Syria & Lebanon - Nov 98
Ok no more mucking around, down through the last stretch of motorway out of Turkeys' south east coast and in the dark and through the border, no hassle really, just a long wait, we arrived at Aleppo. First stop! the souq. Meat hanging on hooks complete with flies and dusty alleyways, nothing has changed in hundreds of years. Outside, this Moslem lady sits in the gutter patiently waiting, oh, and don't forget the falafel shop, there they are ready for a munchy.
The good old President of Syria, for some 30 years, the not so young "Assad" makes sure his photo is in your face wherever you are in the country. Flouro lit panels light up his portrait and quite often his two sons also. The friendliest and most hospitable of all the countries visited but extremely poor and old fashioned. Vehicles are of the same era as this old cotton truck. No cars for the bedouins of the desert however. Arriving at the Euphrates river, a radical detour from the Aleppo Damascus road but worth it. One of the old worlds' greatest rivers flowing from central Turkey through Syria then to Iraq.
Camping in the desert (how unusual - great though) massive sunsets and peace, cold at night though but all ok as there was always a fire lit. Next day and small villages full of kids, obviously haven't seen many westerners mind you we were in the middle of Syria off the beaten track. Finally after much dust and sand we arrive at Palmyra as Rob has a rave for the video.
So a number of us thought we would get a guide as it sometimes makes a difference. Shame they all tell you to pay attention and to walk this way and that but this bloke was ok and yes "cheap". Lara has to buy the expensive nuts and things after completing the tour of Palmyra. Sophie, Mary and Heather hanging around the rear end of the very dusty truck before we continue heading into the desert again. Bye the way: Ancient tombs dotted around in the valleys.
Stopping at these weird, odd, but wonderful mud dome houses god knows where, and Mary gets fussed over, yet again, this time getting the head gear organized by an expert and no we don't mean uncle Norm. The only posters one sees is for candidates for the next election, bit of a joke really as Assad rules the roost. Arrived at Hims.
Heading for Damascus with many small villages on the way and just to liven up the locals lives, Glen sticks a soccer ball where his head should be and we all crack up looking at the local's reactions. Gloriously coloured old fifty's buses are some ones pride and joy. Oh no, where is Mick taking us to, across the mountains with a ten tonne truck on a rutted mud road?
Oh thats right! Crac de Chevelier (Castle of the Knights) One of the better examples of crusaders castles nestled in the mountains north of Damascus. Here we are, the capital and a busy one at that but what a dag it is seeing all the old 57 Chevy's etc, used as yellow cabs. Entering the massive old souq. Great prices and non hassling friendly people make Damascus really different but still a middle eastern city. One small bread shop in the basement of a building in the souq.
Arriving back at Damascus Camping, not a bad place really. Good security and yes, grass to pitch tents on. Wow! Then along comes these flashy German overland coaches complete with massive trailers to house all the cubicle beds, wardrobes and kitchen. Talk about the overland that your having when your not having an overland. Just jealous really....no we're not!
A quick all day excursion for some of us, to Lebanon via Baelbek and the temple of Venus (The sex god) and on to Beirut to see how they're all getting on. With a hell of a climb over the Lebanon mountain range and into Beirut, some twit forgot to take a spare video battery so only caught these two shot up buildings in downtown Beirut. Great city with heaps of development going on. Back to Damascus and back on the truck and more desert to Jordan. Ok Mick rev it up...quick!