Hama - "Are you alone??"

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  Hamah, Syria
Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Today was our first encounter with the spectacular.  We spent the
morning driving to Crac de Cavelier, a HUGE castle that is over 1000
years old.  We took a tour and explored a bit on our own before
heading down the hill for a massive lunch at a nearby restaurant. 
The castle has Crusades history and has been influenced by both Muslims
and Christians.  It has never been conquered due to its insanely
high walls, strategic positioning and mote.  (will post pictures
later).



We headed to Hama afterwards which is one of the most conservative
towns in Syria, according to our guide

Jess and Heath @ "The Crac"

.  There was unfortunately a
massacre here in that killed 20,000 people and toppled most of the old
town.  The ancient water wheels are thankfully still standing
though although there was no water in the river to actually be able to
power them!  The day in Hama was pretty chilled, more of a rest
day than anything.  The guys (we have been hanging out with two
English guys, Charlie and Tony and an english girl, Sally) headed to a
traditional bathhouse for the spa treatment while Sally and I headed to
what is left of the old town to check out some local artist
studios.  We were so fortunate to stumble upon a very nice man and
his son who were selling cotton towels and beautiful shawls just out of
a small hole in a wall.  After talkin to them a bit we were
invited back to their family home a couple blocks away to check out
their workshop

Norias in Hama

.  We had no idea what an awesome experience this
was going to turn into until we stepped in the 300 year old home and
immediately saw two large looms sitting on the ground.  The man
began to tell us his family history, which he could trace back over
1000 years.  They have been weaving on looms for over 4
generations and they make the most beautiful textiles - shawls, towels,
table cloths, runners, bathrobes, etc.  The man sat down and
demonstrated to us how he looms and then showed us how he even make his
own thread.  We ended up spending over an hour and a half visiting
and checking out their beautiful products before we had to run back for
dinner, but not without Sally buying 3 towels and myself a scarf.



A lot of people in the group seem to be battling with a bit of
travellers you know what, so most of us found ourselves in bed pretty
early

Crac de Chevalier!

.  However, not before Bashar (aka: BISH - our tour leader)
bought us Falafel and fruit for dinner in exchange for our most
embarassing stories.  We also taught the Brits and Bish how to
play Uno (the card game).



Heath and Bish went and played tennis on a clay court early in the
morning before we left for Palmyra.  Apparently it was a really
good game even though Bish won in the tie breaker, but they both said
the company was nice :) 



Now off to Palmyra...

Post your own travel photos for friends and family More Pictures

Castle	Jess at the castle	same	Boys
Jess and Sally	Gothic style	Wycks at Crac	Towel shop
Weaving towels

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