Palmyra and Ancient Syria

I've always loved the look of old photos during the early age of discovery and the nature of archaeology. Unfortunately, I don't like getting dirty or being hexed with a death curse upon entering a pharaoh's tomb, otherwise this would've been my career of choice for sure. Here are a few shots from the ancient Greco-Roman city of Palmyra which was a crucial stop for travelers crossing the Syrian desert in antiquity. I felt a little like Indiana Jones and those travelers, following their same route as I made my way through Syria to Jordan. Digs and discoveries still continue to this day, isn't that so interesting? 

The Backstreets of Aleppo, Syria

Aleppo is made up of labyrinth-like backstreets and alleys that lead to some really intriguing finds. Remember when I posted about this city's fantastic Souk? Well, the best thing to do is just get lost, sounds strange, but here, discovery basically happens on its own. The architecture and designs tucked away in some of these alleys are so beautiful!! It was interesting to come across structures from so many different nationalities, each with its own alluring details, like this black and gold archway from an Armenian Christian church. The old palace that now houses the Museum of Popular Tradition (below) was to die-for. All those intricate doorways, windows, and decor...I'll show you some more of Syria's ancient cities in my next post...

Desert Dancer

I fell in love with this little baby in the stark landscape of the Syrian desert...

Definitely modeled some nice shots for me, don't you think?

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Le Souk

The Middle East practically invented the all-in-one shopping extravaganza thousands of years ago with their souks (markets) and grand bazaars. They're an excellent place to take in local culture and you can find anything here – offerings run the gamut. They're like small independent cities within a city and one of the coolest places to check out. Here are some of the best I've seen so far.. (I can only imagine the one in Marrakech, Morocco!)

Syrian Gypsy

The famous tiger print scarf seen here and here serves many purposes, LoL, like when a Bedouin tried to teach me how to tie a traditional head scarf at a totally pimped out tent in the Syrian desert. This post was of course inspired by that terrific gift I mentioned last week. What do you think of this gypsy-ish look?

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The Dead Cities of Syria

Things may be a a little rocky in the Middle East now, but it was without a doubt, one of the best trips I've ever made. 

So this dead city.. Just hearing the mysterious name made me really want to see it. I went Serjilla, one of the best preserved of the abandoned towns and built in the 5th century. It prospered from olive and grape cultivation for 200 years, but like most of the other Dead Cities, it had not a single inhabitant by the 7th century. All that remains today are the ruins of a bathhouse, a small church, and some residential houses including a two-story villa which still stands today among the mounds of crumbling rocks.

Peekaboo! :-P

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