Apr 7, 2007 - Allepo

S: En attendant l'autobus à Tunus (Ankara) le mois dernier, j'ai été presque pris de panique en entendant un coq chanter en plein jour. Y avait-il un Borat turc dans le quartier, emmenant sa poule avec lui, ou plutot, un coq malade chantant l'après-midi? Rien de tel: les Turcs sont un peu maniaques dans le choix de leur sonneries de cellulaires: celui-ci avait choisi le son du cocorico! Otogar d'Antakya, 9hres du matin. Nous attendons le depart de notre bus pour Aleppo. J'entends à nouveau le chant du coq, une fois, deux fois, ... sans...

May 5, 2006 - Syrian Border

We camped the night near the Syrian border in the middle of nowhere. it was a real mish to get through the border the next morning. It took about 4 hours, which was alot quicker than the truck drivers, who had been stuck there for about 4 days. There was probably 10 kms worth of trucks all queued up. There was alot of dodgy looking Syrians at the border who were eyeing up all the blonde girls in our truck. I gave Laura my sweatshirt so she could cover up. We got fake id's from one of them so now im officially a student and Otago University,...

Mar 27, 2006 - Aleppo,Syria

Well, i made it into Syria after everyone told me no, the embassy in Istanbul and the other in Ankara.5hours of sitting at the border while i awaited a faxed reply was not so bad as i thought there was no way the imigration office in Damascus would say yes. All i can say is...Syria has the best people and food i have come in contact with this journey. I did not even make it through the checkpoint into syria before i recieved my first bit of Syrian hospitality from some truck drivers who offered me tea. Then i got a free ride into the...

Mar 25, 2006 - back in aleppo

dear nader. allah, syria, assad. it has been brought to my attention that the 3 wds. above are being chanted in the aleppo video clip. this may explain the commotion about us, & why we were asked when we'd be meeting the president, but do i look like one of president dr. assad's peeps? it's not like i have a portrait of the guy in my room (many here actually do). there's a whole cult of personality based around him, or atleast this is the case in aleppo. damascus is a little less occultish & a bit more progressive. damas also boasts more...

Mar 10, 2006 - halab (aleppo)

dear nader. i think i have found it. the epitomy of souks. this morning i strolled around town -btw, i'm in aleppo, syria- & i was in the most melancholic mood. why? because the night before, well for 24 hrs. prior or more, it was pouring rain out & i spent atleast an hour searching for a bank machine (there's like 1 in central aleppo, a city abit larger than mtl.!). despite pouring out, & mesirable on my drenched quest, the city charmed me. it was glimmering in the wet, cool evening, the parks, which seemed to be all over the place, were...

Nov 5, 2005 - Into Syria: Krak des Chevaliers & Aleppo

THE BEST CASTLE IN THE WORLD, SAINT SIMEON & THIS WEEK'S MICHAEL PALIN AWARD FOR NICENESS Good grief it is pouring again. We head north for the border with Syria. Formalities are over in what is apparently a record quick time at less than one hour for both border crossings combined. It is usually double that. SYRIA HAS CHANGED In the past four years since Bashir al-Assad succeeded his father as president, Syria has undergone vast change. They now have credit cards, satellite TV, mobile 'phones and access to the Internet. Well that is a...

Sep 30, 2005 - Aleppo - Syria

Aleppo claims the title of the oldest continually inhabited city in the world. There has been a city here for over 8000 years. If somebody wants to put in a new sewage system, they have to call in a team of archaeologists first. This city has 4 million people, a fine citadel, cherry kebabs, and Majid Akkad. Majid sells scarves in the Aleppo souq. A souq is a labyrinth of covered alleys with small shops set into its walls, and some say it's the pulsating heart of the Arab world. You can buy anything in the souq. Perfume for the wife? No...

Sep 12, 2005 - Two Days in Syria

The end of our second day in Syria (we crossed the border on Sep 11, an auspicious date), in Aleppo in the north. This is a city of 4 million and as crazy and chaotic as you can imagine, what with 16,000 maniacal cabdrivers out for blood, streets that go in no particular pattern and are pretty dirty to boot. But the people are s damned fiendly! People just love to talk with us, especially when we mention where we are from--China (just kidding). Kids all say Hallo! and gather round us foreigners. We have been walking around the city trying...

Aug 18, 2005 - Aleppo, Syria

Thursday, August 18. Aleppo, Syria. I spent one night in Aleppo to see its famous covered souq and khans (merchants' inns), which cover several hectares. Aleppo was a major trading center between the Mediterranean and Asia since Roman times. The highlight for me were the busy night markets, with merchants selling fruits, vegetables, meats, nuts, and other foods.

Jul 5, 2005 - A day in Aleppo

Aleppo (pronounced Halep) was our first taste of Syria and the Tourist Hotel was our first taste of Aleppo. Both, it must be said, were pleasant experiences and, considering the prices, wonderful bargains. For S£600 ($12), the hotel room was a decent size, had nice furniture and comfy beds, a private bathroom (admittedly outside the room but still ours) and, best of all, a/c which usually cost an extra TL5 in Turkey. Overall, a great way to start our Syrian journey. Noreen shot straight off to the famous Hammam Yalbougha al-Nasri as it was...

Mar 28, 2005 - Aleppo

We left Deir ez Zoar by bus after another trek thru town...left at Noon 30 arr in Aleppo about 3/30 at a taxi stand where luckily Mari had a card from Damascus for a hotel in the cheaper part of town...as everywhere, if you dont have a definate destination the driver will take you to his cousins hotel or friends or something...Due to the expert O.N. searchers Todd,Jake,and Bon we found a place w/in our price range 3=4US pp. However, the best part of it was the bath facilities where we all washed our clothes...they were soo dirty that after...

Nov 16, 2004 - Welcome to Syria

Hello and welcome to Syria!! We had a hell of a time getting to Allepo/Syria. We left Goreme' in Turkey at 7:45pm on the Kent bus and that was very nice, until we got to Antakya the next morning.........you see it is the big celebration (like Christmas) in all the Arabic contries called "Ramadan" and everything runs differently here during Ramadan. When we got to Antakya, they told us there was no bus to Allepo/Syria. We had met up with some other travelers from all over (Japan, Australia and Canada) who were also going to Allepo and they...