After three months of goofing off, we've finally made it to Baghdad.  We took a packed military flight into Baghdad International Airport (BIAP) on a windy day... just enough wind to cover everything with a light haze of white powdered sand.  It gave everything, including the various palm trees, a monotone, bleached & petrified appearance. Some were not impressed with their first sight of Iraq.

The picture did improve the next day.  The wind was calm and it turns out that Baghdad is about 5-10 degrees cooler than Kuwait and it does have lots palm trees, canals & lakes (as well as the Tigris River).  The first day was spent touring the various departments & units we'd be working with.  As it happens, all of these offices were located in Saddam's various Palaces.  The newest ones are quiet amazing with marble, gold, and grand-foyers with Condo-sized chandeliers.

After the day of tours, I got word that I'd to be stationed in another area of the city and was given 1/2 hour to pack my bags for an armored convoy through town.  The convoy was tense but uneventful.  I ended up in another Palace...  This one is older, not quiet as spectacular, but the palace grounds are more spacious.  The current occupants are especially proud of the several pools.  They remind me of small versions of ones I've seen at the Bellagio, Las Vegas.

I'll post some pictures of all this later.  They have an Internet Cafe, but do not allow access to import pictures.  I'll figure that out after I've figured out my new job!