Haven't we heard this one before? Seems Iraq is hoping to lure in some tourists. But this time, travel promoters are thinking really big: Ideas include a cruise ship port in Basra, ziggurat-spotting in Ur and rides to Baghdad on Saddam's presidential train.

Says a diplomat from the UK:

Basra itself was a medieveal town, and you have the cradle of civilization here. You could have people's cruise ships come back here to see the hanging gardens of Babylon.

We are on major bird migration routes, you could do that. In five years you can have a significantly improved city. It is potentially a hugely civilised and cultured place.

Ah! There's the rub: Any of this won't happen for at least another five years. That'll give you some time to save up for that day of shark fishing.

Related Stories:
· Iraq to Promote Its Tourist Potential [Telegraph]
· Heidi and Spencer Plan Iraq Trip [Jaunted]
· Iraq Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Paulio Geordio]]]> pbb 2008-09-18T17:00:29-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2007/10/31/14648/359

Attention! A new force is threatening the sovereignty of Iraq, and it's very, very hungry. A man fishing in a canal near the southern city of Nassiriya caught a six-foot-long shark who somehow eluded barriers and swam up the Euphrates River into what is known as the cradle of civilization.

Some Iraqis believe the shark was planted by occupying American forces to scare the locals. But that doesn't answer the question of how the shark got to Nassiriya in the first place. If Iraq is a little exotic for you, visit our fishing map to find some more traditional spots for landing a big catch on your next trip.

Related Stories:
· Fisherman Nets Shark 200 km from Sea [Yahoo]
· Deep Sea Fishing Spots [Jaunted]
· Iraq Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: JawsMovie.com]]]> egw 2007-10-31T15:20:01-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2007/8/29/83338/6286

Remember when Senator John McCain told CNN Iraq was so safe he could walk through its neighborhoods--and then he did so with like 100 armed guards? Well, sir, Angelina Jolie has just upped the ante. The actress and Original Super World Traveler snuck off to a UN refugee camp in Iraq yesterday to talk to displaced people trying to gain admittance to Syria. As a goodwill ambassador she has also visited camps in Sierra Leone, Pakistan and Sudan's Darfur region.

Obviously Jolie had her bodyguard present, and probably other back-up support. But just wait till you see our "Angelina '08" bumper stickers! (As a Super World Traveler, she'll be a lock for our candidate travel map.)

The State Department's guidelines on Iraq travel note that terrorists are targeting civil aviation, vehicular travel within the country is very dangerous and that "the Embassy can provide only limited emergency services to U.S. citizens in Iraq."

Related Stories:
· Super World Travelers coverage [Jaunted]
· Iraq Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: JustJared]]]> egw 2007-08-29T09:05:01-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2007/8/7/22418/28964

Expat Airways is Iraq's answer to Southwest. The self-proclaimed "no frills" airline is the first of its kind in Iraq. Monday, it started operating weekly flights between Baghdad and Amman, Jordan.

While budget U.S. carriers ban large bottles of fluid and European LCCs have draconian baggage restrictions, Expat prohibits its own citizens from boarding. It has a strict "Westerners only" policy, straight out of the Mein Kampf business practices handbook. In addition to Iraqis, Indians, Pakistanis and most other non-Westerners need not attempt to book a flight.

According to ABC, Ahmed al Musawi, a spokesman for the Iraqi Transportation Ministry, called Expat's flight restrictions ''immoral'' but said there are no federal laws in Iraq banning such actions. Go figure.

Related Stories:
· Iraqi Airline [ABC News]
· Iraq Travel [Jaunted]

[Photo: ABC News] ]]> ced138 2007-08-08T10:50:01-05:00 Search Jaunted string http://www.jaunted.com/search/