MOTORING TO BAGDAD.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18184, 22 September 1924, Page 13

MOTORING TO BAGDAD.

Tho number of passengers now travelling by tho various motor convoy routes between Bagdad and the Mediterranean across tlic Syrian desert is over 500 a month. All classes of travellers are now catered' for, and on<? can cross in tho luxurious enrs of the official mail carriers at £3O tho trip, food and drink provided, or go by the more humble and popular companies at £(5 a liead. One company -which has built up si large popular trado at cheap prices runs practically a daily service across, using six-cylinder American cars, which are said to stand the journey very welL One transport company, represented in Bagdad by an Australian firm domiciled in Iraq, recently inaugurated a service to Teheran, and already a rival concern has entered tho field. It is now possible to go to Teheran once a week for £25 a head, hotels included, with special excursion fares for« the summer months at £3O return. The traveller now lias the choico of a variety of routes from Bagdad to Europe, for, in addition to the Persian Gulf steamers and tho Mediterranean Toute, he may go by caT to Enzeli, on tli e Caspian Sen, taking a Russian stc:imer thence to Baku and ou by train to Moscow. This is the route now used by the Persian-European mails. By way of change one may vary thin route by dipping into the ancient city of Tabriz and eatelling tho train for the Russian railway system there. Truly it may be said tint no part of tho world offers a wider field for tho discriminating traveller to-day than tho Middle East. Bagdad is expecting a "bumper" tourist season this winter, and is preparing for it by the erection of a large modern hotel.