Today I flew to Istanbul. My road trip from Istanbul to Baghdad has begun.
It’s the first time I will go to Iraq without being embedded with the US army. On my first two trips to Iraq, in 2007 and 2008, I was embedded half of the time.
This time, I left my flak jacket, my helmet and my boots at home.
It almost felt as if I was going on a holiday.
As I closed the door of my apartment I doubted for a split second that I would ever set foot in this apartment again.
Doubt is healthy but the feeling is already gone.
In three weeks I’ll be back in Istanbul and if I’m up to it I will visit a massage parlor for a back rub.