Mornings begin early, before the sun gets serious. Bread comes warm from the oven, shutters go up while the air is still cool, and by noon shade becomes the best address in town. When the heat eases, families and neighbours spill out along the river and dinner stretches into the night.
The climate is hot desert, with long dry summers, mild winters that bring most of the rain, and a semi-arid north. Cooler months suit walks beside the Tigris or the Euphrates. A Local Friend tells you when to go early and when to linger, so every day fits the weather and the company.