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My Blog | nomaallim.com

The One Million Colors of Erbil's Souks...

12/5/2021

2 Comments

 

Erbil's Citadel

They call it citadel but it's an old circular city with remparts all around, the whole site being situated on a hill in the exact center of Kurdistan's capital.
Walking around the citadel is about the discovery of the souks, an extraordinary mosaic of sidewalks shops selling absolutely anything and everything.
Like in other souks, the merchandise is grouped by type so the walker passes sequentially into a bazar of shoes, T shirts, sunglasses, watches, belts, then spices, tools, paintings, books, agricultural machines and air conditioners!
Picture
Picture
Picture

The main square of Erbil's city center

The constructions at the foot of the citadel are built around a large square that includes a pool covered with glass walkways, although nothing is left of the latter's transparency.
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Under the shopping arcades of Erbil's main square, one can expect any kind of edible and non-edible items, but fortunately no lawn mowers or plower machines like to the other side of the citadel!
Loud speakers flood the shoppers with pre-recorded noisy adverts repeating the prices a thousand times, in a desparate brain wash of the passer-by, whose chances to surrender (and buy) would then be amplified by this cerebral hammering technique.
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In contrast, Erbil's "Big Ben" is so silent unlike the one of London's Palace of Westminster
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One Million Colors

Textiles, souvenirs, handbags, scarfs, carpets and babouche slippers, a million items of a million colors; are these shops owned by magicians and do they sell flying carpets?
Are we inside an "Iznogoud" episode of the famous comic character?
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Another million confectionery items and dozens of different honey kinds, not recommended for diabetics.
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The Street Food of Erbil's Souks

Not all merchants of Erbil's souks like to sell a million item as some are rather "specialized" like the street kiosks offering fresh food on the go.
The kebab stands seem to be so popular and sell cheap and satiating sandwiches.
Not sure however if you'll loose your apetite before or after eating...
Picture
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This trolley offers not less than a dozen types of oriental coffees, all prepared in brass and copper pots coming straight forward from the Bronze Age.
The design is unchanged but the layout of the bright utensils lets you believe you're in front of a coffee lab or factory, a kind of mobile plant operated and controlled by the smart phone of its owner.
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Back to colors as fruit and fruit cocktail kiosks offer all kinds of juices, pulp or any combination of liquid and solid pectins.
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Don't be lost however and make no confusion: if you're seeing a watermelon stand with a luxury car in the background, then no doubt you're in Erbil!
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Cafe with a local Kurdish taste

At last a cafe where one can have some rest and order a coffee. I like the typical decoration and how the chairs all point to the same direction like in a theater. The movie is live before your eyes and tells the story of Erbil's daily open markets. Actors are no celebrities and the producer is totally unknown.
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Finally, and in case you order a cappuccino somewhere, you may expect a specific decoration drastically differing from the classic Italian leaves. Don't let your imagination go far however, stick to geometrical oriental patterns and put aside the idea of a ...spider net. 
Post scriptum: the element in the center is a fresh coffee bean.
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2 Comments
Carine Kadri
12/5/2021 20:00:24

So nicely described!
You made me feel as if I am there in person! 😊

Reply
Kristina
19/6/2021 11:51:55

Hilarious! 😂😂 love the description and the humor, Erbil has never been so interestingly described 😁

Reply



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  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • My Blog
  • Our Free DIY Tips
    • DIY basics
    • Safety At Home
    • Garden tips
    • Finishing Works
    • Home Appliances
    • Plumbing
    • Multimedia
    • Electrical
    • Car Maintenance & Repair
    • Small Generator Fixing
    • Bicycle fixing
  • Small DIY Projects
    • KITCHEN AND BATHROOM >
      • Kitchen: build a trolley | Not a robot
      • Adding shelves between cabinet and wall
      • Kitchen: adding small shelves for spices
      • Bathroom: free space | remove the bidet
      • Bathroom: Replace your embedded PEX outlets
      • Build a shower tray for elderly people
      • Installing an above counter basin
    • GARDEN >
      • A Low Cost and Easy to Fix Trellis Separation
      • Installing a water tank
      • Superb DIY garden pond with jar
      • Backyard workshop and storage
      • How to build a brick planter
      • Installing and programming a motorized gate opener
    • BEDROOM >
      • Adding a panel heater
      • Clothes drying racks
      • Diy cushion bedhead
    • LIVING ROOM >
      • Hanging the TV to the Wall
      • Adding lights to a green wall
      • Cabinet for AV equipment
      • Mini-pond for goldfish
    • CUPBOARDS AND BOOKSHELVES >
      • Cupboards & Bookshelves Basics
      • Build and Hang a Cupboard to the Wall
      • Build a Bookshelf
      • Building a bathroom cabinet
      • Wall to wall wardrobe
    • CAR >
      • Matra Rancho Renovation
      • How to buy and rebuild a used carburetor
  • DIY Cook
    • Spices and condiments
    • Utensils and non-food items
    • Fish & Sea Food
    • Soups, starters and side dishes
    • Lebanese and Mediterranean Mezze
    • Main courses
    • Coffees and breakfast
    • Desserts and pastries
  • Cars tips & tricks
    • Mechanical maintenance
    • Electrical and Ignition repairs
    • Dependability and drivability
    • Auto detailing
    • Abandoned and old vehicles
    • Car Insurance and Regulations