20th May 2010

Damascus is the world's oldest constantly inhabited city (5,000 years). Three years after the death of Mohammed, Damascus fell to the Muslim Arab army, ending a thousand years of rule by western powers as diverse as Egypt, Greece and Rome. In 1516 Damascus fell under Turkish rule and in 1918 it was the turn of the French. It was only at the end of the Second World War that Damascus actually became the capital of an independent Syria. Constant upheaval has left the Syrians a little security conscious. At any one time in Syria you can see at least 100 pictures of the president.

A few of us ventured out of our campsite for a walk around Damascus. We visited the Umayyad Mosque also known as the Great Mosque of Damascus or formerly the Basilica of Saint John the Baptist, located in the old city of Damascus, is one of the largest and oldest mosques in the world. The mosque holds a shrine which today may still contain the head of John the Baptist. We had to hire berkas so we could walk around the mosque. We also visited Azem Palace which was built in 1750 as a residence for the Ottoman governor of Damascus As'ad Pasha al-Azm. The palace now houses the Museum of Arts and Popular Traditions. We walked down Straight Street (which is mentioned in the bible) The Roman street, extending 1500 meters, used to be lined with columns and had gates on both ends, houses and shops on both sides. These columns can still be seen today. We spent the afternoon in the Souqs. We had a campfire at our campsite and an early night.