| Tips and photos of Damascus tourist attractions and tourist traps, posted by real travelers and Damascus locals. Damascus Map |
 | Damascus Tourist Traps | Tips 1 - 7 of 7 |  |
 by themagiclake
"In the blue harbor of your eyes
Blow rains of melodious lights,
Dizzy suns and sails
Painting their voyage to endlessness.
In the blue harbor of your eyes
Is an open sea window,
And birds appear in the distance
Searching for islands still unborn.
In the blue harbor of your eyes
Snow falls in July.
Ships laden with turquoise
Spill over the sea and are not drowned.
In the blue harbor of your eyes
I run on the scattered rocks like a child
Breathing the fragrance of the sea
And return an exhausted bird.
In the blue harbor of your eyes
Stones sing in the night.
Who has hidden a thousand poems
In the closed book of your eyes?
If only, if only I were a sailor,
If only somebody'd give me a boat,
I would furl my sails each evening
In the blue harbor of your eyes."
(N.Qabbani)
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 Around the mosque. by siaki68
I was always handling –or at least trying to- this situation with humor, but I saw many tourists with red-blue faces, ready to have a nervous break down! Leave a Comment
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 by batman2000bc
Photograph courtesy of
Prof. Phillip V. Stanley
This is a view of the main street of Apamea, the cardo maximus, looking towards the north gate. The city was founded in the 3rd century BCE by Seleucus I and was named for his Persian wife. It was built at the crossing of the two main trade routes through Syria. It was visited by Antony and Cleopatra and the name was almost changed at that time. It was an important trade center in Roman Syria. Leave a Comment
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Changing money: US dollars work best, although you can change Sterling and French Francs, but the rates aren't brilliant. Traveller's Cheques are usually accepted at most banks, but the paperwork is ridiculous. It is far better to change money on the black market, but it is also very easy to get ripped off. Many of the tourist shops in the souk will offer to change money, but at lousy rates. Martyr's Square is a better area to change, but most foreigners in Damascus will know of a reliable shop (usually an Adibas or Abidas sport's shop) where you can change money. Usually the first time you change, you will get a good rate as they want you to come back, but then they will become more reluctant to give you good rates on repeat visits. Tension with Israel is often cited as a reason why the rates have dramatically dropped since your last visit, whether or not any tensions have taken place. This is hardly ever true, and chances are that the moneychanger in the next room will 'have excellent rates, mister'. Bargain hard, and make sure you keep up to date with the official rates at the bank, as the black market rate is usually about 6 liras (pounds) more to the dollar. If you don't like the price, don't change! In some of the posher hotels (Cham Palace, Ommayad, Meridien and Sheraton) you might be able to persuade the staff to give you cash advances on credit cards, although I'm not sure if this is entirely legal! It would help if you are a guest at the hotel. If you get stuck, there are cash machines in Beirut (Lebanon) and Amman (Jordan), but this might create visa problems if you don't have a multiple entry visa. Leave a Comment
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Taxis from the airport sometimes take you to a different hotel than requested, saying that your hotel has burnt down, or changed it's name 'yesterday'. If you use a taxi firm from the airport, you pay beforehand, so at least the meter isn't escalating while you argue over hotels, and you can also report the taxi driver to the firm. If you use a firm, it will cost US$10 to anywhere in central Damascus. If you know where you are going, you could take the airport bus - how this bus keeps moving is nothing short of a miracle, but it is very cheap, costing only SŁ10 plus SŁ10 per bag. It 'shuttles' ('limps' would be a more appropriate word) between the airport and Shoukry al-Quwwatly Street. Leave a Comment
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This souq upon visual inspection is vibrant and lively. If you've seen other souqs though, you'll know this one has been done up to pull all the tourists visiting the Omayyad Mosque in. If you really want to purchase something, stroll around a bit. All of the souqs are worth checking out and there are a few things worth purchasing. Or just wait until you are in Aleppo.
Don't fall for the "Please just come have tea in my shop bit". You will be there for a while and pressured to purchase a lot.
The surrounding souqs. Or Aleppo. Leave a Comment
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 salesguy by BavaviaLeave a Comment
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