Omayyad Masjid

Omayyad Masjid. Incredible.

Damascus

Like many capital cities in developing countries, Damascus is a sprawling metropolis thronging with people, pollution, traffic and urban developments. However, it can also lay claim to being the oldest continually habited city in the world, and there are many examples of great antiquity and beauty. Though each successive civilisation built on the foundations of the one that preceded it and therefore "there is little physical evidence of the earliest stages of [the city's] development, ... excavaction in the Old City has nevertheless revealed evidence of settlement udring the fourth millenium BC" [Footprint Syria and Lebanon].
We've been ambling around the Old City for a few days now, and it's clear that though it's still a vibrant, dynamic, ever-changing place, it still retains signs of its long history. Surrounded by fragments of the old city walls, it's a completely different world to the rest of the capital. Narrow alleys, bustling ancient souks and beautiful monuments, I hope I've done justice to its unique atmosphere with these pictures.

Saida Rukkaiya

In the heart of the old city, Saida Rukkaiya Masjid was designed by Iranian architects and built in 1985. It's situated on the site of the shrine of Imam Hussain's daughter, and as such the area is usually teeming with Shi'a pilgrims.

Merry Christmas

Warm wishes for the festive season.

The picture below is of the 27 metre tall ‘Peace Tree’ in George Khouri Square, central Damascus. It’s made of steel and is decorated with twelve million beads. Seven hundred workers were reportedly involved in its construction and it’s said to be the largest artificial Christmas tree in the Middle East and the second largest in the world, earning it a place in the Guinness World Records.



When we visited, the area was buzzing with hundreds of children having come to watch the spectacle and soak up the celebratory atmosphere (approximately 10% of Syrians are Christian, and December 25th is a public holiday). However, it’s so cold here though that my digital camera often refuses to work after sundown, and I couldn’t really capture the moment.

First impressions

A few first impressions of Damascus and Syria:

1. People are very helpful. Even if the person you ask can't help you directly, they will find someone who can.
2. Wherever you go in the capital, indoors or out, there are pictures of the President and his father.
3. News is dominated by Iraq and political events in the Middle East, especially those in Lebanon.
4. Almost every building has it's own rusting satellite dish (there's been an explosion of satellite television channels in the last few years).
   

Touchdown

We’ve arrived. We got here last night, but had nearly missed our flight after my mum got the terminals at Heathrow confused. We ended up having to sprint from Terminal 3 to Terminal 2, getting there just in time to witness a flight between two fellow passengers. Never seen air rage before.

Anyway, the rest of the flight was good, and we’re now in Syria’s capital, Damascus. It’s a huge, energetic centre home to some five million inhabitants and growing at a rapid pace. We’re staying quite a way from the city centre though, so I haven’t had much chance to get a real flavour of the place and the people. I’ll update again when I have. In the mean time, let me know what I can get you from here!