But today I came to Iraq to show you the Iraq beyond the war.

The new Iraq that people haven't heard about and you probably won't see in the news.

Listen the Iraq is danger country but you see that Iraq is Safe, safe.

We think Iraq has no tourism because tourists were banned for 40 years.

But now for the first time in a long time they have visa on arrival.

The way we think as women we have to cover up because it's a Muslim country but we only had to at some mosques or very religious cities.

Alright my friends, we are wearing a what is this called?

A very intense abaya, I had to wear some gloves because my nails are not allowed to be painted in the two shrine otherwise you can dress how you want.

I thought they might not like me because I'm american but the first thing the border patrol said to me was welcome.

Thank you.

I thought it would be full of military and checkpoints and it was but they were very friendly.

This is a gift from you.

Thank you Shukran.

It's very nice.

Thank you so much.

People think women are probably at home but I saw them out running their own businesses wow, she made this, wow!

I thought people would not want to be on camera and while some women were shy a lot of people loved the camera and asked for photos and selfies stay home.

I thought there would be no parties.

But we had the time of our lives singing and dancing at rap concerts and now we are a a kite festival.

Yes, indeed a kite festival as a vegetarian.

I was worried there would be no vegetarian food and to be honest, there wasn't a lot.

But I had one of the best falafel sandwiches of my life with a delicious local mango sauce called samba.

This is delicious.

This is the best food I've had in Iraq so that it was 35 cents.

I thought people might be suspicious of foreigners, but I was invited for lunch over and over wow, that was great.

Thank you.

People I met once came all the way to my hotel just to give me gifts.

They gave me these presents.

They're very cute.

All these rings.

Thank you for the gifts.

Very nice.

And women I didn't know at all fixed my hijab for me when they saw me struggling with it.

They don't want to be on camera, but they're helping me with my hijab.

People said I wouldn't be safe.

But when our car broke down, I actually hitchhiked and so many people stopped to help immediately.

Car broke down and so I pulled over another car and now we are hitchhiking to the world's one of the most ancient cities and we have a nice new friend.

I thought I would just see ruins because of the war.

But instead I saw the most unbelievably beautiful mosques and amazing places like the marshlands filled with water.

Ancient Babylon guys.

This is a giant labyrinth.

Or maybe you want to see you in five hours and the biggest active cemetery in the world.

But like in many countries, the best part of Iraq was its generous, open and friendly people.

So yes, you should be careful of a rock but not because it's dangerous, but because once you get there, you might want to stay forever.

Adios medusa and I'll see you in Iraq.

Mm hmm.

Mhm.