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Memory of Alexander is still alive in areas where he had passed from. This time something tragic happened to remind us once more of this fact.
A truck bomb exploded in the mainly Shia Muslim town of Iskandariya, (Alexander's city) 40km (25 miles) south of Baghdad, as new recruits were queuing outside. More than 50 people were killed.Full story at:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle ... 475679.stm

Hi Yiannis,Yep, more deplorable happenings in the Cradle of Civilisation. I just have such difficulty understanding what's really going on out there.Personally, of course, it also saddens me, because it's a part of the world that I'd give one of my arms to visit, and the more all this goes on, the longer it will be before it's safe enough for me to go.All the bestMarcus

I think it would have been safer in 320BC!None of these arab countries are safe to visit
..even Egypt

Oh, don't say that, Pat - I'm off to Egypt in April...Actually, I went to Egypt last April, too, and I felt safer there than I do most of the time in London. There was one episode in Alexandria, when I and the people I was with, were followed by an unsavoury looking character, until eventually we hopped in a taxi to get away from him. But he was a bit weird, rather than some kind of fanatic bent on murdering a bunch of Europeans (Actually, 1 English, 1 American, 1 Canadian, 1 Chinese, and 1 Australian).But I agree that Mesopotamia in 320BC was probably a safer bet than it is now...Marcus

I used to live in the Middle East, and really, the propaganda that you hear in the news is exageratted. Yes, there are bombs every now and then and it keeps you on your toes but then, try driving over there. It's crazy. I'd like to follow Alexanders route by horse (and possibly camel). I'd like to travel it as acurately as possible, possibly with sponsorship (otherwise i'll be skint) but i'd like to do it by myself and have to do all the things that would have had to have been done back in the old days. Only problem is, i've no idea how to go about planning such a trip. On the way back, i'd like to do the Silk Road from Xi to Instanbul, which is something else i'm interested in. Not sure about what these movies that are coming out are going to be like. Probably a typical ripping off of any of the facts we actually have to screw up childrens views on important history for a while. Still, who out there isn't going to see it?

It would be great to do the route, wouldn't it? I've 'lived' it vicariously, of course, through the Michael Wood series, although even he couldn't go to Iraq.For me it will be something for (a) when I win the lottery and (b) it's a bit safer. I don't think I'd really fancy trying it on my own, though, so perhaps we should form a consortium!All the bestMarcus

Greetings All,So, if we all meet in Makedon, with some good horses, high spirits, and plenty of chutzpuh ... don't tempt me!!... well, passports and lots of "ba'sheesh" too, these days.. .. what a bother.. (grin) Regards,
Sikander

...and some very long, pointy objects in case the locals get truculent...I'm free next Thursday, from about 2pm (GMT)M

Can I suggest Dion as the meeting place?
Where Alex pitched his tent prior to 'lift
off'. ps
I was envious of Michael Woods journey
Its a shame he couldnt have went to Iraq
or Afghanistan.
If he did it now of course he'd maybe
fair better
..thanks Dubya

Yep, we can do Dion. But it might have to be Friday morning, therefore (the roads are terrible, so I won't be able to get there by Thursday).All the bestMarcus

We might have to postpone our meeting for a few days. The Athens airport is closed and there's a snowstorm raging over Athens (and the whole of Greece)! Otherwise, Dion sounds just great.
At the moment I'm snowbound in my house and work remotelly!Oh well! We might as well enjoy it, we don't see this that often.Cheers,
YiannisPS
Wood did visit Afganistan, didn't he? He has also visited Northern Iraq (Kurdistan) and he was just a few miles from Gaugamela, he could see it in the horizon.

Hi Yiannis.Hmmm, we might have to postpone the trip for a couple of months now. My diary is getting quite full! :-)Michael Wood did go to Afghanistan, but he wasn't able to get onto the ground in Iraq. He just flew over everything in a US reconaissance plane and got an ariel view of everything.All the bestMarcus