24 Oct 10 Mosul - 'Drug Deals', GO1 Violations and Chai!

24 Oct 10 Mosul - 'Drug Deals', GO1 Violations and Chai!

 

The computers we work with get terrible dusty due to the conditions here in Iraq and I suggested that they get cleaned.   Unfortunately in Iraq, there's quite a bit of 'that's not my job' attitude I was the unlucky stiff who got to travel.  I'm at Mosul and have done what I can here and am now trying to get to Irbil.  Irbil bills itself as the world oldest continuously inhabited city in the world.  (around 5,000 years) It's only 50 miles away but getting there has been very difficult. 

So for the time being I've been stuck at Mosul for 4 days now.  Mosul is in Kurdish land, not Arab and there's a difference.  Also since Mosul is farther away from Baghdad (the flagpole) there are different ways of getting things done here.  In short, if you need something you make a 'drug deal' (aka trade this is unofficial) and things happen.  Need a container of parts?  Call up a 'friend', who'll put you in touch with a 'friend' and wham a box shows up.  No paperwork needed.  Also, it's much more relaxed here and alcohol is legal in Iraq but not on a military base.  But after the week is over (which it really never is) you might want to wind down with a gin and tonic or maybe a Jack and coke.  Pick your poison, it's there and very much on the DL.

There are also a few Iraqi restaurants on base.  I went to one when I was here last year that evidently is no-more as it was burned to the ground (supposedly a turf battle).  The drink of choice is chai which is simply a strong tea with LOTS of sugar (lots of sugar!)  We then ate lamb and kabobs (didn't get sick) and played dominoes which is very popular here in Iraq.  Chai is served in small glasses (just like the pic).

Hopefully I'll get to Irbil within a day or so.

R/Chris