Middle East Trip 2003: Syria | Lebanon | Jordan | Palestine The Palestinian-Israeli conflict Travelogue
Damascus
As first stage in our visit to Syria, we enjoyed its capital, Damascus. Besides the modern part of the city, stands out its Old City, one of the oldest continously inhabited cities of the world. There you can find impressive mosques and cheeerful souqs with all kind of people and merchandise. There are lots of old damascene houses in the Old City and its rehabilitation has contributed to improve the popularity of this amazing place.
The New City
Streets of Damascus
Streets of Damascus
One of the official buildings of Damascus with the picture of the former president of Syria
Al-Marjeh Square at city center of Damascus
Not translated yet: Por todo el país se pueden ver las fotografías del actual presidente de Siria, Bashar Al-Assad, así como de su padre, el anterior presidente
The Old City, the citadel and the souq
Citadel entry and the Old City Souq
Al-Hamidiyya, the Damascus souq
One of the minarets of the Umayyad Mosque
Arc of the old door of the city
One of the Umayyad Mosque minarets
Other of the Umayyad mosque minarets
The cosy cafes places outside the east area of the mosque
Streets of the Old City of Damascus
Streets of the Old City of Damascus
Hammam az-Zahariyya entry
One of the employees, cleaning the hammam
Inside the Hammam az-Zahariyya, one of the employee praying
The entry door of the az-Zahariyya madrassa
Madrassa az-Zahariyya (Quranic teaching schools)
Covered streets of the Damascus souq
Covered street of the Damascus souq
The Damascus souq is divided into areas where there are a lot of things
Bridal gowns at Damascus souq
Roofed over street of the souq
Khan, building where formerly the retailers left their camels during the night
Not translated yet: Otra de las callejuelas del zoco
Not translated yet: El sol entrando a través del techo y las ventanas que cubren el zoco de Damasco
Curious street of the Old City, where opposite buildings almost touch each other
Minaret in the Old City of Damascus
Curious street of the Old City
Street vendors in Damascus
Salesman in Damascus street
Fruit salesman in the streets near Damascus souq
Salesman of candies and sweets
Shawerma shop in Damascus souq
Spices shop in Damascus souq
Shoes maker in the souq
The Sayyida Ruqayya mosque
Ruqayya mosque minaret
Entry of the Ruqayya mosque
Ruqayya mosque is the shrine of the Hussein Kerbala daugther
Inside the Ruqayya mosque
Inside the Ruqayya mosque
The place where supposedly Ruqayya body is. It`s accesible both men and wonen but in different areas
Inside the Ruqayya Mosque
Area where only men are allowed
Mirror mosaics
The area for women permitted only. It's impressive the great devotion that these women demonstrate
Few people not only pray in the mosque, they also meet friends and family there
Inside the Ruqayya Mosque
Marble ground of the mosque
Inside the women area, sometimes with their children
Vault of the Ruqayya Mosque
Detail of the door of the Ruqayya mosque
Children celebration in the courtyard of the mosque
Genealogical tree of Islam personalities until Sayyida Ruqayya, buried in this place. Curiosity : Jesus Christ appears in it
Yolanda wearing the mosque visit clothes
The Umayyad Great Mosque of Damascus
Salah ad-Din Shrine
The Salah ad-Din Shrine is close to the Umayyad Mosque
Women must cover their head and wear a wrap-around cloak and shoes have to be removed
Courtyard of the mosque
Inside of Hussein shrine
This place is the closest to the Hussein rests. For this reason, these women introduce the head in the interior of the hole, to to kiss the wall
Into the shrine, supposedly, is the Hussein head
People express honest devotion inside the shrine
Courtyard of Umayyad mosque and the Clocks Dome, constructed in the Century XVIII
Minaret over the entry door of the mosque
The same minaret from the Fountain Door
David, near the Fountain Door, also known as Bab an-Nafura
Golden mosaics over the main facade of the mosque
Other golden mosaics, near the door called Bab al-Barid
Treasure Dome. Built with century XIV mosaics and rests of roman columns
The enormous pray area of the mosque is divided into three aisles
We were very lucky because we could be into the mosque during the midday pray
Men praying inside the mosque close to the main Mihrab, which indicates the direction of the Mecca
The ground of the mosque is covered by a lot of confortable carpets
Dome of the Eagle. It have some names in arabic, like Allah and Muhammad
Women are separated of the men in the prayer hall
At the centre of the prayer hall above the transept, resting on four great pillars, is the Dome of the Eagle
View of two of the three aisles and the Minbar (pulpit)
Men praying inside the mosque
Yolanda in the shrine of John the Baptist
Inside the shrine, where rests the head of John the Baptist
John the Baptist shrine was made by marble and is illuminating by green lights
Women walking by the courtyard of the mosque
The kind man in one of the exits of the mosque
The old damascene houses
One of the damascene houses
The inside of one house of the Old Damascus
The houses have a courtyard where the temperature is more warn than in the streets
Beit Barudi. A damascene house that houses the Architecture faculty of Damascus University
Inner courtyard of Beit Barudi
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