FIRST OF
ALL BEFORE I GET ON WITH DAY 26, WHERE ARE MY COMMENTS & MESSAGES????
DAY 26
Now back to
the journal, I am sitting outside the café which charged and fed us one thing
last night and charged a different price today on their menu (cheaper). They are
supposed to give the Intrepid groups a special deal but instead they charge us
more because they think that they will get away with it.
The joys of
travel!!
Anyhow, I
am sitting outside the café drinking the orange juice which was 150 Syrian
pounds last night and 100 Syrian pounds today watching the world go by, mostly
on motor bike.
There are
entire families consisting of mum, dad, and several children travelling
together on one motor bike and not a helmet for anyone??
There are
numerous dodgy looking hotels in the street but still a quiet street in
relation to many other tourist spots.
We went
back to the magnificent roman ruins this morning for a guided tour. It was
absolutely amazing. I know Tony always calls me a philistine because of my lack
of interest in culture (ie. Museums, galleries etc.) but these ruins were very
special and the excellent guide made it all come to life. NB: This is a special
note to Gary Blakey “this doesn’t mean that you can rabbit on about the Romans
to me when I come back”. Also, special apology for the excess of photos
covering the ruins but they are especially for ‘gaggy’!
The ruins
are one of my highlights so far, unfortunately the food today at this café is
definitely not.
I have
uploaded (rather Tony has uploaded, not that I can’t do it!) photos of the main
centre of town here in Palmyra
where the locals are going about their business. A woman came to me on the
street here holding her baby out and asking for money, but apart from that it
was pretty much people doing their shopping and having a chat.
There are
other photos of people in our group on our very small bus which we travelled in
for 3-4 hours. One of the group said where do we connect up with the real bus?
I had to sadly inform him that for today, this is the real bus!!
Other
photos are of hills, a castle and greenery which is krac des Chevaliers, and
the view from our quaint hotel on top of the hill. I have to say I am not
looking forward to the ‘edge of your seat’ bus ride down the mountain as the
bus teeters over the edge near the castle.
Tonight,
dinner is a buffet in the only place to eat on the mountain, so who knows what
that will be like?? It is always a worry when there is no competition.
Tomorrow we
walk to the castle and then a new bus to Aleppo
(still in Syria).
PS: I
almost forgot! There is a photo included in today’s batch which is of a sign
post showing the way and distance to Iraq on our travels today. Scary
huh???
