Driving in the IZ

Okay remember the IZ means International Zone which means there are many nationalities here. This also means there are some crazy driver here. I went out on my first foray into driving out here and it was a somewhat nervous experience.

The roads here are real asphalt roads but they show tremendous wear and tear from bombings, heavy artillery, and neglect. There are pot holes, huge gashes, cracks and monstrous speed bumps everywhere. So you have to be careful where and how you drive. You also have to be very careful approaching checkpoints. There is usually a large mounted machine gun pointed at you from across the street as you approach the Marine or other security personnel to gain access to wheever you are going, like where you live, or to the store (PX), or back to work; it's very unnerving.

So the way people drive is completely insane. Forget regular U.S. traffic laws. Those are only a guide. The most important thing is to drive defensively. There are no traffic cops in the IZ, even though thre are IZ Police....but as far as traffic goes, the only time the intervene is when their is a collision. So people drive really fast, reckless and rarely stop at stop signs much less unmarked intersections. They even travel the wrong way on divided streets and stop in the middle of the roads to pick up and drop off passengers. Like I said. INSANE!

But my first driving experience here went off without any problems. You just have to keep your cool and avoid potential hazards.

Green Zone - week three

The sites....well our department is lucky enough to have a couple of vehicles and a couple of my co-workers dove me around the Green Zone to check it out. We went to the Crossed Swords where thousands of troops would march ceremoniously and Saddam would preside over them. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hands_of_Victory) I got to climb and venture up into one of the hands through a complex, narrow maze of ladders and tunnels. It was not meant to be used as place for the general public but a place for security to lookout.

In hindsight, it was a little dangerous climbing up and down, but our sense of adventure got the best of us. There are two sets of crossed swords that encompass a long avenue or general assembly area, one on each end. Huge light towers once lit up the entire 1 mile length. Now it is mostly abandoned with the occasional people like us visiting, taking some photos and walking around. There are some locals here and there walking about; not sure if they are just hanging out or on there way somewhere else.

We tried to see the tomb of the unknown soldier, which looks like a flying saucer. It's enormous. But we got turned away by some Iraqi security guards and we weren't about to argue. They didn't even want us taking pictures so we drove away pretty quickly.

Next we went to a place called Union which is another U.S. compound. It contains the Baath Party Headquarters building. It's tall and square.....like a big cube. We didn't go in that bulding, but there was a small restaurant and a few shops selling pirated DVDs, movies and TV shows, as well as music CDs. There are also a coupld of barber shops.

In our drive, we encountered many huge speed bumps andcheck point and had to repeatedly show our badges. It's oneof the things you really have to get used to. A wide assortment of people will check it.... from U.S. Marines, Army, Air Force, Iraqi Security, Iraqi Army, private security, contract security, wal-mart security.....ok ok I just wanted to see if you were paying attention. Which does bring me to an important aspect, you really have to pay attention at the checkpoints becuase they are authorized to use deadly force if they see something that doesn't jive. All the check points are armored and lock and loaded. It can be unnerving. There have been a few incidents where,...... well one example is a person behind the wheel accidentally lurched forward when he was reaching for his badge and he took 6 shots through the windshield. Unfortunately he perished.

There are precise rules about check points that they drill into you. Being extra cautious goes a long way. You have to respect and be aware of where you are at all times or else there can be catastrophic consequences.

Green Zone - week two

Well, I have finally gotten my bearings about where things are located, where we are in Baghdad, where the Tigris River is, and of course, which way is north. Getting around is a bit easy since there are a few shuttle routes. We use mostly one to get to and from work. The embassy is located in the Presidential Palace. This was one of Saddam's newest palaces and it's quite large and grandiose. It has been fitted with offices, partitions, meeting rooms, lounges, and small deli shop, computer lab, etc. But mostly there are tons of offices here. Most of the large rooms have been partitioned and modified with sheet rock and plywood to accommodate the state dept. THere is marble everywhere and grand murals, some showing rockets which is just odd.

There is less military here and many civilians. Lots of state dept workers and other contractors. It's a little surreal since I am used to mostly military but people are dressed in suits, pantsuits for women, and then I see some jogging in regular shorts and T-shirts around the palace grounds. The palace grounds is another fortified location that can be hard to get into if you don't have the right credentials.

The job is good, I'm learning. Hopefully some experience I can take with me.

I have been told that it gets really hot in the summer like 140 degrees. We'll see. I have a hard time believe it gets that hot. It is dusty though and low, if any humidity....kind of like Arizona.

I've been around to see a few sites but more on that later.