This was Syria

Here (to my left) starts the spice market (Al-Buzuriyah). The picture is showing some passers by and the continuation of the market

Here starts the spice market (Al-Buzuriyah). You can see one of these tiny shops filled with spices, herbs, perfumes and other "cures". You can see in the top of the picture the tiny minaret of a tiny mosque like many others all around the old city.

or Pastırma, an Anatolian meat speciality (i.e. Turkish) made and sold in Syria by Armenians who migrated there in the beginning of the 2oth century. It has a very distinguished special smell and taste. More info: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pastirma

One of Damascus's 8 still existing gates. Bab al Faradis means the Gate of Paradise(s).It is almost not invisible here among the shops etc.

in Qaymariyah, Old City, Damascus

at the Spice Market (Buzuriyah)

At the foot of stairs leading to the majestic Grand Omayad Mosque you would find Al-Nawfara (i.e. the fountain) where there are 2 splendid cafés, one of them pretty traditional that are a haven for tourists who have sore feet from walking around, a place to relax, watch passers by and drink a tea

To those who might not know there 2 Palm Sundays as there 2 Easters! One Easter is recognized by the occidental churches (Catholic and Protestant) and the other one by the Oriental Orthodox ones. This here is not a military parade but it is the procession of Orthodox Palm Sunday (this year at the same day of Easter Sunday of the occidental churches) in the Qassaa street in Damascus. These Church scouts would parade with instruments and flags and then children are parading in Feast clothing. Here you can see the people who are celebrating in their festive clothing,often very sexy dresses of the ladies...

in the Takiiyah Al-Sulaymaniyah Damascus, Syria