I Tried To Pay With Turkish Lira In Iraqi Kurdistan!

Many people don't realize the difficulties that can arise when crossing an international land border between two countries. After having done it enough, I know generally what to expect and how to prepare myself. But, if you know anything about Iraq, it is not a country that is set up for tourism. Most ATMS are said to not accept foreign bank cards. When I arrived in Duhok, Iraqi Kurdistan, I was dropped off 15 km from the city center with no ATMs in sight and no desire to deal with poor exchange rates at the International Bus Terminal. I took my chances with the only taxi driver standing outside of the terminal and I couldn't have gotten any luckier. A local security guard who spoke English was able to translate my problems to the driver, and the driver decided to accept Turkish Lira as a payment since that's all I had. The drive into the city center was relaxing and the taxi driver turned out to be a great guy. He even dropped me in the one ATM in town that accepted my foreign bank card. This experience certainly foreshadowed the incredible time I would have in Iraqi Kurdistan in the weeks to come.