A day trip to Akre, a small city nestled into the southern edge of the Zagros Mountains about midway between Duhok and Erbil in Kurdistan.  Akre is known as “The Bride of Kurdistan,” a title owed to its unique old-world charm and beauty. The old city center of Akre is tucked into a seemingly impossible hillside, crawling up into the mountains and eventually blending into the dramatic white stone.

Walking through the charming streets.

Hiking behind the city into the foothills, where the remains of an old stone castle still dominate the landscape.

Looking down on Akre.