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Damascus
Syria was colony of France until 1946 after this year country become free and today it is Syria Republic. Today many people in the country still speak French. It is very easy to go there by car from Turkey. You can pass from Hatay, Cilvegozu border gate. If you want to go abroad with your car you have to pay some extras for insurance which will be valid only for limited days like during your visit to that country. You must do addendum on your insurance policy. All these paper works cost, approximately 350 usd. If you go with a few friends than it will be cheaper than plane. However, in Syria drivers are driving like crazy. From an intersection or cross street someone suddenly can jump in front of your car. The vast majority of vehicles old and almost all crooked. There is one more way to go Syria from Gaziantep. It only cost for 3 or 4 days 155 – 165 € including visa, transportation, bed and breakfast accommodation. I suggest you to contact with Altinoluk Turizm or with Turhande. If you make plans early you can find cheap tickets to Antep from Pegasus airlines. Which is around 21 €.
Damascus is very impressive place. The traders told me that if you visit ones Syria you want to come back here again. Damascus houses were made of large stone blocks. These stones like light yellowish color. The images of these buildings into the city, so beautiful. But these beautiful images in the regions, where Muslims and Christians lived in common, or just in Christian region. Unfortunately, the homes of local Muslims are unpainted and streets full with rubbish also narrow streets soil instead of asphalt, dirty water leaks on the way. In general people are very pure. We visited one Muslim family there was no armchair to seat on, we seated on cushions. A taxi driver told us that in this country government can’t give the retirement salary therefore people should work until they die. In general Christian populations are more reach than Muslim people.
Damascus market is quite authentic. Usually sold in the stores hand-made things. Plenty of pear inlaid jewelry boxes, pearly mirrors and silk shawls you will see. Pearl inlaid products were exported from Syria to Istanbul. You will often see in the shops water pipes. In Syria everybody even young generation drinks water pipe after dinner or lunch.
Shopping’s biggest address is Hamidiye Bazaar. It was built in 1863 by Sultan Adbülhamit Han (Ottoman Sultan). It is quite colorful bazaar. There are a lot of things from food to clothing here. It continues nearly 1 km. At the end of bazaar there are two columns and a part of the wall belongs to a historical building. In the evening with lights they give different atmosphere to bazaar. At the end of this market there is Emevi Mosque. This is the largest and most magnificent mosque of Syria. This building built on to St. Johanna church by Emevi’s. Therefore today this building is important for Muslims and Christians. If any women want to see inside of the mosque she should be wearing black sheets. In many mosques and tombs in Syria have these rules. This sheet given you at the entrance by directore.
There are some places back yard of Emevi Mosque named Bab Arki and Bab Tuma regions. In these regions generally Christian people are lives. Here, while walking in the narrow streets you will see houses with wood and oriel. Some houses are now used as restaurant or cafe. Inside of them are quite authentically furnished. I recommend you see this part of City. There is Damascus train station which builds in the Ottoman period near to Hamidiye bazaar. It is quite interesting place to see. However, according to the latest news train station will become a five star hotel.
There is one more interesting place to see. This place is tomb of Zeynep, who is Prophet Mohammed’s grandson. The name of the place is Seyyide Zeynep Mosque. This is an incredibly impressive place. In side construction was covered with bright stones. Large chandeliers hanging from the ceiling is shining. When you go in you feel like some one just dead and funeral of the person. Many women do struggle in tears. When I asked why, they explained that while Prophet Family moves to another place their enemies killed whole family members in Kerbela area. Zeynep sow these entire massacre, these people feel them guilty because they couldn’t prevent it they expressed.
In the evening if you want to see Damascus from the hill you should go to Kasyon hill. You would see almost the entire city from this hill. I guess you should go there via taxi there is no other option. But taxis are quite cheap in Syria. There are fine restaurants and cafes in this hill. The vast majority come here to drink water pipes.
Every where is interesting in Syria. Even if you walk in the streets all day, you see a lot of beauty. Just as in India, some buses colored paint. There is a little arabesque wind you feel. There are places you can drink coffee in the bazaar is quite authentic. One of them at the end of Hamidiye Bazaar on the way of Emevi Mosque. It is on the narrow street, outside of it covered with marble this coffee house takes you from today to Ottoman time. Here the elderly people reads newspapers and drink water pipe on the other side the tourists are sitting drinking coffee with their modern clothes.
There is a nice hotel very close to Hamidiye bazaar the name is Royal Suites Royal Suites. Here you can rent a suit 3 or 4 people can stay the same suit. Approximate price is 90 usd per night for a small suit. It is comfortable for 3 may be 4 people. Beyond the estimates hotel has very luxurious and clean. There is a fridge and kitchen with full equipment in the suit, you can cook here if you wish. But to learn another culture foods are important therefore I recommend you to have here only breakfast in the suit. For information about hotel http://tinyurl.com/royalsuites.
