Sumarra, Mitja, Hatra, Mosul

Yesterday was a big day as we drove north from Baghdad to Mosul.

If you are looking at that list and saying something isn't right, you would be correct in that Mitja isn't a place but a person.

In Sumarra, we saw our first real signs of ISIS terrorism. A gold domed mosque was destroyed and as a result the city is pretty much on lockdown by the local militia. They won't even allow foreigners to spend the night.

We were just day tripping and saw the 'twisted minaret' and the 'pool palace' (which actually featured an enormous pool -possibly with dolphins!

On our way out we were presented with Mitja. A Slovenia guy doing a solo trip who found himself with out transport north, not a place to stay. So the checkpoint guards gave him to us.

I must say Derek was appropriately suspicious and cautious. But he seems harmless and he will be with us until we reach Mosul this evening.