Traveling to Baghdad, Some Pointers

If by some chance you get to travel to Baghdad it is important to follow some important travel pointers. Always have your cell phone charged, you want to make sure that you have programmed into your phone some important phone numbers. You should have the phone number to the local police, the Iraqi Embassy and the Embassy of the country you are from.

Never travel alone, especially in Iraq. Baghdad is considered to be one of the most dangerous place in the entire country. Westerns tend to stand out with the way they dress so you may want to tone down the way you dress. Perhaps take on some of the culture in Baghdad as a sign of respect and a sign of safety.

If you can help it, do not travel by car and stay away from taxis too. If you travel to Baghdad try staying in a hotel that is closest to the places you want to go. Try to map out a route where you can visit the places you want to see as well as stay close to the hotel.

There are some great things to see in Baghdad, such the four surrounding walls of the city. The four walls are called Kufa, Basra, Khurasan and Syria. These names were chosen because these are the cities that the walls are facing. Another great site to see is the Golden Gate Palace. This Palace is located in the middle of Baghdad and it was the palace of the Caliph and his family.

There is a lot of history to learn about the city. Unless you are a historian, you may not know that the city was once considered to be the centre of learning back in the 8th and 9th century. Scholars flocked to the city to learn about the ways of the world. This is where the House of Wisdom originated.

Iraq is a desert terrain in most places, there are pop up dust and sand storms that occur on a daily basis, so make sure that you carry sunglasses and plenty of bottled water. Do not drink the water in or eat the food there. The food preparation is unlike the West and many other places. You run a high risk of getting sick if you eat the food. If you get the chance to visit Baghdad, it is important to stay safe and always be aware of your surroundings.