Since the french colonized Syria, there's a really European feel to the city
Inside our hostel, this was the little sitting area.
Picture of the hostel at night
Anyone want a fish? There were some interesting vendors
Area surrounding the hostel
Hostel during the day
First of all, Happy Belated Thanksgiving to everyone in America! My roommates and I cooked a small "fake thanksgiving" last week, which turned out great but also very interesting since we lacked a ton of "traditional" American products. Anyways, it was really nice and we had a good evening eating, drinking and cooking a huge turkey. The past 5 days have been like the "Arab Christmas" a big holiday which centers around the Prophet's journey to Mecca the holy city. As you all know, I took off to Syria for another strange, stressful, amazing, crazy Arab adventure.
Ten of us left Amman on Thanksgiving day, my 21st Birthday. We had been told it was going to be difficult to enter Syria, primarily because Syria dislikes America, and politically we aren't the best of friends. So we woke up early and headed to the border, it was a 90 min drive from Amman to the Syrian boarder. Getting through the Jordanian side was simple, you pay an exit fee and get a few stamps. However, once you reach the Syrian boarder control, all hell breaks loose. The ten of us filled out all these forms, had to make copies of our passports and then wait 45 mins just to hand everything in. Once everything was in the boarder patrol told us to wait. We asked how long and he said "Im not sure, 5 maybe 10 hours". We figured it wouldnt take too long, but of course we were wrong. We arent sure why you wait, all I know is the copy of your passport and the papers are sent to the Ministry of Interior in Syria and they decide if you get through. They have to fax an "acceptance" back to the boarder once they decide, and honestly, they probably look at the American papers and take a nice long lunch and tea break, and process our papers when they feel up to it. It was so stressful, I felt like a kid waiting to be chosen for kickball or something.
First let me tell you the boarder patrol guys are huge jerks, every other nationality gets through very quickly, but Americans, all Americans must wait. There really is no rhyme or reason to the waiting, but I assume its because they just have the power to make you wait, and they dont like America. Outside boarder patrol there was a huge "rest area" which proved to be helpful for our long wait. There was a huge, beautiful duty free store, a really nice hotel and a restaurant. In the words of my Father, " If they are going to make you wait, they are going to sell you something too", which was most definitely the case. The first three hours we all took turns shopping in duty free, grabbing a bite at the cafe and walking around a bit. At hour 4 we lost our first man. My friend got turned and sent back to Amman, there was no real reason given. The patrol guy told him " I can let whoever I want into this country and turn whoever down, if I dont like your face I dont have to let you through".... nice huh? So he returned to Amman, we suspect it was because his last name is from Jewish origin, but either way it was a total bummer. At hour 8 the first bit of good news came, three of the girls I was traveling with got through. They decided to split off and head to Damascus to check into our hostel, we all figured that the rest of us would soon follow.
The remaining 6 of us got through at about 9 30 pm... after over 12 hours of waiting. It was the longest and worst birthday haha. It was a good thing we had gotten through because we were about to give up, buy some stuff from duty free and get a few hotel rooms. So we finally get through, and by this time we are all starving, exhausted and ready to just be in Syria. To our luck, there are no cabs willing to drive us the 90 min drive to Damascus. We get a tip from a fellow traveler that there are buses that are cheap. We all decide we dont want to split up so the bus would be our best bet. We finally find one that have 6 empty seats and is cheap and get on. Little did we know that the bus was a charted Saudi bus heading to Syria for the holiday. Let me just tell you if you dont know, Saudi Arabia is the most traditional and conservative place in the middle east. We get on this bus and the people start freaking out. The men were freaked because the other girls and I weren't veiled, and the veiled Saudi women started freaking out that there were American boys getting onto the bus... Let me just say it made for an awkward and very socially uncomfortable time. We were all crowed in the front listening to the Saudi's laugh at us. I truly felt like I was not going to make it to Damascus.
Long story short, we finally got to Damascus at 12 30... from start to finish it was about an 18 hour trip.... not fun. Thankfully the hostel was really nice. Once we crossed into Syria the people were super welcoming, and very excited to meet Americans. I had figured we would be treated poorly by the people but to my surprise they were amazing. I honestly feel like the people I met over my few days in Damascus were the nicest people Ive met in the middle east. No issues, just pure hospitality and warmth. It's sad to think that the majority of Syria has no hostile or harsh feelings towards Americans, only the govt or political workers do. Its sad knowing that a few people are really spoiling the Syrian reputation. I absoutely loved the people, they made up for my horrible boarder experience. Yup, so that was Day 1.
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