The Road to Sulaymaniyah

The road from Erbil to Sulaymaniyah at Newroz (New Year’s day) is jammed with cars, as families leave the city to spend their holiday picnicking in the countryside. Many groups pitch tents and sit at the side of the road to enjoy the spectacle.

High up in the mountains, wood is gathered and as night falls fires are lit. Older women sit wrapped in blankets telling stories, while the younger generation dances late into the night.