Day 6.

Enjoying breakfast on the first morning of 2018 before meeting up in the hotel lobby at 8am to continue our journey through the south of Iraq.


Today was quite a long travel day, first travelling east of Najaf to Afak to visit the site of the ancient Sumerian city of Nippur. We would then head southwest to the Great Ziggurat of Ur before ending the day in the southern city of Nasiriyah.


Passing by an abandoned military outpost beside the road, left over from the time of the US occupation.


Stopping at a roadside stall for fruit to snack on as we make our way to Afak.


Amad at the wheel as we drive into Afak.


Filling up the minibus with petrol for $0.38 per litre ($1.44 per US gallon).


After arriving at the caretakers residence at Nippur and were greeted by these cute Iraqi puppies.


We were then accompanied by the caretaker to the archaeological site of Nippur. Also visiting today were some locals out on a cultural excursion.


Nippur was one of the oldest of all Sumerian cities and is sometimes dated to 5262 BC.


Raad explaining how Nippur was originally a village of reed huts in the marshes and then gradually rose upwards as a result of continuous habitation and building work.


Nippur was first briefly excavated in 1851 before being more thoroughly between 1889 and 1900 by archaeologists from the University of Pennsylvania.


This brick structure had been built by the American archaeologists on top of the old temple ruins around 1900.


We then went for a walk along to the old excavation sites where there were pottery fragments scattered about.


Nippur was also excavated for 19 seasons between 1948 and 1990 by a team from the University of Chicago Oriental Institute.

An estimated 40,000 Clay tablets were discovered, dating from the middle of the 3rd millennium BC onward into the Persian period.

It was quite surreal to be able to just pick up pieces of pottery that was perhaps hundreds or thousands of years old.


Stopping for a tea break on our way back through Afak.


A pool hall next door to the tea shop.


And back on the highway for the long drive to Nasiriyah.


At about 5pm we arrived at the Great Ziggurat of Ur.


On top with the curator of the site, Mr. Dief Mohssein Naiif al-Gizzy. The Ziggurat was built originally during the early Bronze Age period (21st century BC) and then restored in 6th century BC by King Nabonidus. During the reign of Saddam Hussein the façade of the lowest level and the monumental staircase were restored and rebuilt.


Looking south to the ruins of Ur, believed to be the birthplace of Abraham, and to Ali Air Base in the distance.


We then drove into Nasiriyah to a local restaurant for dinner, complete with two animatronic Santa's outside playing the saxophone.


A painting of the Great Ziggurat of Ur on the wall with some Bedouin by a campfire.


Some salad and mezze to start.


Followed by fried chicken and chips with bread.


At the Al Junob Hotel with some colourful artwork on the walls.


Our slightly retro but very spacious and comfortable room for the one night in Nasiriyah.


And enjoying some sweet hot tea in the majlis after another great day in Iraq.