malek
November 25th, 2005, 01:05 AM
My trip to Syria part 2 - unseen secrets of Old Damascus (200+ pictures)
Old Damascus is quite unique, it is enclosed by very high walls and it can only be accessed by very few doors ( i believe 7 of them). Streets are never wider than the width of two cars, and most of them are unmapped and wide enough for one person to pass.
Old Damascus is composed of a good sized Christian Minority, and you can find packed Churches on Sundays and other Holidays.
Old Damascus is the heart of the oldest still inhabited city in the world, Damascus goes back to over 4000 years before Christ.
So I'm not going to spoil any surprises, check the pics and some commentaries... i tried to be as concise as possible, but if you do have questions, just ask.
If you haven't checked the first part:
My trip to Syria part 1 - initial contact with Damascus : http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=285546
Going to Old Damascus
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There's no detached houses in Damascus, its all 3-4-5 stories with no elevator. Thats why you don't
see many fat Syrians :-)
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The almighty Minister of Finance... aka Mafia.
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My host in his '78 Mercedes annoyed by my too many pics... he hasn't seen nothing yet.
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The usual 3 lanes become 6 lanes traffic in Syria.
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More fountains...
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Notice the fruits on the left, that guy makes amazing fresh pressed juice... I was always having one
too... 25sp or 50 cents.
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That's the most important commercial street in Damascus, the mazout deliverer and his horse
perfectly blend.
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The almighty Commercial Bank of Syria... the biggest fiasco I've ever witnessed in my life... it
takes maybe 5 or 6 signatures to cash in a regular cheque (45 minutes)... to bad I couldn't take any
pics inside.
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A roundabout, very common.
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Another common sight... ok maybe not, a fellah wit his lamb :-)
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A vestige of old railroad tracks.
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Thats a movie theatre... look at those sexy women. BTW, going to the movies in Syria is seen as a
bad thing by the masses.
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A viaduc.
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Thats the old central station.
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Good luck in getting in.
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Can't remember what was that building.
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Thats the telegraph and communication central... if you want a phone line, you go there. (the
waiting list for a phone line was so long that we got it nearly 10 years after we already moved to
Canada)
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Market (Souq) al-Hamidiyya and Roman ruins
So we wanted to visit Al Hamidiyya, unique I confess, and encolsed in Old Damascus.
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These are the walls of Old Damascus.
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Thats the new part of the markt... not intresting.
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That guy on the left doesn't seem to like being taken in a picture :-)
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Here we are... it is encolsed by roof. This is the prime spot of the Sook (which spans on many many
blocks).
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Secondary streets where the sook spans.
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Stores are specialized, no Wal Mart here.
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Shisha galore...
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A jewler display.
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More shishas...
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At the end of that stretch... out of nowhere we find ignored Roman vestige. Its kind of plaza... so
the next pictures are at the same spot.
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Exterior wall of th Omeyyad Mosque - Jean Baptiste is buried there.
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Babooj (Sandals) "factory"
Look at what we found while entering a lost door, its a babooj factory, sandals out of wood. I
was blown away... that shop except for the machinery looked like it came out from the medieval ages.
The pictures give a brighter look to the place... it was really dark in there.
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I don't know where they're getting their hard wood from, there's barely any forests in Syria... let
alone near Damascus.
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That guy was so proud to see us taking picture, that he took off his hat to look good in them :) He
said show Canada how we make real Baboojs hehehe...
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His partner...
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Every babooj is unique... i don't know if thats a good thing :-)
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What a waste of wood......
Omeyyad mosque, Saint John the Baptist toomb & Saladin's Shrine
The Omeyyad mosque was a big Church built by the Romans, Arabs took it and converted it into a
giant Mosque.
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Here's where Saladin is burried... you know that guy from the movie last year ;-)
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wow... no one cares, its just laying there.
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Thats the interior court of th Mosque. We had to take of our shoes and walk with our socks... kind
of cold. Our female friend had to cover herself and was almost jumped on when her head scarf fell
when she bended backward to take a picture.
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High ceilings...
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Lots of pigeon.
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nice nice...
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These are not drawings but Mosaiques...
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Roman mixed with Arabic.
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Splendid.
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Majestic.
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Ageless lantern retrofitted to hold a halogen lamp :)
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wow... all mosaics
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Inside of the Mosque. A bit of relief for our feet because of the tapistry.
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Colored glass... like the Palais des Congrès in Montréal ;-)
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More Roman.
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A very high dome... wow.
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Here's Saint Jean the Baptist toomb... its a shrine to Muslims too.
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album11/IMG_6599.jpg
This is where the Mollah installs himself to recite the prayer... he looks inward and the
semi-cylindrical form helps project his voice to the back where the fidels pray.
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Books, lots of them, old too.
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This looks very very old.
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http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album11/IMG_6621.jpg
Again Market (Souq) al-Hamidiyya and Governor Azem's
We got out of the Mosque and we headed to Governor Azem's palace in Old Damascus.On our way we
passed more secondary commercial streets...
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Those streets are covered by vigns in the summer.
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Thats a Mosque wall, which used to be a Church, and thats a carving of the Christ which was
defigured by zealous fidels.
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All the spices you want are there..
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more...
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... and the candies...
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... and the perfumes... well these guys are the real thing, you tell them which perfume you want and
they make it with the essences... or you can have a custom made one too ;-)
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Here's the palace entrance... which was restored by the French when the country was occupied in the
40s.
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Sadly, nothing seems to have changed since...
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I wasn't allowed to take pictures inside the rooms... but I managed to take some blurry ones :-)
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Oranges :)
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Lilas........
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The palace map...
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The Governor's garden.
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This one liked me alot :-)
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Inside the turkish baths... again no pics allowed.
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almost banged my head... and I'm not that tall... people were shorter.
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iiiiish... the room of the mother in law... run run.
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The Kings room.
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The view when the King sat on his thrown.
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His cariage... a
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Leaving old Damascus
On my way out of Old Damascus, a very complex maze of very tight streets. You could get lost
easily.
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Yes people do live here.
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Mickey Mouse rules Damascus ;-)
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Thats how narrow are the passages... and every wall is part of a dwelling.
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French vestige?
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We decided to make a detour and get inside a good restaurant... but we didn't eat there.
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Kids on a field trip... they were amazed by the camera and wanted me to take their picss!!! as if
they have never been taken in pics.
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A buffet...
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Deserts and fruits.
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album13/IMG_6748.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album13/IMG_6749.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album13/IMG_6750.jpg
Antiquities... alot of them in Syria, too much for Syrians to handle... so they sell them to
tourists.
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album13/IMG_6751.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album13/IMG_6752.jpg
If you love antiquities... you'll be served.
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album13/IMG_6753.jpg
Nice...
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album13/IMG_6754.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album13/IMG_6755.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album13/IMG_6756.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album13/IMG_6757.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album13/IMG_6758.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album13/IMG_6759.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album13/IMG_6760.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album13/IMG_6761.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album13/IMG_6762.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album13/IMG_6763.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album13/IMG_6764.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album13/IMG_6765.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album13/IMG_6766.jpg
A Catholic Armenian Church, lots of Christians still live in Old Damascus.
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album13/IMG_6767.sized.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album13/IMG_6768.jpg
Schumacher rules :-)
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album13/IMG_6769.jpg
Thats Bab Tooma... one of the doors to get inside Old Damascus.
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album13/IMG_6770.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album13/IMG_6771.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album13/IMG_6772.jpg
Here's the biggest river in Damascus................ sad how polluted it is...
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album13/IMG_6773.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album13/IMG_6774.jpg
This guy tells me, who cares about the river, take my picture. One of the hordes of lottery seller,
the grand prize for NYE was 30 million syrian pounds... or about 750K $. Every 10 meters you would
either see one or hear one... The worst is that if I ever win, I cannot take that money outside of Syria.....
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album13/IMG_6780.jpg
the other side of the river... on the left notice the slums.
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album13/IMG_6775.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album13/IMG_6776.jpg
Très gentille institute... hheeheheeh
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album13/IMG_6777.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album13/IMG_6778.jpg
Now we're talking, nothing beats a shish taouk :-)
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album13/IMG_6779.jpg
Yeah they wear no gloves and touch your food with their bare hands, get used to it you're in Syria.
;-)
Stay tuned for more about Damascus, Aleppo, Beirut, .....
Old Damascus is quite unique, it is enclosed by very high walls and it can only be accessed by very few doors ( i believe 7 of them). Streets are never wider than the width of two cars, and most of them are unmapped and wide enough for one person to pass.
Old Damascus is composed of a good sized Christian Minority, and you can find packed Churches on Sundays and other Holidays.
Old Damascus is the heart of the oldest still inhabited city in the world, Damascus goes back to over 4000 years before Christ.
So I'm not going to spoil any surprises, check the pics and some commentaries... i tried to be as concise as possible, but if you do have questions, just ask.
If you haven't checked the first part:
My trip to Syria part 1 - initial contact with Damascus : http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=285546
Going to Old Damascus
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album08/IMG_6372.jpg
There's no detached houses in Damascus, its all 3-4-5 stories with no elevator. Thats why you don't
see many fat Syrians :-)
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album08/IMG_6373.jpg
The almighty Minister of Finance... aka Mafia.
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album08/IMG_6375.jpg
My host in his '78 Mercedes annoyed by my too many pics... he hasn't seen nothing yet.
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album08/IMG_6377.jpg
The usual 3 lanes become 6 lanes traffic in Syria.
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album08/IMG_6379.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album08/IMG_6381.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album08/IMG_6382.jpg
More fountains...
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album08/IMG_6385.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album08/IMG_6386.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album08/IMG_6388.jpg
Notice the fruits on the left, that guy makes amazing fresh pressed juice... I was always having one
too... 25sp or 50 cents.
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album08/IMG_6390.jpg
That's the most important commercial street in Damascus, the mazout deliverer and his horse
perfectly blend.
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album08/IMG_6398.jpg
The almighty Commercial Bank of Syria... the biggest fiasco I've ever witnessed in my life... it
takes maybe 5 or 6 signatures to cash in a regular cheque (45 minutes)... to bad I couldn't take any
pics inside.
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album08/IMG_6399.jpg
A roundabout, very common.
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album08/IMG_6401.jpg
Another common sight... ok maybe not, a fellah wit his lamb :-)
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album08/IMG_6402.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album08/IMG_6403.jpg
A vestige of old railroad tracks.
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album08/IMG_6404.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album08/IMG_6405.jpg
Thats a movie theatre... look at those sexy women. BTW, going to the movies in Syria is seen as a
bad thing by the masses.
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album08/IMG_6406.jpg
A viaduc.
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album08/IMG_6408.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album08/IMG_6411.jpg
Thats the old central station.
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album08/IMG_6412.jpg
Good luck in getting in.
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album08/IMG_6413.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album08/IMG_6417.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album08/IMG_6423.jpg
Can't remember what was that building.
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album08/IMG_6425.jpg
Thats the telegraph and communication central... if you want a phone line, you go there. (the
waiting list for a phone line was so long that we got it nearly 10 years after we already moved to
Canada)
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album08/IMG_6426.jpg
Market (Souq) al-Hamidiyya and Roman ruins
So we wanted to visit Al Hamidiyya, unique I confess, and encolsed in Old Damascus.
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album09/IMG_6429.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album09/IMG_6430.jpg
These are the walls of Old Damascus.
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album09/IMG_6431.jpg
Thats the new part of the markt... not intresting.
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album09/IMG_6432.jpg
That guy on the left doesn't seem to like being taken in a picture :-)
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album09/IMG_6433.jpg
Here we are... it is encolsed by roof. This is the prime spot of the Sook (which spans on many many
blocks).
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album09/IMG_6434.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album09/IMG_6436.jpg
Secondary streets where the sook spans.
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album09/IMG_6437.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album09/IMG_6438.jpg
Stores are specialized, no Wal Mart here.
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album09/IMG_6439.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album09/IMG_6443.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album09/IMG_6444.jpg
Shisha galore...
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album09/IMG_6446.jpg
A jewler display.
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album09/IMG_6447.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album09/IMG_6450.jpg
More shishas...
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album09/IMG_6451.jpg
At the end of that stretch... out of nowhere we find ignored Roman vestige. Its kind of plaza... so
the next pictures are at the same spot.
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album09/IMG_6452.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album09/IMG_6453.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album09/IMG_6454.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album09/IMG_6455.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album09/IMG_6457.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album09/IMG_6459.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album09/IMG_6460.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album09/IMG_6461.jpg
Exterior wall of th Omeyyad Mosque - Jean Baptiste is buried there.
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album09/IMG_6462.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album09/IMG_6463.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album09/IMG_6465.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album09/IMG_6470.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album09/IMG_6473.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album09/IMG_6474.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album09/IMG_6475.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album09/IMG_6476.jpg
Babooj (Sandals) "factory"
Look at what we found while entering a lost door, its a babooj factory, sandals out of wood. I
was blown away... that shop except for the machinery looked like it came out from the medieval ages.
The pictures give a brighter look to the place... it was really dark in there.
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album10/IMG_6483.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album10/IMG_6486.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album10/IMG_6487.jpg
I don't know where they're getting their hard wood from, there's barely any forests in Syria... let
alone near Damascus.
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album10/IMG_6488.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album10/IMG_6489.jpg
That guy was so proud to see us taking picture, that he took off his hat to look good in them :) He
said show Canada how we make real Baboojs hehehe...
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album10/IMG_6490.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album10/IMG_6498.jpg
His partner...
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album10/IMG_6499.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album10/IMG_6500.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album10/IMG_6501.jpg
Every babooj is unique... i don't know if thats a good thing :-)
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album10/IMG_6503.jpg
What a waste of wood......
Omeyyad mosque, Saint John the Baptist toomb & Saladin's Shrine
The Omeyyad mosque was a big Church built by the Romans, Arabs took it and converted it into a
giant Mosque.
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album11/IMG_6504.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album11/IMG_6505.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album11/IMG_6511.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album11/IMG_6512.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album11/IMG_6514.jpg
Here's where Saladin is burried... you know that guy from the movie last year ;-)
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album11/IMG_6516.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album11/IMG_6517.jpg
wow... no one cares, its just laying there.
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album11/IMG_6518.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album11/IMG_6519.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album11/IMG_6521.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album11/IMG_6523.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album11/IMG_6524.jpg
Thats the interior court of th Mosque. We had to take of our shoes and walk with our socks... kind
of cold. Our female friend had to cover herself and was almost jumped on when her head scarf fell
when she bended backward to take a picture.
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album11/IMG_6525.jpg
High ceilings...
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album11/IMG_6525.sized.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album11/IMG_6526.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album11/IMG_6527.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album11/IMG_6528.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album11/IMG_6529.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album11/IMG_6530.jpg
Lots of pigeon.
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album11/IMG_6531.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album11/IMG_6532.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album11/IMG_6533.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album11/IMG_6534.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album11/IMG_6535.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album11/IMG_6536.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album11/IMG_6537.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album11/IMG_6539.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album11/IMG_6540.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album11/IMG_6541.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album11/IMG_6542.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album11/IMG_6543.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album11/IMG_6544.jpg
nice nice...
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album11/IMG_6545.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album11/IMG_6546.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album11/IMG_6547.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album11/IMG_6548.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album11/IMG_6549.jpg
These are not drawings but Mosaiques...
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album11/IMG_6550.jpg
Roman mixed with Arabic.
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album11/IMG_6551.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album11/IMG_6552.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album11/IMG_6553.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album11/IMG_6556.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album11/IMG_6557.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album11/IMG_6559.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album11/IMG_6563.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album11/IMG_6564.jpg
Splendid.
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album11/IMG_6567.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album11/IMG_6569.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album11/IMG_6570.jpg
Majestic.
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album11/IMG_6572.jpg
Ageless lantern retrofitted to hold a halogen lamp :)
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album11/IMG_6573.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album11/IMG_6574.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album11/IMG_6576.jpg
wow... all mosaics
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album11/IMG_6577.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album11/IMG_6578.jpg
Inside of the Mosque. A bit of relief for our feet because of the tapistry.
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album11/IMG_6580.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album11/IMG_6581.jpg
Colored glass... like the Palais des Congrès in Montréal ;-)
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album11/IMG_6583.jpg
More Roman.
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album11/IMG_6590.jpg
A very high dome... wow.
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album11/IMG_6592.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album11/IMG_6593.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album11/IMG_6594.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album11/IMG_6596.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album11/IMG_6597.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album11/IMG_6598.jpg
Here's Saint Jean the Baptist toomb... its a shrine to Muslims too.
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album11/IMG_6599.jpg
This is where the Mollah installs himself to recite the prayer... he looks inward and the
semi-cylindrical form helps project his voice to the back where the fidels pray.
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album11/IMG_6603.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album11/IMG_6605.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album11/IMG_6606.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album11/IMG_6607.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album11/IMG_6608.jpg
Books, lots of them, old too.
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album11/IMG_6611.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album11/IMG_6612.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album11/IMG_6613.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album11/IMG_6614.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album11/IMG_6615.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album11/IMG_6617.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album11/IMG_6619.jpg
This looks very very old.
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album11/IMG_6620.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album11/IMG_6621.jpg
Again Market (Souq) al-Hamidiyya and Governor Azem's
We got out of the Mosque and we headed to Governor Azem's palace in Old Damascus.On our way we
passed more secondary commercial streets...
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album12/IMG_6622.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album12/IMG_6623.jpg
Those streets are covered by vigns in the summer.
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album12/IMG_6626.jpg
Thats a Mosque wall, which used to be a Church, and thats a carving of the Christ which was
defigured by zealous fidels.
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album12/IMG_6628.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album12/IMG_6629.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album12/IMG_6630.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album12/IMG_6631.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album12/IMG_6633.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album12/IMG_6635.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album12/IMG_6639.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album12/IMG_6640.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album12/IMG_6641.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album12/IMG_6643.jpg
All the spices you want are there..
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album12/IMG_6645.jpg
more...
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album12/IMG_6646.jpg
... and the candies...
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album12/IMG_6647.jpg
... and the perfumes... well these guys are the real thing, you tell them which perfume you want and
they make it with the essences... or you can have a custom made one too ;-)
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album12/IMG_6648.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album12/IMG_6649.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album12/IMG_6650.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album12/IMG_6651.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album12/IMG_6652.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album12/IMG_6653.jpg
Here's the palace entrance... which was restored by the French when the country was occupied in the
40s.
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album12/IMG_6654.jpg
Sadly, nothing seems to have changed since...
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album12/IMG_6656.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album12/IMG_6658.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album12/IMG_6659.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album12/IMG_6660.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album12/IMG_6661.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album12/IMG_6662.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album12/IMG_6663.jpg
I wasn't allowed to take pictures inside the rooms... but I managed to take some blurry ones :-)
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album12/IMG_6664.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album12/IMG_6665.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album12/IMG_6666.jpg
Oranges :)
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album12/IMG_6667.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album12/IMG_6668.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album12/IMG_6669.jpg
Lilas........
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album12/IMG_6670.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album12/IMG_6671.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album12/IMG_6672.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album12/IMG_6673.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album12/IMG_6674.jpg
The palace map...
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album12/IMG_6676.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album12/IMG_6677.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album12/IMG_6678.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album12/IMG_6681.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album12/IMG_6682.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album12/IMG_6683.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album12/IMG_6684.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album12/IMG_6686.jpg
The Governor's garden.
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album12/IMG_6687.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album12/IMG_6688.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album12/IMG_6689.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album12/IMG_6690.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album12/IMG_6691.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album12/IMG_6692.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album12/IMG_6696.jpg
This one liked me alot :-)
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album12/IMG_6697.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album12/IMG_6698.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album12/IMG_6699.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album12/IMG_6700.jpg
Inside the turkish baths... again no pics allowed.
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album12/IMG_6701.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album12/IMG_6704.jpg
almost banged my head... and I'm not that tall... people were shorter.
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album12/IMG_6705.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album12/IMG_6706.jpg
iiiiish... the room of the mother in law... run run.
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album12/IMG_6708.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album12/IMG_6709.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album12/IMG_6710.jpg
The Kings room.
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album12/IMG_6711.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album12/IMG_6712.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album12/IMG_6713.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album12/IMG_6714.jpg
The view when the King sat on his thrown.
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album12/IMG_6716.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album12/IMG_6717.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album12/IMG_6718.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album12/IMG_6719.jpg
His cariage... a
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album12/IMG_6721.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album12/IMG_6722.jpg
Leaving old Damascus
On my way out of Old Damascus, a very complex maze of very tight streets. You could get lost
easily.
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album13/IMG_6723.jpg
Yes people do live here.
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album13/IMG_6724.jpg
Mickey Mouse rules Damascus ;-)
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album13/IMG_6725.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album13/IMG_6726.jpg
Thats how narrow are the passages... and every wall is part of a dwelling.
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album13/IMG_6727.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album13/IMG_6728.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album13/IMG_6729.jpg
French vestige?
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album13/IMG_6730.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album13/IMG_6731.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album13/IMG_6732.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album13/IMG_6734.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album13/IMG_6735.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album13/IMG_6736.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album13/IMG_6737.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album13/IMG_6738.jpg
We decided to make a detour and get inside a good restaurant... but we didn't eat there.
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album13/IMG_6739.jpg
Kids on a field trip... they were amazed by the camera and wanted me to take their picss!!! as if
they have never been taken in pics.
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album13/IMG_6740.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album13/IMG_6741.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album13/IMG_6742.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album13/IMG_6743.jpg
A buffet...
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album13/IMG_6744.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album13/IMG_6745.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album13/IMG_6746.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album13/IMG_6747.jpg
Deserts and fruits.
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album13/IMG_6748.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album13/IMG_6749.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album13/IMG_6750.jpg
Antiquities... alot of them in Syria, too much for Syrians to handle... so they sell them to
tourists.
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album13/IMG_6751.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album13/IMG_6752.jpg
If you love antiquities... you'll be served.
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album13/IMG_6753.jpg
Nice...
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album13/IMG_6754.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album13/IMG_6755.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album13/IMG_6756.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album13/IMG_6757.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album13/IMG_6758.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album13/IMG_6759.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album13/IMG_6760.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album13/IMG_6761.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album13/IMG_6762.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album13/IMG_6763.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album13/IMG_6764.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album13/IMG_6765.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album13/IMG_6766.jpg
A Catholic Armenian Church, lots of Christians still live in Old Damascus.
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album13/IMG_6767.sized.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album13/IMG_6768.jpg
Schumacher rules :-)
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album13/IMG_6769.jpg
Thats Bab Tooma... one of the doors to get inside Old Damascus.
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album13/IMG_6770.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album13/IMG_6771.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album13/IMG_6772.jpg
Here's the biggest river in Damascus................ sad how polluted it is...
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album13/IMG_6773.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album13/IMG_6774.jpg
This guy tells me, who cares about the river, take my picture. One of the hordes of lottery seller,
the grand prize for NYE was 30 million syrian pounds... or about 750K $. Every 10 meters you would
either see one or hear one... The worst is that if I ever win, I cannot take that money outside of Syria.....
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album13/IMG_6780.jpg
the other side of the river... on the left notice the slums.
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album13/IMG_6775.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album13/IMG_6776.jpg
Très gentille institute... hheeheheeh
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album13/IMG_6777.jpg
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album13/IMG_6778.jpg
Now we're talking, nothing beats a shish taouk :-)
http://malek.edmm.ca/albums/album13/IMG_6779.jpg
Yeah they wear no gloves and touch your food with their bare hands, get used to it you're in Syria.
;-)
Stay tuned for more about Damascus, Aleppo, Beirut, .....