by L. A. Kell

Created on: November 03, 2008   Last Updated: November 08, 2008

As a travel professional (who specializes in travel to the Middle East), I write this article in hopes that one day, people from all nations may be able to visit these wonderful and culturally rich places in the Middle East. Politics and war make it unfortunate that some of us may never be able to travel to some of the countries in this region. However, if I were able to go to see them all, I would have to make sure that I got to see the following:

Iraq. This is the land of that once was Mesopotamia. Here you could see the Ziggurat of Ur, once part of an entire temple complex, this is a well-preserved monument of the Sumerians. There is the Nimrud Ruins, built in the 13th century BC; this city once housed a botanical and zoological gardens, circa 870 BC.

Iran. Here you can visit the Sa'ad Abad Palace; this was once the summer home of the Shah of Iran before the 1979 Revolution. Make time for the Archeological Museum, which houses antiquities from all periods of Persian history. Visit Shiraz, known as the city of gardens. Visit the Eram Garden, Nasirol-Molk Mosque (known for it's tile work and architecture), and St. Simon the Zealot Church (built in the 1930's by a Christian Missionary). Esfahan has the Armenian Van Church, construction began in 1606 and its library contains over 700 handwritten books. The museum displays many artifacts from the Cathedral's history and Armenian community.

Bahrain. Visit the Manama Suq Market. There are rows of stalls that offer clothing, exotic spices, and antiques. The National Museum has a reconstructed ancient burial mound from around 2800 BC. There is the A'ali Burial Mounds, which are the world's larges prehistoric burial mounds. One cannot miss the Al Areen, an animal sanctuary which is home to such animals as Persian Gazelle, Impala, and the Arabian Oryx (which is virtually extinct in the wild). Don't miss the Tree of Life, whose source of water is a complete mystery, since it sits alone completely surrounded by sand.

Saudi Arabia. The Riyadh Museum of History & Archeology. This museum has artifacts that date back to the Stone Age. Clothing, weapons, jewelry, and musical instruments are all on display. Make sure you go visit the Al Musmak Castle. Built in 1865, you can explore the watchtowers, pillared mosque, and its impressive rooms.

Syria. The Crac Des Chevaliers was home to the Knights Hospitallers during the Crusades. This one of the best preserved Crusader castles; construction was started in 1142 and completed in

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