I was for a reportage journey in Erbil, Iraq. After work I ventured out to the center of the city and enjoyed the lively street scene at the place of the Citadel. Here I had some tea and watched people and vendors passing by. In the nearby bazaar I got some typical oriental sweets. Delicious! I talked to the people and when they got to know that I am German they were very enthusiastic about my nationality.

Qaysari bazaar is a type of covered bazaar typical of Kurdistan and Iraq. In Erbil it is just south of the citadel in the center of town. The Qaysari is entered through numerous alleys.

Once inside, visitors walk through a maze of narrow paths between the shops, underneath a roof of corrugated metal. Most alleys feature an unique product that is sold by a majority of the vendors in that location. The northeast corner of the Qaysari contains a north-south alley offering honey and dairy products, such as yoghurt and cheeses.

I guess I was the only tourist in town. Erbil is Kurdistan and gets controlled by the Kurdish Peshmerga and military police. The front line where the fights are is 140 Kilometers away. I considered the town of Erbil as a safe place. Just outside of it there is another world and I wouldn’t recommend anybody to leave the city.