Yali's People

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Damascus, Syrian capital, is the oldest city on earth (7000 years,well done!) - well actually city that is continuously habited that is. But hang on, fellow Syrian city Aleppo claims to be the oldest city too! I am getting serious deja vu here: Nottingham has three "oldest pubs in England": one being the oldest pub, the other the oldest (yawn) tavern, etc, etc.

Now if the people in Egypt and Jordan can be termed friendly, the Syrians take the piss. Relative latecomers to George's evil axis, if you catch their stare you are in for it. Half an hour later you just about manage to make your excuses sound convincing and extract yourself from their "lair" (house/shop-front/gallery/police station) having consumed copious amounts of super sweet black tea. Where they really have you is on a bus journey. You want to go to town A, but they live in town B and they really want to take you home and make you a cup of tea and that can only lead onto a meal and a smoke of that pipe-thing with their mates before whom you are paraded as a new best friend. So far, I have managed to avoid this level of predatory friendship, but I remain vigilant.

Being high on the list of countries George Bush would like to "liberate" (read sow the seeds of civil war), the Syrians *really* hate Bush/Blair (they seem to dislike Blair more for his oily ways, but I met one George Galloway fan). They are all very keen to point out that they do not associate us with our government - after all, they too know what it is like to live under a government that does not represent the views of its people.

Last night I was really knackered, so I went to the cinema where I was approached by a new "pal". He helped me find out what the times were and explained that he was a student of English literature. As I left to get a bite to eat before the next showing, I discovered that there was an invisible piece of velcro attaching him to me as he guided me helpfully to the falafel stand I could see quite clearly myself thankyou. As he smoothly invited himself to show me around the city tomorrow, and by the way he hadn't seen Troy either so isn't that nice, I had a moment of clarity: I had been "pulled". No I don't mean that he wanted to bum me, (apologies to any puffs reading this), just that personal, er, 'dynamics' were the same. This guy's ulterior motive was to practice his English on me - the cad. Well I haven't been rebuffed by an unknown quanity of females without learning a few tricks, so I skillfully managed to untangle myself from this passive-aggressive character and he crashed and burned, maaan.

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Photos

Crac Des Chavaliers
The Crusader Knights built this one. All very fairytale, it was never breached: they simply left when the game was up for Christians round here.

Palmyra
Yet another very big Roman city.

More Palmyra
These Romans really got around.

Sheep Woman
Syria has hundreds of "dead cities" that are 1700-2000 years old. Most of them are now just full of sheep and shepherds. Even though it is hot now, Syria has some very harsh winters.

Another dead city shot
I didn't get to frame this quite right. This place was right next to a military establishment and they are none too keen on cameras, so I had to pretend I wasn't taking a photo whilst a gun was trained on my back.

Basilica and cathedral of Saint Simeon
Saint Simeon did a David Blaine and stood atop of a pillar for 37 years so they built a church around him and called him a saint.

Comments

[Savage]

Nice
nice to read that the people differentiate between the people of another country, and their government. I'd be nervous of those that don't discriminate in such a way though. Great pics though, love reading your travels. Stay safe!

[Tanya]

What???
George Bush is the best President that the United States has ever had............respect!!! At least he keeps his word.

[Sken like a Ribble fluke]

Thief in chief
Have you met Malorum from http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Latvia/Riga/blog-2192.html

[Bob]

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