Further afield – Syria – Damascus

I was fortunate to visit Syria in 2008 before the terrible times of recent years. After travelling from Aleppo to Hama I continued onto the capital Damascus. To be honest in comparison with Aleppo I was disappointed with the concrete jungle and hustle. The souk had atmosphere though, and Bakdash Ice Cream was some of the best I’ve had, though probably the source of an upset stomach.

The souk leads directly through Roman gates into the aptly named Great Mosque, complete with beautiful decorations.

Al Azem Palace provided an idea of what life used to be like in Damascus for those with money, with lovely courtyards to escape from the heat of the sun.

Heading up Mount Qasioun showed the scale of the city, an expanse of monotone concrete.

Some more random photos including some slightly unsafe looking window washers!