Riga Palace Aleppo

Crossing the border from Turkey we experienced somewhat of a culture shock because Syria is in general much poorer and less developed than Turkey. But getting on the first bus from the border to Aleppo we soon realized that the people are really friendly and helpful. "Welcome to Syria!" soon become the most heard phrase. <br><br>Manuel spent most of the time in Aleppo in bed due to his advanced illness (no, not mental, physical). He enjoyed the falafels &amp; fresh fruit ...

... places there but I reckon the room looks too clean and shiny to be old. After the citadel, outside they were showcasing some beautiful photos taken by an angmoh professional photographer. That took an hour for me to look thru.<br><br>After relaxing at a cafe, I went to the Grand Omayyad Mosque. It hard a large courtyard where we needed to take off our shoes. It all looked nice but honestly, its starting to look abit all too familiar. But I spent about an hour there just chilling ...

... Meeting them was especially propitious considering the rough ride I had getting here. With the trains out of Instanbul knocked out due to last month's flooding, my transit to Adana was by bus, then another to Antakya (which I only learned at the last minute is the Turkish spelling of Antioch, the ancient crusader state that was ceded from Syria in the 1930s -- I'm still really bad about researching this kinda stuff in advance), and finally a service taxi the last 100km ...

... a little over twenty four hours and after three weeks of travelling the Middle East I am beginning to feel a little of the ABC syndrome (Another Bloody City / Castle / Church).<br><br>I am really excited to get to Turkey (especially Cappadocia) and the chance to wander through some greener areas... if I am really lucky I am hoping to line up a small yacht with a small tour group to take me into the Greek Islands, a few days of swimming, sailing and sleeping under the stars.<br><br>

... by what I found there. I wont bore you with the grizzly details of it's significant but it was pretty much the Dubai of ancient Rome so you can imagine the sort of stuff they tried to build there- for more information consult your nearest Classicist.<br><br>This said best part about Syria wasn't even the history. Walking down the street you will be welcomed openly and in most cases genuinely by every other person you meet. 'Where are you from?' Call out ...

... more special than Jordan in many ways. The people have been the highlight, they are so friendly and really interesting as well and always willing to help you, you never get hassled as Syria doesn't really do touts which is a good thing. I would say to anyone who is thinking of coming here just come it is cheap and easy to travel the roads are good an the buses are just like anything you would get back in the UK. A really lovely place that gives you a warm welcome any where you go.

Had a nice day making a tour out of my trip from Hama to Allepo - with a newly married Italian couple and a Brit who was killing time before his flight home, we visited Apamea, the dead cities, and a mosaic museum. It was a pleasant day, Apamea was nice, (more ruins) similar to Palmyra, but in my opinion, not quite so specatcular - the rose stone really did it for me back in the desert, whereas Apamea was a grey stone, and not quite so beautiful. Having said that, it had ...

... smaller and are not nearly as intimidating architecturally. The Citadel of Aleppo was built by the Umayyads in the 11th Century. It was later used by the Ottomans. Yesterday, I had thought that the city was somewhat beautiful. Now, I think that it is a city that once had the potential to achieve beauty. When I looked down on the whole city from the Citadel, I realized how ugly and dirty it all looked. The clear majority of the women wear ...

... boutiques pignon sur rue et de resto-falafels. Le tout arrosé de klaxons, un peu comme partout ailleurs, sauf que cet Alep moderne diffère de ses comparses arabes en la présence massive, déjà dans ce quartier, de marchands, de bazars et autres épiciers. L'élément est tout à fait important puisque la découverte d'Alep avançant, l'impression d'avoir affaire à un immense ...

... The border was long and annoying. First you have to go change your cash into either Syrian Pounds or Dollars and then you pay for it. Afterwards, you return to the first building to be interrogated and chase bits of paper from counter to counter. Yes, ok so this was not the best experience when I have had very little sleep and NO, these guys aren't in a rush they just push in the line anyway. Syrians don't understand ...