Tea stop on the bridge over the Great Zab River, between Dohuk and Erbil in Iraqi Kurdistan, late afternoon on the 3rd of December. Tea is made in a kettle, heated over a wooden fire, giving a distinctive taste and smell to the experience. The road to this point had been very good, but soon afterwards deteriotated to become deeply rutted. The tea seller refused to accept any money for his tea, quite typical of the hospitality here. I have seen my driver in the past argue with waiters to take money from him.
We came here with Hiwa, Clare and Stevie last month, sightseeing, and you can see for miles up the valley. Apparently in there somewhere is a Turkish base, but I didn't see it then, or now.
I didn't know what was going to be ahead as I worked my way up the col. When I topped out and saw the view ahead I had to stop and take a photograph. That is the Great Zab river which comes down from the north, or camera left. The road descended from here in a series of switch backs, as good as anything you might find in the alps. (But with nothing in the way of support if it goes wrong).
