Syria - Today

Let's start here with our hotel in Damascus. Such a nice indoor court. We felt then welcome from the first minute.

After that, a little tour through the souks. There are many shops and three things stand out. First, the fact that all the shop attendants are men, even for shops selling traditional women's clothes. And this is also the case in banks, restaurants, hotels. The society has found its equilibrium - probably there since years - but is this really sustainable? The second is that Chinese goods are slowly making their way into the souks, especially when it comes to children clothes. The third is the feeling of safety. The sellers are not aggressive at all and the vibe is relaxed. This is a good surprise.
But is this really a surprise... The president's picture is all over the place. He is keeping a watchful eye on its people. Nevertheless, the presence of the security apparatus is not as visible as in Egypt. We travelled throughout the country and never were stopped by the police.

This stability in the country contrasts with the troubles in many neighbouring countries. While we were there, there suddenly was an outburst of violence in Lebanon. And then, on the other side, there is Irak. We took the road to Baghdad. But a trip to this city will be for another time.