The wedding party that we found in the mountains was just starting, but the music rolled across the mountainside. Friends converged on the party from all directions, joining hands to dance the afternoon away. When we stopped by the wedding, we were welcomed to participate in the festivities even though I had no idea how to execute the complex line dancing moves! They reassured me that I wasn't as uncoordinated as I felt! *

Bekhail. This large, free-flowing fall is a popular site for Kurds and other visitors during the spring and summer months. The water is very powerful here, and visitors should be careful to stay within the specified areas. At any given time, one can see young people dancing and families barbequing along the banks of the water. It is truly a site to see! *

On the day we visited Bekhail, this group of young Arabs had come to enjoy the freedom and peace they can experience in Kurdistan. Unlike the troubled central and southern parts of the country, they are free here to mix openly, sing songs, dance, and enjoy the comfort of knowing they are safe. The Kurds welcome them, as they do any visitors to Kurdistan. This is not the scenese commonly seen in the West about the war in Iraq, but for Kurdistan peace, freedom, and security are the norm. *

Another view of Bekhail, this is the water that flows underneath the bridge from the falls. The raging rapids continue another 150 yards until a bend in the valley slows the river! Spray from the falls is carried by the wind throughout the gulley, providing a refreshing mist on hot days! *

This is the view from Pires Mountain. Although it is not the highest point in Kurdistan, you can get a wonderful view over the rolling valleys that support the rich agricultural life of the region! Many herders can be seen leading their livestock across the mountains. On our trip we had tea alongside a herd of about 10 horses. The owner of these horses would be considered a very wealthy shepherd as horses are very expensive in Kurdistan. *

At the bottom of the hill we come across a family that has travelled to the country for a picnic. Kurds love to get out to their beautiful countryside in order to enjoy the gorgeous climate. These girls are dressed in traditional Kurdish clothing, which is distinguished from other regional clothing by its bright colors and sequins. As one American described it, "the more blings the better." *

Bekme Dam. This incomplete dam was a major water project begun under Saddam Hussein's regime. It would have been a major power source had it been completed, but it also would have flooded much of Barzan. Thus, the reason for the construction of the dam had major political implications as the center of the Kurdish resistance had long been led by the Kurds from Barzan. *

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