Rwanduz Canyon and Shaqlawa are popular places for Erbilites to escape the hot city, since they are a bit higher up. in Acre, Shadman, who I met in Acre and I had agreed to meet within the next few days and we did, in Shaqlawa. A minibus took me there from Erbil and although Shadman gave me exact instructions as where to get off, I was confused. The whole minibus helped, and we eventually found each other. We joined the crowds for Iftar and spent a wonderful evening together.
The main road through Shaqlawa is lined with restaurants, packed with families enjoying Iftar Dinner. We had to wait almost for an hour for a table
Shaqlawa – Iftar dinner with Shadman
A year later a relative sent me a Whatsapp message and told me the horrible news that Shadman had died from a seizure; he was only 28 years old. I only had met him twice in my life for a few hours, but even during that short time I realized what a great and generous person he was.
Rwanduz Canyon
From Shalawa, Shadman and I continued north to Soran, the hub for Rwanduz Canyon. Shadman came along to make sure I had a place to stay and then went back to Acre.
Rwanduz Canyon
I did not feel like sitting in my hotel all by myself and set off to explore Soron. What a nice surprise – a bazar packed with people – and for once in Iraq – a pedestrian zone. I was thrilled, finally I could walk and was surrounded by people who walked. When I returned to my hotel around midnight, a couple of young guys were sitting in the lobby. They asked me to join for some sweet and we talked until three o’clock in the morning, I finally had arrived in the Ramadan routine. Another of many an unforgettable experiences during this trip.
Soran-bazar at night, during Ramadan night turns into day
Soran-bazar at night, during Ramadan night turns into day
In Soran I hired a taxi driver to take me to Rwanduz Canyon, half an hour from Soran. The canyon is truly spectacular, but there is so much else to see in the area. Some of the area is very green and water is gushing from the Mountain side.
Rawanduz Canyon
Rwanduz Canyon
Not far from Rwanduz Canyon are the Bekhal Waterfalls, the perfect place during the summer heat. The water seems to be aushing from a hole in the Mountain. This place defintely deserves more than a day visit.
Resort town Bekhal
Bekhal Waterfalls – water gushing from the mountain side
The night before my departure I came across a facebook posting of a friend I had travelled to Syria with in 2019. He was in Rwanduz Canyon, I could not believe it, we had missed each other by a day, The next day I left from Erbil Airport on a direct flight to Vienna.
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