Maaloula, Syria

... a republic with a president (that just happens to continually win reelection every seven years).  Its constitution stipulates that Syria has no official religion; it just so happens that the country is 89% Muslim and 10% Christian. Christians are ...

Visiting Maaloula (one of the last places where Aramaic is spoken), the Convent of St. Thecla (a pilgrimage site for the ill), and St. Sergius (one of the oldest churches in the world - built in 325 A.D. - but unfortunately no pictures).

Recently, some new university friends and I went on a very pleasant daytrip to Maaloula, an historical Aramaic village up in the mountains about an hour outside of Damascus, which is home to two historical churches. It is one of three such villages in ...

... . Tout ça en moins d'une heure. c'est long mais au moins ca marche. du coup, on prends la route pour le village de Maaloula. Petite pause parfaite pour une journée. On passe la nuit au couvent de saint tekla. Austère mais on est bien accueillis. on a même ...