Damascus

So much for keeping up with a blog while traveling!

I’ve just been too busy and no time left after multiple sites per day, eating and traveling….  in addition to the issue of Internet access.  Yes I might have it but still keyboards, connections, speed, etc. all combine to make it more of an issue.  Possible, but just not realistic so here I am fighting this keyboard height – my first entry in over a week – more than half the trip.

I’m in Damascus – Arrived today from Palmyra.  Have been seeing amazing history in sites – from 1,500 BC to before the rise of Muslim after 500 AD….  Very cool!

I’ll have to cover it mostly with photos, but I just can’t up load them so I’ll go back anf infill later with photos, but I’ll have to link to other or flick for more of the photos. – I take thousands on a trip (that is not an exaggeration, literally thousands).

INSIGHTS:

I’ve had a lot of little side conversations with locals – they clearly make a distinction between American government and the people, unlike the typical Americana’s inability to do the same.

The most over whelming sense I have here, I mean beside the great pride in HOSPITALITY, is safety.

SAFETY – Hard to explain but you just feel – or KNOW – there is no, nada, NONE… fear of being robed, or pick-pocketed, etc.  You can walk down the darkest street late at night in an area you know nothing about – and feel totally! at ease…. it is in the air.  The surprising biggest take away, is this feels like the safest place I’ve ever been ever!  Someone walking up to you when you are alone, or a group approaches you…. you are not afraid because it is so extraordinarily safe, even after a few such encounters you get it.

Central Turkey was very interesting with the geography – I really enjoyed this hike we went on (even when I had to do it twice looking for a camera part I dropped, but came back to find someone had already found it.  The exertions was great for me.

The tour experience… well I’ll have to go into it more later – and give it more time…. but too much food! Personalities make for an interesting aspect I should have anticipated… but there are also unique stories that evolved out of the group – albeit that we were pretty much insular form the general local population.  I learned some Arabic but had no opportunity to really be pressed to use it.  -  Have felt protected… too protected I suppose.

Saw camels yesterday.  The ruins at Palmyra were amazing – which I could take in even more.

There is really too much to talk about, and I do it best with photos, or augmentation to photos so I’ll add entries back in over the weeks after I’m back – distinguished with a “*” proceeding the title.

I really like texting people and talking on phone – ALSO  I don’t know who if anyone is actually reading this.  Just for confirmation, if you do read this drop me an email to let me know “you’ve read my blog” so I know if I should even bother… the obsessive effort.