A Northumbrian pensioner has foresaken the delights of Saga holidays by taking up extreme tourism in the world's war zones.
Gordon Moore, 75, from Hexham, has just returned from a tour of Iraq where he was in the first tourist group to visit since war broke out in 2003.
The great grandfather ignored Foreign Office to go on the 17-night trip, spending his first night at the Sheraton Hotel, facing the square where the statue of Saddam Hussein fell.
His stay in the country, still heavily monitored by international troops, follows four visits to Afghanistan, and trips to North Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Iran, Syria, and Lebanon.
The only reason he hasn't been to North Korea yet is he was the only one who signed up for the trip, reports the Daily Telegraph.
Mr Moore's latest trip took him to Babylon and Basra, and none of the travelling group, including three other Brits, a Russian, two Americans and a Canadian, could get travel insurance.
The former postmaster was greeted by the sound of a bomb blast within minutes of arriving, while the group had to pass more than a dozen checkpoints to reach the Green Zone (safe area) of Baghdad.
Despite some 'hairy' moments, he said: "It was absolutely fascinating. Of course plenty of people think I'm absolutely mad for going, especially because of my age, but everyone is entitled to their opinion.
"I had a brilliant time. I did have to pinch myself a few times while I was there. I've seen the country on the news all these years, and you never think it will happen but there I was, standing in Iraq.
"Policeman would come over to you and ask what we were doing and why we were there, so we would say we were tourists, but they were puzzled, they didn't even know what they are."
Gordon Moore, 75, from Hexham, has just returned from a tour of Iraq where he was in the first tourist group to visit since war broke out in 2003.
The great grandfather ignored Foreign Office to go on the 17-night trip, spending his first night at the Sheraton Hotel, facing the square where the statue of Saddam Hussein fell.
His stay in the country, still heavily monitored by international troops, follows four visits to Afghanistan, and trips to North Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Iran, Syria, and Lebanon.
The only reason he hasn't been to North Korea yet is he was the only one who signed up for the trip, reports the Daily Telegraph.
Mr Moore's latest trip took him to Babylon and Basra, and none of the travelling group, including three other Brits, a Russian, two Americans and a Canadian, could get travel insurance.
The former postmaster was greeted by the sound of a bomb blast within minutes of arriving, while the group had to pass more than a dozen checkpoints to reach the Green Zone (safe area) of Baghdad.
Despite some 'hairy' moments, he said: "It was absolutely fascinating. Of course plenty of people think I'm absolutely mad for going, especially because of my age, but everyone is entitled to their opinion.
"I had a brilliant time. I did have to pinch myself a few times while I was there. I've seen the country on the news all these years, and you never think it will happen but there I was, standing in Iraq.
"Policeman would come over to you and ask what we were doing and why we were there, so we would say we were tourists, but they were puzzled, they didn't even know what they are."
