Douglas Easton Travel Blog - Douglas Easton Travel

February 10, 2009

Damascus, Syria

Syria nestles between the Mediterranean and neighbors Turkey, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Israel. It is one of the cradles of civilization, boasting a history dating back more than 10,000 years. Its capital, Damascus, is said to be the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world, and has been a component in many of the ancient world's most fabled empires. Sumerians, Amorites, Akkadians, Hittites, Pharaohs, Assyrians, Canaanites, Phoenicians, Arameans, Persians, Greeks, Seleucids, Ptolemees, Romans, Nabateans, Byzantines, Gassanids and the Islamic civilizations of the Umayyads, Abbasids, Fatimids, Mamelouks & Ottomans all knew Damascus.

Not knowing what to expect, we arrived in Damascus with a guidebook and an open mind. What we've found has been extraordinary. Our guidebook mentions that the first thing Syrians ask is "Where are you from?" followed immediately by "Welcome!" It's true.

We checked into our hotel, a new boutique property housed in a restored, 300-year-old house. It is located in the old city, close to some of the city's best known souqs and Damascus's most famous landmark, the Omayyad Mosque.

Strolling the old city is like walking through history. At every corner, hidden treasures await. The streets are extremely safe, the people hospitable and friendly, the food a tantalizing burst of symphony of flavors and textures. The souqs offer a slew of shopping delights... Damascenes adore their sweets and nuts, if the quantity of vendors is any indication. And unlike many more popular destinations in the Middle East, one is not pestered in the least.

Today we did a road trip south to Basra to explore the world's best preserved Roman theater... and what a sublime structure it is. As we walked across the ancient stage and stared out at the rising tiers before us, we tried to channel the thrill felt by the actors two thousand years ago.

Tomorrow we'll depart Damascus for Hama, and then on to Palmayra ("Insh'allah" - "Allah willing," the immediate response here to any statement of future plans), each with archeological wonders of its own. We look forward to sharing these Syrian delights in a tour we plan to offer next year of Syria and Lebanon.

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