We tried to make an early start as we wanted to see the Temple Mount as it has very restricted opening hours. We packed up as we were moving hotels and were out (into the rain) by 8:30. Not bad we thought but not good enough. We had to walk slowly as the cobbled streets were lethal in the rain and we arrived at the entrance point to find that the queue to get through security was out of sight down the road. They may have been increased security due to yesterdays ...

We set of this morning for Jerusalem via Amman. We had booked the bus to Amman as the service taxi experience coming here had not been good. We arrived at the bus station at 7:25 for an 8:00 bus - only to find it was an 8:30 bus. Still there was a 7:30 one we could catch. We hopped on it and it sped off - we couldn't believe our luck especially as the bus was almost empty. We soon learned our lesson as the bus diverted to another bus station, and we were told t...

We left Latakkia at a reasonable hour. No free breakfast at the hotel, so we planned to get it on the run - sods law prevailed and as we got to the bus station, there was a bus just leaving for Damascus. The journey was quite good but we had the brown trouser seats - just behind the driver so we can see everything that's happening! Fortunately we stopped for a tea break where we managed to buy some food. We arrived in Damascus about 2:30. We checked in to the ...

We had an early start to get to Lattikai. We were going by train and the train options were 6:00 am express or 6:45 am local. We opted for the 6:45 local. The train journey was supposed to be through beautiful scenery. The 1st part of it was distinctively unimpressive - through plains and fields. It went slowly as the track was under repair in a lot of places. Fran went to sleep but woke up when we went through the mountains. Thee scenery improved dramatically he...

Next morning we changed hotel - the Baron's faded grandeur had got to us and we moved to a cheaper place. We then tried to get our visas renewed. We had been told we needed to go to the immigration police, so after getting photos done, a taxi ride and spending 10 minutes trying to finding which counter to go, we found an official who said no problem - you can stay in the country for 30 days with this visa (even though we had a form which said go to police after 1...