Syria and its people

In restaurants, shops and on the streets they call to us ’Ahlan wa Sahlan’- you are welcome

Bicyclists, cars, boys carrying trays of bread, donkeys, men pushing trolleys full of goods all vie for space on the narrow streets whilst calling out to each other “Hi, how are you?” “How’s your health?” “How’s your family?”

Syrian sheep herders think nothing of guiding their goats in the fast lane of the highway- towards you!

Farmers drive their tractors on the hard shoulder and bicyclists zip across the highway to the adjacent village

Old ladies tell us melancholic tales of how they lost their family members when the French bombarded Damascus to suppress the rioting in 1925

Lattakian hotel workers turn up at the door to repair the toilet when we ask housekeeping for extra toilet paper and towels

In Aleppo, guys sit around and smoke nargilehs and exchange opinions about football

At Crac des Chevaliers the enthusiastic waiter tells us ‘’We have mezze with barbecued chicken or do you want barbecued chicken with mezze?’’

In Damascus families sit together in their small courtyards and watch television

Taxi drivers are helpful, eager to practise their English and believe they are rally drivers

In Hama complete strangers come up to us and tell us ‘Welcome to Syria.’ Everyone smiles and nods and looks fondly at our kids. ‘Salam’ they say

Their hospitality is unparalleled.