hanoun's VirtualTourist Home Page

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Local church

A little bit about me

London is my home now; I have lived here for the last 27 years and enjoyed every minute of it. I am originally from Baghdad, Iraq. Came to the UK when I was 12 years old to study and I am still here.

When I first arrived I went to study in Exeter (in Devon) for 8 years with my brother, we were one of the first arabs to be seen there. That was an experience.

People around me when I first arrived could not believe I could be an arab and a catholic at the same time, they did not know where Iraq is. They believed that all arabs wore the long dress and ladies covered their faces. Now we are on the news every day all around the world and still to this day I meet ignorant people about the arab world or specifically about Iraq.

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Martyr's Memorial Monument

A little history about baghdad

762: Caliph al-Mansur selects the site of the Persian village Baghdad as the location of the new administrative centre of the Caliphate.
836: The Caliph abandons Baghdad, and settles in Samarra. The new rulers of Baghdad are Turkish groups, who participate little in the development and administration of the city.
892: The Caliphate returns to Baghdad, after 56 years in Samarra.
945: Buyids invade Baghdad, leaving large parts of it in ruins. The settle as the new rulers of the city.
1055: Seljuqs take control of Baghdad, after fighting that leaves large parts of the city in ruins.
1258: Baghdad is conquered and razed by the Mongol chief H?leg?. Hundreds of thousands of citizens are massacred. Despite the heavy destruction, Baghdad was made into a provincial capital, subject of the Mongol emperor of Iran, the Il-Khanids.
1339: Baghdad passes over to the Jalayrids.
1401: Baghdad is sacked by Timur Lenk.
1410: Baghdad comes under the control of Turkmen dynasties.
1497: The sea route between Europe and India is discovered. This would over the coming decades lead to a dramatic reduction in Baghdad's importance as a centre for the trade between Europe and Asia.
1508: Baghdad comes under the Safavid shah.
1534: Baghdad is conquered by the troops of sultan S?leyman 1, an incorporated into the Ottoman Empire.
1623: Baghdad is conquered by the Persians.
1638: The Ottomans take back Baghdad.
1798: A permanent British diplomatic residency is established in Baghdad, on order to assist European trade on Iraq.
1860's: Steamship travel on Tigris allows for more trade on Baghdad, bringing back much of the city's old wealth.
Around 1870: A process of modernization starts, as the city walls are torn down, the administration reformed and a municipal council formed, a telegraph and a newspaper started, modern hospitals and schools founded and many factories opened.
1917: Baghdad is captured from the Ottomans by British troops.
1920: Baghdad becomes capital of the new state of Iraq. The League of Nations grants Britain a mandate to govern Iraq. Many new buildings and roads are built, and it returns to its position as the dominating city of the area around the rivers Euphrates and Tigris.
1932: Iraq receives its independence.
1957: University of Baghdad opens.
1963: Al-Mustansiriyah University opens.
1974: University of Technology opens.
1970's: Increase in oil prices brings prosperity to Baghdad, resulting in many new projects and modern buildings, as well as wide-scale housing programs.
1991: During the Gulf War, many important buildings are bombed in Baghdad, and important installations for the infrastructure as well.
2003 March: Baghdad is bombed by US forces in an attack on Iraq (see article on US/British-Iraq War) without prior Iraqi aggression and without the support of the United Nations, as had been the case in 1991. The aim is to stake out president Saddam Hussein.
? April 9: The main areas of Baghdad falls to Western powers, effectively ending the regime of Saddam Hussein. Looters take over the city, with the disappearance of the police.
? May: Local control over Baghdad is reestablished. Some areas area remain insecure.
2004: Gradually, the security situation of Baghdad is worsened. Baghdad develops into a city where no Westerner can walk the streets in safety. Even nationals of other Muslim countries are killed or kidnapped. Locals are not directly goals for any military actions, but are often random victims of street fighting. Despite all this, much of the economy and the social life is returned to near normal.

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Main junction at Saadoun Street

Old Baghdad

It didn't take more than a few decades from the start of constructing the new residential city of Baghdad, until it was famed as the wealthiest and richest city in the world.
The city started was known by several names: Madinatu s-Salam, "City of Peace", the round city (referring to its 3 concentric walls) as well as the original name of the village here, Baghdad.
The inner walls housed the palace of the Caliph and the main mosque. The second enclosed the army quarters, while the homes of the inhabitants were inside the third. On the outside of the walls, the suuq was located. The original city had a diameter of about 3,000 metres, all located to the west bank of the Tigris river.
But the original layout was too small, and the city quickly grew beyond the city walls.
All in all, the lifespan of old Baghdad is surprisingly short, only about 60-70 years. Baghdad was in 836 abandoned to Turkish chiefs, and when it later returned to being the capital of the Muslim world, the city was rebuilt on the eastern bank of Tigris.

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me beside one of the gigantic structures

Hobbies

I have many hobbies, cannot put all of them on paper. I like travelling and reading, art, theatre and going to the cinema. I am bit wary of strangers but on the other hand very helpful to them. Listening to Arabic music is passionate hobby of mine, since my origin is Arabic. I am grateful for the Internet in making the world such a small place with no boundaries

my last visit was to the Tate modern where I visited this latest commission for the Turbine Hall, 1993 Turner Prize winner Rachel Whiteread has created a gigantic labyrinth-like structure entitled EMBANKMENT, comprising 14,000 casts of boxes. it took her

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Starry night over the Rhone, 1888

My favourite painting

Paris is my favourite place, I go there quite often especially now that we have the eurostar, 3 hours and I am in the middle of Paris. I like the history and art museums; there is always something new in Paris. Adore the food and the wine. Love the parisain way when they take their time having their meals.

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mini VT meeting

John, me, Amani, Namat, Rami. The lovely people I met via VT and became friends.

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My babies

When I was a child I was scared of dogs, then I came to the UK and became a mumy to Honey, Blackie and little Tina. The three lived with me for 16 years. Tina (the yorkie) which was the eldest, used to boss the other two around. Do not have them anymore but they are in my thoughts every day.

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My Lost baby

Meno was the last dog I had, he was 13 years old when he was stolen from my house. Not a day passes without remembering him.