Falluja's First Western Tourist

A lot of tourists go to Western Europe. The more intrepid backpack through Latin America. But Falluja, Iraq? That was the destination for one Italian traveler on a tour of “the most important cities in the world.” He didn’t get far, though. At a checkpoint at the entrance of the war-torn city, Luca Marchio faced intense questioning and was taken to police headquarters. Perplexed police officers couldn’t believe their eyes but eventually released him, insisting that he limit his visit to only one day. The adventurous 33-year-old caused quite a stir in his short stay in Iraq: His hotel in Baghdad had not hosted a Western tourist since the start of the war, and the Italian Embassy, US Marines, and Baghdad police were all quickly alerted to his presence. It was undoubtedly an unforgettable trip.