lebanon and syria advice

[chezdor]

Hoping to fly out to Beirut at the end of August...any advice anyone could give me would be much appreciated

 

[tim]

I went to Syria over 20 years ago. all I can say is do all the history stuff: Damascus - particularly the Omayad Mosque and the Street called straight, Krac, Aleppo, Palmyra the Hotel Zenobia in Palmyrra looked like fun in a 1930's Agatha Christie way - but it has recently suffered renovation)- try also to get over to Jordan to go to Petra. try also to visit some of the less well known archelogical sites. Explore the souks,Drink lots of Araq and indeed anything else that is proffered. I got wonderfully drunk in an open air bar in the hills overlooking Damascus. Eat lots. Look out for the secret police and be aware of the fact that the regime, although more wishy-washy under Bashar has a very brutal but very succesful past

 

[goldenecitrone]

There's a U75 solidarity march planned in Damascus around then. You should probably take your own burka with you if you feel like joining in. Good luck.

 

[chezdor]

Thanks both!

 

[Diamond]

I'm flying out to Damascus tomorrow and will get back from Beirut in early August.

I'll be able to provide you with plenty of info when I return.

Is there anything specific that you wanted to know?

 

[tim]

There's a U75 solidarity march planned in Damascus around then. You should probably take your own burka with you if you feel like joining in. Good luck.

Demonstrating in a veil, and particulalry with a veiled face, in Damascus is the perfect way ingratiate yourself with the enthusiatically secular Syrian secret police.

 

[petee]

Hizbullah critic Lokman Slim shot dead in Lebanon

Activist linked material behind Beirut port explosion to Syrian use of barrel bombs

www.irishtimes.com

"Despite the warnings, Slim had continued to speak out. During a televised interview with Saudi-funded Al Arabiya channel last month, Slim linked the stash of ammonium nitrate, which caused the explosion in Beirut in August, to the Syrian regime’s use of barrel bombs during the civil war.

“This is a war crime involving Moscow, Damascus and Beirut,” Slim said. Russia, Iran and Hizbullah back the Syrian regime" "

guidance? i don't know his position.

 

[petee]

Hizbullah critic Lokman Slim shot dead in Lebanon

Activist linked material behind Beirut port explosion to Syrian use of barrel bombs

www.irishtimes.com

"Despite the warnings, Slim had continued to speak out. During a televised interview with Saudi-funded Al Arabiya channel last month, Slim linked the stash of ammonium nitrate, which caused the explosion in Beirut in August, to the Syrian regime’s use of barrel bombs during the civil war.

“This is a war crime involving Moscow, Damascus and Beirut,” Slim said. Russia, Iran and Hizbullah back the Syrian regime" "

guidance? i don't know his position.

(sry, wrong thread, i reposted it elsewhere.)