The Doctor's Office: I'll take you where the green grass grows

Hey everybody! Welcome to day two of the IZ adventure!

After we woke up the following morning, we decided to begin taking a look around. We gathered up our equipment, and journeyed off in search of breakfast. After turning in our linens and asking where the DFAC was, we headed in the right direction and stumbled upon a pool! It's fantastic!

This was one of Saddam's pools, of course. It's pretty lavish. Kind of kidney-shaped, it boasts twin diving platforms and a well-appointed pool house.

We're going swimming when we go back, needless to say.

Anyway, after marvelling at the pool, we moved over to the DFAC (which is the large white building at the back of the first pool picture) just in time to get a quick bite to eat. It seems as though the food is even better here that at Striker or Liberty. Unfortunately, we didn't get to eat in the really nice room you saw in the last posting.

After that, we decided we'd better get a move on looking for the Consulate's Office so we could get our passports processed.

The Republican Palace, as I said before, was Saddam's largest. It was where he did most of his business, his office was there, it overlooks the Tigris, and now it is the home of the US Mission in Iraq. We wandered around the grounds for a spell, taking in a few photo ops as we went along.

one of many palace entrances

me at the palace!!

We wandered around the palace for a while, and it seemed as though no one knew where the Chancery of the Consulate was. It turns out that it's actually in another building, about a mile and a half away. Not knowing really how to get there, we started walking.

There are some neat sights along the way, like this bombed out building that I imagine was hit by a cruise missile. You can only partially see it in the background.

We walked a little farther, and continued toward the Chancery. We passed Ibn Sina Hospital, where they filmed Baghdad ER, and another cool building.

ibn sina hospital grounds

not exactly sure what it is, but it's kinda cool

There's also a whole lot of arches built in the city. I'm not too sure why, but they are really neat.

cool arch

this one's next to the building hit by a missile

Finally, after going through many gates and seeing many guards, we arrived at the Chancery! And, of course, what we imagined to be a day full of beauracracy and paperwork, was merely fifteen minutes to sign a form and be on our way.

There's actually quite a lavish garden next to the building, but they don't allow pictures of it. I don't see how photographing a garden could be seen as a possible terror act, but I guess it is.
Soon after, we walked back toward the embassy, and caught a bus to take us on a tour of the IZ.

See for yourself!

new construction (and a stryker)