Yet another long day’s driving this time the checkpoints were kinder to us.Our overnight destination is Najaff again another pilgrimage site.On the way we visit the ancient Sumerian capitol of Ur. We struck gold here as the spritely elderly guide speaks excellent English and his knowledge really brings the place alive. Founded in 3800 BC it was finally dissolved in 500 AD. The site includes royal tombs and excavations of palaces but the best preserved is the ziggurat. This one is built in the dome and minaret dazzling at night under lights. The inside sparkles with a forest of chandeliers style of a stepped pyrimid and once had a temple at the summit. The heat is ennervating and it is definitely over 40C as we climb the stairs up to the top of the ziggurat for a view of the surrounding countryside.
It is after dark when we arrive at Najaf and visit the mosque there. This is smaller but even more beautiful than the Karbala complex. It is the burial place of Mohammed’s son in law and a muslim pilgrimage site second only to Mecca and Medina. The outside of the mosque featues the gold leaf dome and minaret dazzling at night under lights. The inside sparkles with a forest of chandeliers beneath a roof of beatiful coloured glass.
