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Blogs from Syria, Middle East
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March 12th 2013
I SPENT ONE FULL DAY IN SYRIA PART OF THE CRUISE OF THE MED I WAS ON WELL WHAT CAN I SAY WITHOUT BEING RUDE OR INSULTING IT'S NOT A PLACE I BE HURRYING BACK FOR A VISIT ANYTIME SOON IN THE FACT WE MANGERED TO SEE THE WHOLE COUNTRY IN A DAY DOES NOT SELL IT DOES IT DON'T GET ME WRONG SYRIAN PEOPLE ARE VERY PLEASENT BUT A VERY RURAL AND POOR COUNTRY THE COUNTRY IS IN ASIA NEARBY COUNTRY IS LEBANON AND ITS IN THE MEDITERRIAN SEA TO ITS WEST TURKEY IS TO IT'S NORTH IRAQ TO ITS EAST JORDAN TO IT'S SOUTH AND ISRAEL TO IT'S SOUTH WEST THE COUNTRY HAS LOTS OF DESERTS AND MOUTAINS THE POPLUTION ARE MUSLIUMS WITH A FEW CHRISTIANS. SYRIA USED TO BE CALLED LEVANT SINCE 2011 ... read more
Words from an Expatriate- Syria, one year later (updated)
Published: September 29th 2012Middle East » Syria » West » Tartus
November 7th 2012
It has been a little over a year since I returned from a summer long visit to Syria in late August 2011. I was twenty years old, and it was perhaps one of the best summers I had in a very long time. I traveled, I explored, I learned some Arabic, but more importantly I learned the values from a society that promotes generosity, love, family, peace, and friendship- values not easily learned when living alone. Last summer I was shown through numerous people, friends and family alike, that it is a hundred times better to give and to love with your heart even if you have little to offer, than to hold back or hold in any adoring emotions or possessions. The love I received from my family that summer is enough to empower me ... read more
El parque Octubre, Ekin pargi, October park
Published: March 10th 2012Middle East » Syria » South » Damascus
March 10th 2012
El parque Tisherin se llama así por la guerra que tuvo lugar en octobre de 1973 contra Israel todos los viernes y sábados voy a pasear por la mañana, las fotos son de hoy entre las 11 y las 12:30h. TURKÇE: Ekin 1973 Süriye Israel yle savas yaptilar, her cuma cumartesi dolasmaya gdierin, resimlr bu sabah 11-12:30 yaptim. ENGLISH: In 1973 there was a war between Israel and Syria, I go to this park on fridays and saturdays, I took the pictures today between 11 and 12:30h.... read more
Zoco del Hamidiye, Hamidiye Çarsisi, Al-Hamidiyah Souq,
Published: February 9th 2012Middle East » Syria » South » Damascus
February 9th 2012
Una visita al bazar, Burdaki kapali çarsi kisa bir gezisi, A small trip to this souq.... read more
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Remains of the Roman past in old Damascus
Published: October 20th 2011Middle East » Syria » South » Damascus
October 20th 2011
Restos del pasado romano en la parte vieja de Damasco Roma dönemin kalma eserleri eski Sams... read more
August 24th 2011
I came to Syria at a time of uncertainty, a time when most people and analysts around the world were unsure of what was happening. There was a moment in late May where I had to decide for myself whether I should continue with my plans to visit Syria. I could have taken a job on campus, lived with friends, and had an easy summer. There is no doubt that I would have loved to have done that! But there was something unsettling about the whole idea- it felt like I was turning away from what was important to me in exchange for the assurance of security. And I thought, since when had anything I had ever done went without risk? 2012 is an election year, and I want to be in Chicago for it. ... read more
August 12th 2011
Shame on me for waiting this long to write about such an important topic. The cuisine in Syria is absolutely delicious as it is diverse and satisfying. One of the best ways to get a taste (literally) of Arab culture is through its food. The food holds a deep representation of the traditions, history, and culture of Arab society. It borrows and shares its flavors with the Greeks, Turks, North Africans, and dare I say, Romans, because after centuries of conquest and civilization, food from around the Mediterranean hold similar flavors and bases. The flavor around Syrian cuisine is based off olive oil, lemon, salt and pepper. The staples in every lunch table are grains like bulghar wheat, rice, and bread. A typical meal will consist of salad, beef or chicken, and some “focal point” (or ... read more
August 4th 2011
August 1st marked the beginning of Ramadan, the holy Muslim month in which followers fast from sunrise to sunset. August is also the hottest month in Syria, and many countries in the Middle East, so fasting continues on for hours. Fasting in this definition include the abstinence of any food or drink during daylight hours. It begins at around 4:00 in the morning and continues until 7:40 at night. Ramadan began when my father and I were in our village two hours north west of Damascus. I met a farmer (also the village mayor) who had been working on his fields and fasting at the same time. The amount of water lost just standing outside in this humid area is enough to cause dehydration, and yet here he was talking to us as if it was ... read more
July 31st 2011
La iglesia de Santo Tomás es un antiguo templo romano convertido en iglesia o una tumba romana. This church was a former roman grave or temple. Bu kilise önceden bir roma tapinatiti veya turve imis.... read more
