Pak City

I know that you all think Kurdistan is a land of mud huts and bird flu, but you couldn't be more wrong. Yesterday, I toured a new luxury apartment community here in town called Pak City.

I have seen the billboard advertising Pak City for about 2 months now and, honestly, I've been obsessed with Pak City. You see, "Pak" means clean and since it rains dirt here the idea of living in a clean city is very intriguing.

Anyway, two weeks ago we drove by some buildings that looked like the Pak City ad and I was able to confirm that these buildings were indeed Pak City just a few days ago. So, yesterday, I visited.

Pak City is more than I imagined. Each apartment has three bedrooms, three bathrooms, three balconies, a living room, a sitting room, a breakfast nook, walk-in closets, 24-hour electricity, wall heating and cooling units (called splits here in Iraq) as well as European-style radiators. One of the balconies even has a fireplace/grill. Oh, and none of the materials were Iraqi; everything was imported from Turkey (including the hardwood floors). This last fact is apparently a major selling point and it could all be mine for $160,000.

Cash.

Up front.

So, needless to say, Pak City remains a dream. Unless one of you reading this has $160,000 lying around waiting for a good cause. I think this is the best cause I can think of...