Packing and thinking of packing

In 48 hours I'll be on a plane. I haven't packed yet; I don't have a bag to pack.

E.W. called me from Baghdad. The connection was slow. We chatted about the countries I'm visiting. He said he was jealous. He gave reccomendations for places to stay in Damascus and Aleppo and restaurants to frequent. He couldn't remember where he stayed in Petra; it's been years since he spent the night there. A few days ago, he mentioned a hotel in Beirut that another journalist recommended. Checking the guidebook, I learned it's listed as one of the best in the Middle East, at a price 25 times the hostel I've booked for my first night. Not being on an expense account, I had to pass.

E. tells me that on his week in Syria he travelled with a daypack, which makes me think I should invest in a smaller pack in order to travel more lightly. Tomorrow I'm going shopping for what I hope is the last time. I still need sunscreen and passport photos for visa applications. And perhaps a new backpack.

As we were about to hang up, E. told me he was thinking of travelling to Najaf. Apparently, there have been guarantees of safety in order to visit the town and conduct interviews. Recently, other foreign journalists have gone to visit. I told him to be careful and to remember what had happened the last time such assurances were made to a NYTimes correspondant. He sounded tired.

He tells me that this time around, reporting from Baghdad has changed. They've made reservations at the Palestine hotel in the event that the sentiment in Falluja spill over into Baghdad. At least the truce has been extended. He tells me he hasn't left the city since arriving; on his last stint he was able to travel much more freely. He tells me people are nervous. Before hanging up he tells me he wishes he could take a week off. It would be great to meet up in Amman. Posted by eku at April 25, 2004 11:44 PM