Greetings from Syria
I have been in Damascus, Syria for a few days now. The old city is really cool–a maze of twisty passages that all look alike–and one that has been continuously inhabited for over 5000 years.
People here are generally very polite and friendly. I have had almost no negative reactions to being an American here, but I am definitely a pretty rare beast. I have met one other person traveling on an American passport since I arrived here. It is a bit surreal to tell someone selling Hezbollah buttons that you are an American. In one way Syria is more relaxed than Jordan. There is a significant Christian population here, so there are quite a few night clubs, bars, and liquor stores, and more women who do not wear a hejab (headscarf).
Yesterday I read part of the Syria Today weekly news magazine in English. It had a surprisingly good (throrough, independent, and balanced) analysis of the possible affects of the US Election for Syrian foreign policy. It also had a report criticizing the government in its recent censorship of a Syrian soap opera that featured a freshly released policitcal prisoner. I guess the print media is more free than broadcast TV.
Sorry for the lack of photos this post, but it is 1am and I do not have my camera. Tomorrow I am off to Palmyra, then probably Homs, Hama, Krak de Chevalier, Latakia, and Aleppo. Good night from the Old Town.
