Following the breakup of the Ottoman Empire during World War I, Syria was administered by the French until independence in 1946. In the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, Syria lost the Golan Heights to Israel. Syrian troops - stationed in Lebanon since 1976 in ... ... read more | Joined | January 5th 2011 | Trips | 1 |
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Bill Covington
non-member comment
Damascus, 1950
I enjoyed reading your blog about Damascus. My family moved to Damascus in 1950; my Father was the U.S. Air Force Attache. We lived on the 2nd or 3rd floor of a brand new apartment which was located on Abou Roumane. There were no English speaking middle schools in Damascus so I ended up living on the campus of the American Community School (ACS) in Beirut. Things have certainly changed in the past 65 years. Back in the day my parents allowed me to travel all over Damascus (and Beirut) by myself or with a friend. I recall one day we climbed the mountain which hovers over the town, finding an old French fort at the top. I did find a fossil seashell half way up the mountain, so we know where the sea level was millions of years ago. I walked down all the souks, the Street Called Straight, and through many parks. I never had a problem. Yes, all has changed. The picture of your apartment looks quite similar to the one where I lived, our place was about a block up the hill from what is now called the Adawda Square, and I believe Abou Roumane become Al Jalaa. The American Embassy was about a block away. Oh well, can't go back. I had a couple of fuzzy photos of my apartment showing the wonderful garden and the front door area while it was under construction, but don't think you accept photos on this blog. Bill C. We