 years in Baghdad off and on between 2003 and 2007. Kurdistan was a nice break. There are some nice cafes and you can get a beer and no one was trying to blow me up. It’s not Vegas, but it is liveable. The best thing about the posting is that you can get to Turkey pretty easily for weekends (I took a cab to the border, walked across and then took a cab from there). There was a hotel that had a nice bar, restaurant in Dohuk, I believe, and there is a beautiful hotel on a big man made lake up there, but I can’t remember the name (any of the locals will know it).
Just found out the big drawback - the flight in from Jordan doesn’t qualify for airmiles :mad:
if that’s the worst thing that happens, I guess I shouldn’t complain too loudly