My Canadian bodybuilding buddy just came back from Syria a few days back, and he has a bunch of pictures he wanted to share with me. Seeing as much of OT has likely never seen much of what life is like in Syria, I figured I would share. BTW... these are his comments / captions....
I came back from Damascus yesterday night; I had a great time visiting family and would like to share some photographs I took so you can get an insider's look into one of the nefarious members of the Axis of Evil.
It's been a while since I was there, and I noticed a few changes:
What's Hot?
1. Islamic revival: more religious people and youths. A lot more religious gatherings of jurisprudence, exegesis, and Divine remembrance in the Mosques. Many more people dressing Islamically. Syria is one of the best places in the world to experience the Islamic religion and people. Most people you meet are very friendly and pious.
2. A lot more Iranian and Iraqi tourists around. Many shop owners have learned to speak Farsi, including some of my own relatives.
3. Big time juicing going on in the gyms. Something like 3/4 of all the big guys there are on something.
4. Turkish soap operas. People seem to be enjoying a couple of popular ones. I forgot their names but I'm sure the forum Ottomans know all about them.
5. Damascus is expanding with nice new roads and highways and larger suburbs.
What's Not?
1. Food is getting a bit more expensive (rice and bread prices have doubled in the past 3 years). Oil is a bit more expensive but not by much. Compared with the United States and Canada though, Syria still enjoys a purchasing power parity that is six to ten times greater so it is a great place for foreigners to shop. This means that a gigantic meal or nice formal shirt in Syria costs 1/6 to 1/10 of what it would cost in North America. You have to balance the fact that wages are lower in Syria of course, but a poor person is still relatively better off in Syria than in North America.
2. Traffic: with population growth as well as a high influx of foreigners and refugees, it is getting a bit crowded in some areas.
3. Government: still oppressive and menacing.
Price Comparisons
Exchange Rate: 1 U.S. Dollar = 46 Syrian Pounds
If you can convince people you aren't a tourist:
Taxi Ride within city: $0.54
Bus Ride within city: $0.22
Taxi Ride downtown: $0.87
Monthly gym membership: $13
1 Liter of yoghurt: $0.54
10 pack of large pita bread: $0.54
2 beef Shawermas + side dish (pickles, onions, relish) + Drink: $1.63
3 course meal at restaurant (impossible to consume all food on table): $5.43
including drink (soda or juice), bottomless fresh bread, apetizers (humos, pickles, vegetables, various dips), main course meal (plate of kababs, fries/rice, vegetables) dessert (fruits, ice cream)
Full wardrobe: $30.43
(socks, boxers, undershirt, formal pants (tailored), formal white buttoned long-sleeve shirt, casual buttoned shirt, tie, tie clip, sunglasses (adidas counterfeits))
Photographs
This set of photos is of a typical Mosque in Damascus.
The Mosque's library
Some city pictures
On the inside of the Dome we can see the calligraphy of the names of the Rightly Guided Caliphs of Islam, Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, Ali, Hassan, Hussein (may God be pleased with them all) 
Now let's briefly step outside into the courtyard of the Mosque! (We'll take a closer look after the next prayer). That large white minaret to the right is foretold to be the minaret upon which Jesus (pbuh) will be descended by God in his second coming. (In Islam, Jesus (pbuh) returns to Damascus first). 
Let's leave from the back door. Here we can see marks left by French bullets (airplanes and rifles) during Syria's war for independence over 60 years ago. The French used to shoot at Mosques and murder worshippers. 
Some nice portraits for sale in a market corner 
Traditional market coffee house with hubbly bubblies fully loaded 
Traditional Ottoman ****window. It is designed so that you can see clearly out but people cannot see clearly in 
Walking away from the Mosque we can see the white minaret we spoke of earlier 
Winding through the narrow allies in a small 1960s Volksvagon (pretty much the only type of car that can fit in the old alleyways 
Another angle of the Ummayad Mosque minaret 
Most of the Bazaar is surrounded by Crusader-era castle fortifications, fully equipped with places to pour boiling oil and snipe with arrows 
This is the grave of one of the Prophet's (pbuh) famous companions, 
On our way out of the Bazaar (we'll be back another day), we find a man dressed in traditional garb selling Turkish/Arabic coffee 
An elevated walkway to cross over highways 
The Four Seasons Hotel 
The statue below is of a famous martyr who led a small force against the French Colonialists over 60 years ago 
Driving through the highways and city streets 
The building on the mountain is the Presidential Palace 
Gigantic Syrian flag in front of some government building 
The Iranian Embassy 
Driving through the city 
The building in the distance below is where foreign dignitaries are invited to stay during visits 
There are many taxis and you can go anywhere in the city for less than a dollar 
Driving through the city, partial cityscape 
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (A Monument to the unnamed fallen) 
Leaving the city and heading towards the outskirts/suburbs/farmland 
Statue of the former President at a military outpost 
Driving towards the family farm 
Some monstrous locust 
Food time, traditional Arab cuisine, old fashioned home cooking 
A couple of pictures of my younger cousins screwing around on the farm 
We're leaving the Bazaar again, we'll be back a longer while next trip Random Mosque 
Minaret 
Scenic shot 
Food time again, time to feast on some Shawermas and Kababs 
This gentleman is standing on a small ladder to cut this giant vertical rotating Shawerma spit 
Outside view of the restaurant 
Okay now let's get back to the Bazaar 
Poster in front of the entrance of the Market 
Court of Justice right across the street 
Oriental goods for sale in the market 
Inside the Market, it is covered to keep it cool 
Traditional Arab ice cream store 
A gold/jewelry store 
Headscarves and veils store 
Traditional oriental clothing and goods 
At the end of the Market we find ancient Roman pillars 
More Roman columns 
The main entrance of the Ummayad Mosque! 
"Putting on special clothes" time! Women borrow headscarves and cloaks to wear when they step into the Mosque if they aren't wearing any. Usually this is for the frequent tourists in the area 
Let's take a side route first, to visit an old friend 
Here is the grave of Saladin next to the Ummayad Mosque, may God reward him 
The Western wall of the Ummayad Mosque 
The Southern wall of the main entrance of the Ummayad Mosque 
Stepping into the main entrance, we find the courtyard of the Ummayad Mosque, from another angle this time. If you travel a few steps forward and turn the corner at the end of the hall, you will find the place where the grandson of the Prophet (pbuh), Imam Al Hussein, is buried 
More pictures of the Ummayad Mosque courtyard 
More pictures of the courtyard. Notice the ornate artistry and depicted plantlife! (Muslims do not draw images of humans or animals) 
Inside the Mosque 
After prayer, a short lesson on purification and washing is given. Every day there is a different lesson 
Prayer time is over, it's time to head back into the Market! Need a souvenir? Look at these hilarious fridge magnets! 
Wandering through the beautiful alleys surrounding the market 
Another coffee house with hubbly bubbly action 
A beautiful Ottoman era wall fountain with Ottoman calligraphy. Thanks Ottomans! 
Like a scene from 1001 Arabian nights, traditional shops drape carpets and lanterns from their walls 
Let's go back, deep into the market 
Here are some 
A couple of Syrian beauties browsing hubbly bubbly hoses, and some Syrian guy to the right browsing the Syrian beauties 
A Mosque courtyard WITHIN the market 
Painting store 
Let's go to the section of the markets that sell paintings and calligraphy 
Syrian Caturday 
Some handdrawn pictures and calligraphy 
Handwoven carpets and rugs 
Back to the market. Most of the stores I photgraphed sell traditional items. But there are places in the market that are pretty much like China town, you can buy anything you can imagine for 1/10 of the North American price or less. I got myself some sunglasses and scented oils/perfumes. 
Food time, let's go to a restaurant 
Time for prayer 
Inside a random Mosque If you look carefully you can spot me standing in prayer wearing the green hat on the right 
Night prayer is over, let's get some rest for tomorrow's trip to the farm Next day, back at the family farm Coming back from Friday prayer for Lunch time! 
One of my younger cousins enjoying a glass of tea after the meal 
My youngest cousin 
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