Wanderings round Damascus with Family

Things have been toooooo hectic over the last weeks of Xmas. Now in a rainy! Cairo and for the first day in ages I have been able to get some time at the weekend to catch up on the blog. These photos are from ojur family wandering around Damascus Old Town and souks whilst we visited at New Year.

The Coffee shop at the rear of the Umayid Mosque where we stopped for a break.

For all of Syrias rocky political relationships you rarely see or heard anything adverse against the west etc. (Politics are not discussed!). This is the only overt statement I have seen, deep in the old town a metal sheet with the Israeli flag on the floor that people can stand on, drive over etc.

Nuts, outside the Mosque

The Hamediyah Souk roof.

Two ladies watch the Souk customers go by

Sunlight streams through into the Souk

The roof is not without its wear and tear - it looks like the night sky

Man with very big balloon!

Walking through the Spice Souk, mostly closed as it was Friday (prayer time)

Closed shops

House of Anaises, now a church. This apparently was where St Paul was taken when he was blind. Now a very atmospheric underground church probably 1C or 2C.

Back Steeets of Damascus in the Christian Quarter

St Paul Church and Bab Kissan. St Paul had to escape by jumping out a window.

Your don't see too many restroom doors as ornate as this one in the church

Straight Street in Damascus, built by the Romans, roof by the french.