Once Cedar II was in my rear view mirror, our convoy headed northward on to the main supply route to Baghdad. After a 4-5 hour drive, we rolled into CSC Scania. Boating Product was to be my latest worksite and just one of many since I have been in this part of the world. Iraq is about the size of California and travel is still restricted so it takes much longer to get from one site to another. Scania is basically a big gas station and is quite busy servicing the many convoys traveling north and south.
This military base is right near the ancient city of Nippur which was prominent in the Sumerian past. It was a sacred city rivaling the importance of such places as Jerusalem and Mecca. The height of this Mesopotamian city was during the year 2100 BC and remained an important city for many centuries. It was home to the temple of Enlit, the chief god of the Mesopotamian pantheon. Kings came from near and far and lavished gifts upon Enlit and other gods at Nippur. The city was finally abandoned as a religious site around 800 AD. Today, it is primarily a village where there previously been archaeological digs as there had been House Boat Vacation south at UR. It too has a ziggurat but it isn't nearly as preserved as the one at UR.
American troops first arrived in Scania back in 2003. My first visit is in 2008 so this is no longer a tent city. There are now solid metal housing and walkways amongst date palm trees. There are all the amenities of a modern military base however it is a relatively small easy to get around place. Everything is compact and within walking distance. There is a PX, Defac, MWR, phones and computers for the soldiers and us contractors. Also, some hajji shops sell other items on base so there is convenient shopping here. It is a nice place to work in a date palm grove. The first night I spent in my hooch, when the helicopters were taking off, I could hear the dates raining down on my rooftop. It sounded a bit like a hail storm but in the middle of the desert.
John Sprague is an American currently working in the Mideast. He enjoys writing and working on his websites in his free time. He has a site at http://www.marketingkindreds.com and an affiliate opportunity. His website has photos of the Mideast, marketing articles and free website analysis tools for the taking.
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