Beirut

A new country after over a month in Syria, here we are in the capital of Lebanon. Warmer and richer than Syria, the Streets full of badly driven Mercs. Now capped (well covered infact) mountains and the sea visable from my hotel window. Propper bread eaten for breakfast, with eggs. All set to go and explore the city.

Happy Christmas

Just back from spending ours in a monestary (see the lnk bellow)

Two ways to look at it. a) We spent xmas in a spectacular and remote location in a place thousands of years old with people from all over the planet and all for free. b) We spent xmas in a church wit a bunch of happy clappy christians, no booze, and didnt wash for 3 days.
you choose!

Looks like we'll be spendng new year in Beirut. Hope yours is good!
http://www.deirmarmusa.org/

Palmyra

From Hama we took the bus out to the desert to the amazing ruins in Palmyra http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palmyra Wandered around there for a few days, being persued by camel touts and postcard boys, as we were about the only tourist there. Very inspiring and peaceful place (when we gave the afore mentioned boys the slip).
The photo shows Mori next to the largest of the intact ruins. Huge and impressive, and so old. For the first time in Syria they wouldnt accept my teachers card and give me the student discount (making the charge $3 rather than $0.20) so I had to clamber over the walls to get in. Nothing stops me in my quest for economy. Not anncient roman defences, nor any sense of being a pennypinching blagger. I have a quest to stick to, and our cash has to last along way across asia!

Camel Steaks.

Just though Id mention we cooked some of these in Hama, an they tasted mighty fine!

back in Hama

After Tartus we got a bus back to Hama http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hama to once again avail ourselves of the best hotel in Syria, needed as Mori had to spend a day working on her magazine article in comfortable surroundings. I made myself scarce by visiting a ruined castle with an English guy called Mike. Crumbling old ruin, out in the desert, spectacular. After we called in on a bedouin http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bedoin farmer, who gave us tea and showed us his pidgeons. Thats him, above, with the castle behind. (oh and I have one of those head scarves!)

Tartus

Tartus is on the coast, probably the last time we'll be on the shores of the med on this trip, but then we have the dead sea and the red sea and maybe some other seas to lookforward to. Tis nice and warm here, one of the main reasons we came. Also been enjoying more Syrian hospitality, which has to be some of the best in the world. The picture on the left shows us with a family in the viallage of Turki where we turned up unannouced, got invited into many houses and showered with tea, food and a great welcome. To go along with all the historical sites here, it makes this country a special place to travel. We've extended our visa here as 15 days was never gonna be enough, so now it looks like well be here for Christmas, and maybe in Jordan for New Year. Would be great to be camping in the desert at Wadi Rum for the 31st. We'll see. Chritstmas greatings to those of you who are celebrating it, thats the nearest you'll get to a card from me this year! btw, not sure if the last photo (of Crac) worked, doesnt on this PC, but then that might just be this PCs problem.

Crac de Chavaliers

The Crusaders certainly knew a thing or two about building castles. Got a kicking by the Arabs in the end mind you. Beeing the fool that I am, I managed to delete all the photos we took there. Much Sobbing. Thankfully a friend and photographer went there the next day and took this amongst others. Superb.

A view of Cappadocia, Turkey where we were before Syria. Mighty Pretty place.

Hama, Syria

Right, so thought Id make a blog as it seems to be a good thing to go along with travels.
At the moment we enjoying a leasurely stay in the Riad Hotel in Hama, Syria. For a mere 450 Syrian Pounds it offers on-suit bathroom, TV to watch BBC news in a very fuzzy way, cleanliness next to Allahliness, Roof Terrace for views and Laundry drying, and a well stocked Kitchen so we dont have to eat fallafal everyday! Nothing wrong with Fallafal, but well, Enough is Enough. Hama is a nice kind of town, all facilities you need, plus huge wooden water wheels that creek. Around the town you have more ancient attractions than you can shake a goat at. So far weve been to a huge remain of a Roman City (Alpamea) and a massive Crusader Castles (Crac de chavaliers) Not only are these places amazing to see but you have them pretty much to yourselves given the absense of Syria from most tourists "must go" lists. The people here are very friendly and hospitable, the prices compare well to the likes of India (we're on about $20 per day for the both of us) All told a great place to be. Whod have thought?