Erbil- Notice posted inconspicuously at the entrance to the Erbil
International Hotel where I stayed. As I snapped the picture several staff
monitored my activities closely, two finally approaching to check out my
gadget. I worry that with cell phone cameras being so common, people will
soon stop putting their faces in my camera for all the delightful portraits
I have been able to get up 'til now.
Erbil- Bellman at the Erbil International Hotel where I stayed got curious
about my tiny camera; you know the rest.
Erbil- Security staff member at the Erbil International Hotel where I stayed
got curious about my tiny camera. You can't be too careful about suspicious
characters doing suspicious things with suspicious looking gadgets... but,
he smiled all the while.
Erbil- This is Anwar Dawood, the receptionist at the Erbil International
(Sheraton) Hotel with reasonably good English who helped me negotiate a
manageable room rate for a long Xmas period stay and took the time to
explain what he knew about the Kurdish culture and history of the hotel.
Erbil- This is the young breakfast time waiter at the Erbil International
(Sheraton) Hotel I watched as he lifted a bread plate to his face and deftly
blew off something before setting the plate on a table ready for the next
guest... and then repeated the performance a second time... in case I'd
missed the first time. Them plates can't be too clean, 'ya know.
Erbil- Waiters in the background ignore scruffy tourists like me, but fawn
over the suit and tie crowd. Most guests fit into the latter category.
Tourists are a rare few during my stay.
Erbil - Guest relations staffer, Midia at the Erbil International Hotel who
provided friendly help with transportation information.
Erbil - Departing shot of the carefully guarded security gate at the Erbil
International Hotel, known locally by its old name, the Sheraton.
Erbil - Departing shot of the entrance to the Erbil International Hotel,
known locally by its old name, the Sheraton.
Erbil - Highway sign at the corner where the Sheraton is located. Notice the
security camera at the lower left corner.
Erbil- The Erbil International Hotel, formerly the Sheraton is surrounded by
this ten foot high concrete explosion proof wall with the hotel building at
least fifty feet beyond.
Erbil -Pond with fountain in a small park across the street from the
Sheraton Hotel.
Erbil - Wonder if this refers to the prophet of old and if so what old
Abraham does for your compute.
Erbil - Cell phone alley on a street south of the Citadel seems to be very
popular.
Erbil - Cell phone alley on a street south of the Citadel.
Erbil- Unusual tube sculpture outside the airport terminal.
Erbil- Yet another beautiful mosque.
Erbil - One of the elegant houses in a residential area of the city toward
the airport.
Erbil- Yet another beautiful mosque.
Erbil- This kid got curious about my camera at the north gate of the
Citadel . Got'cha.
Erbil- then his friend got curious too. Got'cha.
Erbil- I tried to get them both to smile for a picture, but failed to time
all the joking just right.
Erbil- Landscaped median as seen from an overpass on the 100 Meter Road near
Ankawa spoke street.
Erbil- Another beautiful mosque.
Erbil - Looking down
the covered shopping arcade on one side of the plaza at the south
entrance to the Citadel.
Erbil- The plaza at
the base of the south entrance to the Citadel mound seems to be a
popular gathering place for males of all ages.
Erbil - The Citadel
is being restored. Walking the periphery I could see many of the walls
crumbling.
Erbil- Radar speed traps even here in Iraq.
