Tartus and Lattakia

So my last morning in Hama was spent packing and sorting a few things out before going for a quick mad dash to take pictures!

Got to the bus station and bought my ticket for Tartus and then went and grabbed a shwarma for lunch - the shwarmas here are wierd they are more like pancakes as they cook the bread as well! Anyhow I got on the bus and was really aggrevated to find that the luggage area was closed so i had to take my massive rucksack etc. on to the bus not much fun! Anyhow we set off and before we had even left the garage we had to get of the bus and put our luggage underneath which was all palava full!

Anyhow eventually got to Tartus and to try and save money I walked to the hotel which wasnt that far away and hoped that they would have a room! Got to the hotel to find that it was really close to the sea and was empty so checked in though did go how much to the room at which point he lowered the price by 100 SP so I was like yay! I had my own bathroom and in the end I was totally alone in a big double room so that was cool.

Went for a walk by the sea and then decided to sit and catch up with my written diary overlooking the sea. It was really peaceful though the kids swimming were making a racket up until a couple of boys they must of been around 10 decided to come and practice their English with me. They had very little English and as I only have a little Arabic it was a bizarre slightly frustrating conversation! Anyhow one of the boys saw my camera and wanted pictures so i took some of them and then they took some of me - he took a few really nice pictures of me which shocked me! Anyhow I finally left and went back to the room before going out for food - I couldnt believe how expensive everywhere was. I mean in Hama and Damascus fish had been on the menu for around 300 Syp but on the coast it was minimum 400 Syp.

Because of the cost I decided to only spend one night in Tartus and so packed and then left my bag in reception whilst I went exploring. Got a boat over to Arwad which is an island just of the coast - it is really small and in some ways quite grimy but from it I saw mountains that had snow on them which I thought was a bit wierd but it must of been in Lebanon! Anyhow I had an ice cream overlooking the harbour and I got attacked by kids again all asking me random questions that half the time I dont understand so I just hope that I am not agreeing to sell my soul for 5 camels or anything along those lines!

The bus to Lattakia was pretty uneventful and on arrival I looked a bit lost so got put in a taxi and the driver appeared to have no comprehension of where we were going. Turns out he was following someone and so I got to the hotel and found that it was pretty darn expensive so I bargained him down then decided to try another hotel so trundled over there to find that it was shut and I had to go all the way back to the original hotel!!

Then went out for a walk and to find internet and realised that Lattakia is pretty cool. It is much more westernised than other area's of Syria even having a pro mod and Morgan! The restaurants in this area are generally 'Italian' but there was an American Diner next door to the internet so I went there for supper and it was yummy!

Wednesday

I had a pretty laid back day today I didnt do much but wondered around Lattakia and so on it appears to be much wealthier than other areas and the only bugger is that you can't see the sea as they have put the port right in the center of town. Anyhow despite this I like it here and so am going to Aleppo on Friday!

Thursday

I decided to go to Salhaddin's castle today which is another crusadar castle in the surrounding countryside. Got a bus to a town about half an hour away and couldnt believe it when the price matched what the lonely planet said! Anyhow got to Al Haffa and the minibus said he would take me to the castle for 200 sp again matching the lonely planet but I was like taxis will be cheaper and so I agreed with a taxi guy to take me there and back which cost me 300 SP. Anyhow a long twisty hairpinny road up hill down hill and uphill again meant that I was extremely relieved that I had taken the guidebooks advice and splashed the cash on the taxi!

Got to the entrance and climbed a multitude of stairs before paying and entering the castle. It isn't in great condition in comparison to some of the other ruins in Syria but you are still able to wonder around and climb some of the stairs and so on. These castles are just incredible and the amount of work that must of gone into them is truly staggering the stones are huge and god knows where they lugged them from but wow!

Anyhow I met a Yemeni who was working in Iraq and as I had a torch he followed me up to the top of one of the towers and we got talking and walked around together. Anyhow we found where the draw bridge used to be and I went on to it which involved climbing onto this horrid metal railing thing which had nothing below it and was effectively a sheer drop and yuck! I took photos to prove I did it and may I say the lonely planet says that this is only for the nerveless so big congrats are needed for me!!

We found the old cistern which still has water in it and it was massive but also cold - Ahmed the Yemeni was all hot and sweaty and so started smoking as the heat of him was so intense in comparison to the cold!!! Anyhow arrived at the cafe where I had a diet coke as there was no water which was much needed and chatted to the guy running it who was pretty cool before having to dash back to the start to get my taxi who was half an hour later - grr!

Got back to Lattakia and then went to this coffee shop where i had a late lunch of an oh so healthy Pain au Chocolat! Now do you know why I like this place so much!!

Anyhow I have to go as my hour is up and tomorrow I shall head to Aleppo

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