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Published: September 15th 2008
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Woke up after very little sleep with an horrendous hangover - beer, red wine and Martini don't mix - message to self.
At breakfast two of the French girls asked me to go to the souther city of Tyre with them to go to the beach. I still can't believe that I declined the offer but I wanted to get to Syria - regret No. 278.
I've travelled to many places but I have never met a more friendly people than the Syrians, this is how I got to Alleppo:
I arrived at Beirut bus station at 11:15 in the morning and was told that the bus left at 12:00 it finally departed at 13:00 the bus was not air conditioned and continually played Arabic music at full blast so I got very little reading done - if it wasn't for my MP3 player I'd have thrown myself under the bus.
The border crossing was very stressful I was worried due to various reasons that I won't go into but I had to have my passport checked 3 times. I was the only Foreigner on the bus and I think they were getting fed up with
me being the one slowing the bus down at the checkpoints so at the last one the driver pretending to drive off with all my bags on board, the rest of the bus was in hysterics at that one:-)
After Sunset the occupants started eating as it was Ramadan and I got offered a Banana and afterwards a cigarette which I politely declined. At 20:00 they dumped us at the end of the motorway miles away from Alleppo. The guy I had been sitting next to me on the bus helped me get into a service Taxi there was about 10 guys cramped in. I didn't have enough change to pay the driver so another guy paid for me. I was then dropped off in the centre but then had to get another taxi to my hotel the Al- Gawaher. One of the guys who got out with me from the service taxi took me over to a taxi rank where he then asked some unsuspecting guy to take me to my hotel. So I gave him the street name and address and he dropped me off near the citadel which ended being the wrong place - The guy
paid for the taxi and refused any money from me. We then found the right place to go to and got back in the cab and ended up in the backpacker area of town and again he paid for the taxi.
I finally chose to got to the Tourist hotel as I could see it and was really glad its a great place it has soap, air con, a balcony and towels - sheer luxury - all for 7 pounds.
Day 3 - I selpt 10 hours last night - woohoo - The Citadel is a truly amazing sight, its a huge castle built on a man made hill, its mostly ruins at the top but from outside it still looks imposing. After that went round the Souk - the smells and the sights and the smells were amazing!!
Looked round a few churches and then had my first proper meal of the day - Tabbouleh, Hommous and Fattoush with chips and a beer at Al -Mashraibi restaurant - I was the only one in there due to Ramadan and South American football was on the telly.
- one thing I have found is that when
talking to the Syrians whilst I can't speak Arabic or French the universal language of football prevails I have spoken about Man Utd to just about everybody I have talked to - they ask where do you come from I reply near Manchester and they all say Manchester United!!!
The nightlife has certainly quited down now - I'm off to the one pub in town tonight!!
I'll try and talk a bit more about the sights next time - promise
Off to Hama tomorrow to see the waterwheels
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