The Geology gods have been ruling our destiny recently, whilst the rest of the family have been on an enforced ash extension to Easter hols in the UK I have taken the opportunity to swap Cairo for Damascus as the wells we are drilling there required my attention. Why not sit in a 5 Star hotel by myself rather than at home seems like a good idea.
After normal visa problems in Damascus airport, including this time a visit to the commander in chief of immigration control (he had to be the chief judging by the amount of gold braid he had). Anyway they let me in (cos I had a visa!) and I made it to my home away from home, the Four Seasons Hotel. They had a free concert on the lawn outside so I dropped my bags and went to mingle with the Damascene weekenders. The band was fronted by what looked like a senior accountant on a Syrian Lute, the music style was folksy-rocky-middle of the road-country-arabic-blues style, very jolly. the chap next to me said "Very famous" so I asked who it was, "I don't know" he said - hummm? not that famous then but they were filming for Syrian TV so must be big, I guess.
The Band with the Four seasons in the background
I then walked over the river and into the Handicraft souk, took a few pictures of the old boys enjoying a game of backgammon instead of selling any of the shell inlaid boxes that are everywhere. The Hammam (baths) appear to be nearly finished renovation and are open for tourists so I took a look.
Handmade Syrian soap in the Hammam
A lantern outside the Handicraft souk mosque
Later I walked through the Hamadeiah Souk, which I always love, really interesting place to just people watch, got a little bit more hassle than normal, apparently the Syrian economy is not doing so good so suppose that might be behind it.
Entrance to the souk
Scarves R Us
The Arabs have a sweet tooth, and the Syrian sweets are world reknown
Came out at the Ummayed Mosque which was open so decided to go it. This is on of the most important and beautiful Mosques in the world. Unlike most mosques this one has adornments on the walls in the form of golden roman style mosaics depicting nature, trees/ fruit etc in the courtyard. The mosque itself has the tomb where Hussian, the prophets (PBUH) grandsons head is buried - which is interesting as it is also bruied in Cairo and apparently a few other mosque around the world!
I had packed my Syria-Lebanon lonely planet so did a bit more exploring on my free evenings. I went exploring the old Christian and Jewish quarter by walking down Straight Street.
The covered part of Straight Street
There are 101 different church denominations dotted around with the odd mosque.
The Armenian Catholic church.... and a fixer upper....
In the Bible it says Paul was going to Damascus to get all the Christians, but he was blinded on the way, he was taken by Judas along Straight Street to Anaisa house (which I did not look for) and in a miracle was given his sight back. St Paul then started converting all the Jews in the Jewish quarter, which angered the Jewish priests who wanted to duff him. He had to escape through a window in the old church by the gate at the city wall. This is now called Bab Kisan and with my map reading skills I made it here as it was getting dark. The kids told me the church was closed but insisted on ringing the bell for me and a little lady came out and I got to go into the compound at least to take a few pictures. Mrs T would like it, next time I might bring her and the kids.
Bab Kisan where St Paul escaped and a mosque on the way back.
