"Iraq, or more specifically, Kurdistan" Iraq by chauncenetta

There's not much to say about my trip to Iraq, but that it was gloriously beautiful getting there through the mountains of SE Turkey, and a full moon border crossing is huge rush, and it's dreadfully hot in the summer, and it's a place keen to grow and prosper but for the destruction and threat thereof, and the people are tough and smart and resilient who I am convinced in the end will prevail. And I am an optimist, but there's a ferris wheel in Dohuk, waiting to spin ,and in the end all will be good.

After an hours long drive through the mountains of Turkiye we finally made it to the border. We drove past the curious sight of a mile of somnolent tanker trucks, presumably crossing in the morning to obtain petrol for resale in Turkey. Quite a scene from Mad Max .... the dust and diesel and heat, with a nihilist here and there and the rest hard scrabble survivors, perched on the edge of a promising future, refusing to back down from their dream of Kurdistan.
Quite enchanting.

Here they give the women some credit for their strong backs and hard work.

• Pros:interesting
• Cons:heartbreaking