Syria with its capital Damascus has been one of my favorite destinations since I studied there in the eighties. From those days, I came back nearly every year to meet old friends, to see the development of the country, which is unfortunately not yet the better in all fields, and of course, to travel the country. Damascus is said to be the oldest permanently inhabited town in the world, and actually it shows traces and remainders of old civilizations more than any other place I know. But not only the capital is full of attractions, other cities and places in Syria have a lot to offer to the visitor, too. Aleppo in the north, Bosra in the south, Palmyra in the east and the seaside and mountain regions in the west, just to name a few, are places that can be easily discovered and toured nowadays. Above all, wherever you go in Syria, you will be surprised by the overwhelming hospitality of the people. Even though the prevailing economic and political situation makes life sometimes difficult for the average Syrian, you will always find somebody to help, in case you were in need of it. Knowledge of Arabic is essential in rural areas outside the capital; in Damascus you will often find people who speak English or French. Having one of the highest birth rates in the world, Syria will have to face the task to feed, educate and supply work to the younger generations in the future. But this task is at the time the greatest chance for the country itself.

           Copyright © 2000-2001 Matthias Toedt Photography                                                               Last update: November 15, 2001