We would often leave Old Damascus by hailing taxis from Bab Sharqi, which means Eastern Gate. It's one of the seven ancient city-gates of Damascus and the one we saw every day as it was closest to the hostel. We could leave this gate by car or walk along the outside of the wall. It's along this wall that we could reach our hostel by ladder.
Bab Sharqi is a short walk from the church
that honors the apostle Paul
(See second & third pictures here.)
This is a view across the road.
I think the sign says something about Coke being good with food. Some people boycott American products because they believe our major corporations pay high taxes and they know Israel receives billions of US tax money. They do not want to support their enemy in the slightest way so they avoid American goods.
Here is a car wash across the street from the hostel. Note the cute little yellow taxi. We rode in those nearly every day. Most all of the taxi drivers were sociable and many said one word we understood well: "Obama!" One driver asked Samer if we were sympathetic to the Arabs whereas another declared us "friendly" (because of our smiles) and wished he had a day off so he could spend it with us. He is the one who didn't want to charge us for taking us to Anas Restaurant. (Don't worry, we paid him.) Taxi rides were cheap in Syria and bus rides were even cheaper.
Pictures from Damascus, Syria
January/February 2009
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