Day 15 Aleppo

Saturday March 5th.

After a morning meeting we went for an orientation walk. We walked through the souks and checked out a couple of special places that Jess knew. The old town core of the city has been degrading from years and people have been moving out because they couldn't afford to fix it up to UNESCO standards. But the German government has stepped in to help restore parts of it and maintain the original flavour.

So Jess to us to a beautiful special school that teaches music and art and has been restored for the locals. She also took us to an old insane asylum which as been restored and set up as a museum because their treatment of people with mental problems was much more progressive than the west in the dark ages. We used to lock them up and throw away the key, the Arabs treated them with water, music and art therapy. Then she took us to an old soap factory that still makes soap from olives, bay and another leaf. The place was really old and dingy looking but they makes tons of soap that they ship around the world to fancy shops.

After that we walked a short distance to the Citadel of Aleppo. Jess, Megan and Cemil left us there because they had a meeting to arrange the next few days. So we had the opportunity to explore the Citadel, which is another ancient fortress. We entered by the main entrance and climbed the stairs to the Ottoman Palace. The thrown room was beautiful. The ceiling was very ornately decorated. From there we explored the rest of the Citadel. Basically it was a walled city on top of a hill. Not much really remains except the Palace and lots of ruined walls and rooms. However, the walls provide many magnificent views of modern Aleppo.

Then we split up and Stamati and I went wandering through the souk area. This area is so alive and full of people, shops, smells, noises, and some mini trucks trying to make deliveries. There are thousands of amazing photos to be taken here. Just an amazing place. Check out the photo and tell me what is hanging there. After a short break at the hotel we went to the Grand Mosque and looked around there. We ran into Graham and Tess there. Tess had to wear a full burqa, she looked quite good. Then the four of us went for a coffee or tea and lentil soup.

Stamati and I then headed off to the Christian area of the new city and some more souks. We wandered around for quite a while looking at shops, taking photos and being amazed at how friendly everyone here is. We were frequently greeted warmly, asked where we were from and welcomed to Syria. Earlier a group of three Syrian university students chatted us up because they love to practise their English with tourists.

On the way back to our area, we stopped in at a local little restaurant in the souk, for a chicken shwarma. Then we walked further in to have a fresh vanilla pudding with almonds, pishtachios, walnuts and cashews on top, yummy. Finally we went back to the Citadel area where Stamati had a Turkish coffee, and I had a lemon with mint, at an outside cafe.

Back to the hotel for our briefing, tomorrow we go to Turkey. Then they all went out for dinner and I passed. I am tired because I didn't sleep well the night before and my stomach is a bit upset. So I thought I'd get a good night's sleep before the 6am start tomorrow.