After a easy train ride across the the barren northern deserts of Syria, we arrived in Aleppo (Haleb in arabic). Aleppo was apparently already a powerful city by the 18th century BC, and after many changes throughout history, it may have been continuously inhabited for over 8000 years! We arrived in the early afternoon and promptly got lost on our way to the hotel area. After some helpful locals corrected our directional ineptitude and insisted on walking us unnecessarily most of the way to our hotel, we started to wander the massive souqs of Aleppo. The souqs are truly a serious assault on all five senses! A plethora of smells from the spices, olive and laurel soap and perfume shops; tonnes to look at in the way of sparkly dresses, scarves, various handicrafts, household goods and
... read more
