The road to Damascus
We left Amman around 4:30 pm or so and got into Damascus right around sunset. Our driver was amazingly calm on the way there, considering how close it was to iftar.
Jordanians have this weird thing with putting stuffed animals in cars. Even this car, which serves the primary function of shuttling business people back and forth to Syria.
We thought we'd try something new and actually consult a guidebook on this trip. Brilliant.
We stayed a great place, the Damascus Hostel. The owner, guests, and pets were all characters.
Another Damascus Hostel resident.
The fountain on our balcony that they kindly made sure was full for us. They may have overdone it on the soap bubbles, however.
Umayyad mosque at night from the outside.
Another view, taken from Leila's where we had dinner and a narghile (shisha water pipe).
More consulting of maps. So different from Cyprus!
The Old City streets were festive at night. I think it's always this way, but probably more so due to Ramadan.
You enter the Old City through any of four gates, known as babs. This is the Bab Assalam.
Rather, that was the sign for Bab Assalam. This is Bab Assalam.
Many things in and around the Old City haven't been updated. Old insulation, for example.
Old ladders.
A basket, still useful for lifting things to the second floor.
The architecture is fascinating. We just wander around for hours, taking it all in.
Something you never see in Amman - bikes. The roads are so narrow it's easier to get around on a bike than by car.
What cars they do have tend to be small and have scrapes down both sides.
That said, I found the cars fascinating and kept taking pictures of them.
Note the decal of a face in the far window. I can't be positive as to who that is, though. In Jordan, you occasionally will see back windshield screenprinted with an image of King Abdullah holding a rifle.
More car kitsch. So don't understand!
I know the mosque is around here somewhere...
We found the Umayyad Mosque.
I had to wear a robe provided by the mosque. I failed in the "culturally appropriate" category, though. I wasn't aware until later that my hair needed to be secured (not just head covered) and my ankles often peaked out of the robe, which didn't have closures all the way to the bottom.
I'm doing better here, avoid offense-wise. Love that the kid joined the picture.
The public area. It was really beautiful and serene.
There are elaborate patterns everywhere you look.
Across from the mosque is one of the souks.
Looking back at the mosque.
Note the holes in the roof.
These holes were caused by French fighter planes during the Syrian nationalist revolt of 1925.
I can't pass too much judgment on why someone would sell or buy rat souvenirs, as I own two stuffed rats. Still, it's a little weird.
At a traditional restaurant that hosts whirling dervish shows. I assuming this vicious stuffed ferrets are somehow related to the stuffed fox from the Souk Jara in Amman.
I often get, "You from US? Obama!!" Well done on improving our worldwide image, American electorate.
Spices at the souk.
This was actually taken at a convenience store outside Damascus, but I loved how the fruits are displayed.
Syria is known for its food. We were pretty happy with what we ate, but realized we ordered much of the same food as you can get in Jordan, like falafel and kibbeh.
A lot of our time was spent in this rug store.
Planning where to go after spending 3 hours looking at rugs. We came back the next day and R and R both took home beautiful rugs.
Ahmad, the salesman who spent so much time with us, commented that people don't buy the rugs they take pictures of. This turned out to be true for us, too. Lots of pictures, but the rugs R and R bought were more love at first sight. No pictures taken.
It's Ramadan. In Syria. And we're joining others drinking beer in public. Words can't describe how weird this seemed to us.
It was very relaxing to just sit and watch people play in the park while sipping a cold beer. I even felt totally comfortable with exposed shoulders. Who knew the Dasmascus Old City was less conservative than Amman?
Watching a stretch limo try to turn the corner. The whole community got involved, offering advice on how to make a 20-point turn.
A little kid who kept interacting with us. He was very concerned that we had left out beer bottles that someone had then broken. We assured him we would take good care of our litter. Very intense kid, this one.
Heading home, passing a local Target store.
