16th May 2010 Aleppo

Today was a long drive to Syria - 14 hours. We crossed the Syrian border and drove to Aleppo where we stayed at a local hostel. At first sight Aleppo appears to have no other purpose than to fill a dip in the landscape. It competes with Damascus for being the longest continually inhabited city in the world and can boast a commensurate level of culture and history. The recorded history alone goes back to the early second millennium BC! Aleppo's covered "souq" (market) is the best in Syria and goods range from beautiful antique carpets to fresh cow's heads.

Neil took us out for tea. We walked around the streets and had falafals and kebabs at a local shop. We then headed for the Baron Hotel for a night cap. This hotel is the oldest hotel in Syria built in 1870 . Lawrence of Arabia slept in room 202 (there is a copy of his unpaid bar bill displayed in the hotel); King Faisal declared Syria's independence from the balcony in room 215; Agatha Christie wrote the first part of "Murder on the Orient Express" in room 203.

I was in a really small room with one bed in it. I had to use shared bathroom facilities - the shower was above the toilet.

17th May 2010

Up early and Neil took us to a local juice bar for breakfast where we met with our City Tour Guide, Uncle Armit. We visited the old part of Aleppo, and the hospital. We visited the Great Mosque of Aleppo or the Umayyad Mosque which is the largest and oldest mosque in the city of Aleppo. It is located in Al -Jalloum district of the Ancient City of Aleppo near the entrance to Al Madina Souq. We climbed up the Citadel and we to the Souqs shopping. We had lunch at a Falafel shop and continued to work our way through the souqs. We met back at our hotel, freshened up and hit the streets for tea.