Aleppo’s labyrinthine souqs – or rather souqs within a souq – have long been one of our favorites in the Middle East, mainly because it has remained relatively untouched by tourism up until recent years – especially compared to Istanbul’s Grand Bazzar and Cairo’s Khan el Khalili. The medieval souqs are where locals shop for … Read more about Aleppo’s labyrinthine souqs
If there’s one destination above all else in the world where you want to explore alone, and don’t want to be tagging along behind a blathering guide – or want a guide trailing along behind you (read this post for an explanation) – it’s the Dead Cities of Syria. Serjilla, Al Bara, Jerada, and Ruweiha … Read more about Doing it alone at the Dead Cities
I love to discover incongruities when I travel, as I told you. Like the coffee-seller using a shiny Italian espresso machine in Aleppo’s medieval souq, I like this image of two guys working a Turkish doner kebap stand in Beijing. It wasn’t something I expected to see in downtown Beijing. For me, it was out … Read more about Travelling: incongruities #2
One of travel’s delights for me is discovering wonderful incongruities. Like this coffee-seller in Aleppo Souq. While there’s nothing unusual about finding coffee-sellers in Syrian souqs, they’re usually armed with a traditional coffeepot or thermos, tiny ceramic or plastic cups, and a container of fresh water to wash them in. What’s so incongruous about this … Read more about Travelling: incongruities #1
This is a little shop that’s typical of many in Aleppo’s atmospheric souq, selling everything from medicinal herbs and dried lizard skins to Clairol hair colors and loofahs for the hammam. it’s a bit like a Boots pharmacy really, only the service is better. Have you ever tried to carry your groceries on your head? … Read more about Aleppo: souq pharmacy