The Oldest Syrian City in the World, a Paradise Lost in Conflict, Now Scarce of Travelers
For a long time, Damascus in Syria has been renowned for its geographical advantages, abundant ancient sites, and was hailed as 'the paradise on earth' and the oldest city. As early as 1979, the entire ancient city was listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, becoming a popular tourist destination. However, the seven-year Syrian war has turned this paradise city into a shocking sight.
So, let's take a bazaar and old town day trip with Little Horse to see how Damascus is now. Little Horse originally planned to stay in Damascus for 2 days, but? On the third day, he encountered a group of very young children by the roadside. Perhaps they hadn't seen foreigners, especially East Asian faces.
So they were very enthusiastic and friendly, and after a simple exchange of words, they handed him a bag of freshly baked peanuts. Initially, his heart was a little scared, after all, he was in a foreign land and didn't know anyone. However, thinking about the fact that he had a companion beside him, he was moved by their enthusiasm.
While eating peanuts, the children kept recommending places to visit and good food. For Little Horse, who was a niche traveler, he decided to stay in the city for another day because of their recommendations.
The children recommended their signature fava beans, which locals eat almost every day. Fava beans can be cooked or used to make soup, offering great diversity. The price is very cheap, just 500 Syrian pounds for a bowl of boiled fava beans, which is about 5 yuan RMB. As for the taste, it's pretty decent the first time you try it, but it's quite salty.
They also recommended a very distinctive candy, costing 5500 Syrian pounds, which is about 50 yuan RMB. It has that Middle Eastern sweetness, which most tourists can't accept. However, the candy is distinctive, with various nuts added to the surface, making it very fragrant.
They also told him that local perfumes and rose essential oil from Damascus are world-renowned and of very good quality. Many shop owners can create fragrances like Chanel, Dior, and others based on international brands, and they are also cheaper. After trying it out, it wasn't as pungent as he imagined. So he spent 440 yuan RMB on 10 bottles of perfume, which is 44 yuan RMB per bottle, a great souvenir to bring back home.
Seeing a pastry shop on the side, he ate a bowl of characteristic yogurt, which is similar to Douhua at home, but made with yogurt. The taste is wonderful! A large bowl costs 5 yuan RMB, much cheaper than at home. And the yogurt is characterized by adding various local nuts on top.
After wandering around for a while, his stomach started to feel a little hungry. He saw a corn vendor selling boiled corn, so he couldn't resist! In fact, he just wanted to know how the corn here differs from the corn at home. He spent 5 yuan RMB to buy a piece, and it tastes the same as at home, and the price is also similar.
This is Little Horse's day exploring the bazaar in Damascus, Syria. In fact, if Syria hadn't been ravaged by war, it would definitely be a tourist destination, after all, there used to be many ancient sites here, and the food was more diverse than in other Middle Eastern countries.
But after the war, it became especially depressed and insecure. Tourists are also afraid to come. However, the locals are very enthusiastic and will touch your heart. So, how do you feel about Syria? Feel free to leave a comment to share.
