Welcome to Syria!

I arrived in Damascus at the end of May 2007. My first greeting from the aiport was to see every car and truck with a poster (or three) of President Bashar al-Asad on the front, side, top, or rear of the vehicle. There were also billboards and numerous other posters. Only belatedly did I realize that the referendum for a new term in office was upcoming. I particularly like this billboard: it is very uplifting. Perhaps the USA should encourage positive messages like this one.

May I say that it is truly difficult to understand the friendliness and gentle, tolerant culture of Syria (at least Damascus) from what we hear from US sources -- which are, naturally, concerned with foreign policy and not internal dynamics so much. One must admit that President Assad has no easy task to keep his country stable in the extremely turbulant Middle East (just look at nearly every bordering country). But I really do like it here (aside from the heat...although it is "only Spring" yet, so I am reminded...). The worth of the American dollar has dropped significantly against the British pound and the Euro and it is thus extremely expensive to travel or live there. In Syria, on the other hand, the dollar is still worth a good amount. Thus, I can buy a chicken shwarma (like a wrapped gyro) and a drink for a little over a dollar. Taxis usually cost anywhere from less than a dollar to $2 -- which one finds expensive after a while, what in comparison to the buses and minibuses (which are prolific) at about ten cents a ride.

Unlike what I hear about places in the Middle East like Egypt (Cairo at least) and Morocco, Syria is unspoilt by an overwhelming foreign and tourist culture, retaining that sense of Arab hospitality and generosity. Damascus is a city of about seven million (including a million Iraqi refugees from the war), but still very accessible. I highly recommend it to the American or other in search of a place of exploration. I commend the local culture, by all means, but one can obtain nearly anything one wants if you but know where to look (such as more expensive supermarkets catering to the expat community in the suburbs).

The Christian community here is the most secure and safe in the Middle East -- as evidenced by the fact that half of the Christians in Iraq have fled here for safety. The Christians groups include Greek Orthodox (aka Rum Orthodox), Greek Catholic (aka Greek Melkite), Latin rite Catholic, Suriyani (aka Syrian Orthodox or "Jacobite"), Syrian Catholic, Apostolic Armenian, and, doubtless, others which I am missing at the moment. The Rum Orthodox have been very friendly and helpful to me, and I am deeply appreciative. In addition, the historical sites are everywhere: from ancient Ugaritic to Greek and Roman to Byzantine and Crusader and many others (such as Ommayed, Ottoman, and French Mandate). I intend to visit as many as possible, beginning with Bosra tomorrow.

And let us not forget the biblical events that occurred in Damascus: most notably the conversion of the Apostle Paul and his healing by St Annanias (Hannaniah). There is a church here dedicated to Annanias where, I think, he was supposed to have lived. There is another one -- St Paul's -- where the Apostle was lowered over the wall in a basket (as in the Book of Acts).