My Summer Vacay - Damascus, Syria NOT 56K FRIENDLY

[heliochrome85]

From rome...http://forums.g35club.org/zerothread/354490... i continued on to Damascus, Syria. If you dont know, Damascus is the world's oldest city. Its around 6500 years old and has been continuously inhabited. It has a sizable christian population, and is the burial place for many people mentioned in the bible including St. John the Baptist. Saladin, from the crusades, is also buried there. Its about an hour and a half from Beirut and 3 hours from Amman, Jordan. It is close to the Syrian-Israeli Border as well. In any case, here are the pics...

A Small lunch...

The retaining wall of the old city. Its around 1500 years old.

When someone dies in the city, this is put up. it announces their death and names their remaining family members.

A Hookah shop in the old market.

We love our political leaders...

Outside the Grand Mosque in Damascus, at 7 am. Hence no people...





The Gold Market (Closed)...

Side of the Grand Mosque. It used to be a Byzantine Church before 748AD, and so some of the Byzantine architecture remains.

The arrow is pointing to a 600 year old coffeeshop. Its an establishment in the city. Now, most of its customers are tourists.

Backalleys

Inside a house in the old city. It has a courtyard and the rooms ring the central area.

Now to the Christian part of the old city.A christian death announcement

A church

Running along the christian section is a street called Medhat Basha. It is also known as Straight Street. Its in the Bible. It ends at the site in the City wall where St. Paul was lowered in a basket to escape the romans. On that site, now stands a church. Ive been there and so had the late Pope John Paul II. Pretty cool stuff...

On the other end of that street is the old market. its called the Hamideyeh and has been in use since the crusaders. It has been burnt down several times, and right now most of the shops are on the order of 400 years old. Many have their original owners, with decendents of the original shopkeeper running them.

Entrance of the Hamideyeh. its connected to the Damascus Citadel where Saladin is buried.

This is the only "picture" on the exterior of the Great Mosque of Damasucs. It is widely believed to be of Jesus. It has been "removed" because in Islam, depicitons of prophets, as jesus and mohammed, are considered holy and sacred and not to be made or displayed. Its a remnant from when the mosque was a church.

These are the bronze doors to the grand mosque. The polished parts are at head height.

The tomb of Saladin, in the Citadel...



An old school dating from 1220. Still in use today...

The Grand Mosque at night. Taken from a 15 story building rooftop...

The Spice Market, in the Hamideyeh. There are about 100 of these shops in the Spice market, many dating back hundreds of years.

Mom tasting spices before she buys...

This is the inside of a traditional Damascine house. My parents both grew up in homes like this. This one dates from the mid 18th century, and has since been turned into a resuraunt, but you get the picture. BTW, its outdoors. there is a canvas roof to shield from the sun.

I have a bunch more, but its tough to put more up with out further confusing you all. See, just cause we like to scream and shout doesnt mean we dont have culture.

[suby01]

pics are awesome. haha to what you said last but as for me im always very interested in what others do or how they do it and what things may look elsewhere even if its something i would do or w.ethanks for the pics.

[suby01]

and the "small lunch" portion also. i love to see that the food isnt out of a microwave or a doggy bag. unlike here in the US most countries maybe less wealthy but the basic food and any occasions feasts are ALWAYS extravagant.

[heliochrome85]

look! Its Tampa!

He must have followed me!

Infinitis are actually very rare there. The preffered ride there are Benzes, preferrably Big body benzes...

[Jacko3]

Awesome! Excellent! Bravo! I loved every bit of your pictures. My God, so much history, and so much to learn about this universe. Thanks a million for sharing. I felt like a kid reading a Mother Goose story book for the first time. I am totally pleased with the history and the pictures.

[Focusedintntions]

Very nice pictures!!! Tampa's secret track is no longer secret!

[AZhitman]

Tariq, I am TOTALLY enjoying those pics.

Man, I have more questions now than ever. What a gorgeous city... You weren't kidding.

Thanks to you, that's going on my "Bucket List". Amazing.

[rn79870]

Absolutely beautiful. I can't believe things can date back to 1222. Awesome. Thanks for sharing.

[smockers83]

Awesome pics dude, just awesome. Question, are there any travel restrictions from the US to Syria?

[SVTCOBRA]

Awesome pics and narratives!!!

AND, I'm also very hungry now!!!

[heliochrome85]

well, since its one of the axis of evil countries, i guess yes. i wouldnt really know cause i have a dual citizenship, so i have a syrian passport. that being said, there are a lot of americans that go and visit. you should do it if you ever get the chance.

[smockers83]

Seeing those pictures makes me want to go, which is why I asked. But I had to figure that there were restrictions but you have unrestricted access. High five for that.

[heliochrome85]

you should go. everyone should go. if only to prove the fox news crowd wrong. is it like the US or Europe? no. Is it like asia? no. Its compelety unique and the places are so old that the new stuff is older than our old stuff. love it.

i would show you guys where i live, but since i live within the presidental office compound, they frown on cameras. They wouldnt be terribly pleased that im walking around with a camera. i will say this, the president has a motorpool of at least 20 760li (2008) and a couple LX470 chase vehicles. all black. all sex. they are parked not 50 feet from my front door. cool stuff.

[Jacko3]

Heliochrome:

I think when you get back from medical school, I have no doubt you will be driving a GTR Spec V. But i know you are going to miss Lola somehow. The pictures are awesome.

[TeflonG35]

It's like watching the history channel. Very nice. Feel free to post more pics.