(More) ruins, tombs and knights

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Travelled cross-country to Palmyra which used to be an important trade destination being located at the crossroads of the Silk Route (east-west) and the Incense & Spices route (north-south) and having the most important water source (oasis). Those Romans sure got around. Saw the Bel Temple and the ruins of the Old Walled City. Haven't put too many ruin photos on the blog this time. Not that they weren't magnificent, but feeling a bit "ruined" out at the moment. Bush-camp that night was in the Valley of the Tombs, which was silent and a little eerie.

Next stop was Crac des Chevaliers (Fort of the knights) which was a Crusader castle in the time of Richard the Lionheart. Enormous castle which held 400 knights and 4000 soldiers. In 1271 the Mamluks came and surrounded it and waited until the occupants ran out of food. The crusader knights surrendered the castle in return for safe passage.

Last stop was the capital - Damascus. On the way we stopped for a tea & pee stop at a roadside cafe. The owner invited a few of us to keep warm by sitting around their fuel stove and kept on plying us with homemade biscuits and sweets and hot tea (aka "arab whisky", as they don't drink alcohol). It was manna for the heart and soul, and we were sad to leave our new-found friends.

I can't rave enough about the hospitality and generosity of the Syrian people. And this country is also a very cheap travel destination. So far, Syria has been my favourite country in the Middle East.

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Photos

Valley of the tombs
This is where we camped overnight. Fantastic vista.

Hadrian's Gate in Palmyra
Built to welcome Emperor Hadrian

Column
Plinth used to hold the busts of honoured ordinary citizens. The words below in Greek and Aramaic described their good deeds

Crac des Chevaliers
One of the entrance gates

Pass the vat
Hole where they shot arrows or poured boiling oil onto their enemies

Oil storage
Holes used to store oil jars

Tea stop
Enjoying tea and bikkies with our new friends by the fuel stove

Jedi
All women have to cover themselves to enter the Umayyad Mosque

Mosaic
Beautiful mosaic wall in the Umayyad Mosque

Bahah
Reflection and relaxation before the call to prayers

John the Baptist
People were going around and touching and kissing the glass panes

Beheaded saint
Casket supposedly contains the head of John the Baptist

Mihrab
Women were touching the mosaics

Inscription
Above one of the entry gates to the mosque

Yum yum!
The best ice-cream in Syria is to be found at Bakdash in the Souq al-Hamidiyya in Damascus. Choice of vanilla, strawberry or chocolate covered in fresh crushed pistachio nuts

Watch out!
Damascus version of chicken buses

Comments

[anonymous]

Mooie foto's, dank je wel dat ik ze zien mocht.