I returned to Mersin Monday morning after catching the 2 AM ‘Smuggler’s Express’ bus from Aleppo to Antakya. I think I and a young Iraqi Turkoman studying in Turkey were probably the only ‘genuine’ passengers on the bus. The bus’ fuel tanks were very full and there were assorted goods packed into various crevices.

The wireless Internet at home is not operating properly so I have been without access for the past week.

When I get the opportunity I will post some photos of my trip.

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Tuesday night Celine, Bangali and I viewed a jazz concert in the Aleppo Citadel. First, an Italian quartet played followed by a Syrian quartet. The historic setting, and mixed audience made the concert more interesting than normal. Will post photos/video when I return to Turkey.

Yesterday I came to Damascus to meet Jeff. After a pizza in a snazzy Damascene restaurant we went to his pad and then the US Ambassador’s residence for a 4th of July BBQ. Attending were US diplomats, their families and American students in Damascus to learn Arabic. Hot dogs, baked beans with bacon, burgers, brownies, US beer and choc-chip cookies were on the menu.

I’m about to jump in a service taxi to another location. Will write again soon.

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I’m writing from an internet cafe in Aleppo, Syria. To my disgust, the local next to is smoking his 6th cigarette since I’ve been here and I haven’t been here that long!

I came here overland (via Antakya/Antioch) on Saturday as the Mersin-Latakia ferry only runs Thursdays and Mondays. My 7th Syrian visa from this border cost 30 USD.

This trip has consisted almost entirely of rest and relaxation. Bangali and Celine are looking after me stupendously well. Celine’s first night roast lamb with garlic and rosemary, boiled whole potatoes in their skins with butter, and cherry sauce made from fresh cherries was a meal to die for!

One thing slightly annoying is the water outages. Each afternoon/evening the public water supply is cutoff and this lasts until early the next morning. Syria is facing a serious water crisis.

Yesterday afternoon I watched Bangali entertainingly play chess against various opponents in the intellectual cafe on Aleppo’s main square. The chess played was almost socialist with the players receiving help from onlookers whether they wanted it or not.

Tomorrow I will take the bus to Damascus to meet Jeff for the first time since his 2002 AIESEC traineeship in Adana.

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I came across the above shampoo bottle amongst other Syrian toileteries and cleaning goods.

What was your inital reaction when you first saw the picture above?

Is there any similarity to the below brand?

9 am this morning I arrived back in Mersin. The 400 km journey from Aleppo took 18 hours instead of the expected 8. The journey to Aleppo’s duration was 16 hours and involved a hike. In between the adventures were 3 fantastic days. I am damn tired now so I will write my in-depth Syria report later this week.