Syria Favorite Tips by MalenaN Top 5 Page for this destination

The sea and the beach

Favorite thing: Summer days can be very hot in Syria. How refreshing isn't it then to take a swim in the Mediterranean!
The only beach I visited in Syria is at Cote d'Azur de Cham. The entrance fee is 250 SP and you will then have access to the nice beach the whole day.
There are sun beds for everyone to use (but they all might be taken already when you arrive).
At Cote d'Azur de Cham there are jet skis and motorboats for hire, but you are only allowed to drive them outside the rope.
Swimming is safe inside the protected area.
This side of Syria I did not see last time I was here. It is so different from the more conservative areas.

Reconstruction

Favorite thing: At many of the ancient sites and castles there has been a lot of reconstructionwork. For example on the tetrapylon (in Palmyra) to the left only one of the pillars are of the original granite, the rest are badly done in coloured concrete.
Well, there are both pros and cons with the reconstructions. And I must say that in this case I like seeing the big cornice up on the pillars as it once was rather than lying on the ground.

Sunrise in Palmyra

Favorite thing: To see Palmyra in the best light you should be there early, at sunrise. You will probably have the whole sight to yourself for a while and there will be time for you to explore the ruins before it becomes too hot at midday.
I went out to the sight at 5.30 but didn't go all way first as there were two barking dogs between me and the ruins. I waited a while until a few people came by on their way to work. I didn't see any dogs after that.

Sunset over Palmyra

Favorite thing: On a hill above the ruins in Palmyra there is an Arab Castle. This is a nice place to go to for sunset. It is not difficult to climb the hill (but don't take the steepest path up or down). From top of the castle you will have a great view over the ruins, the town and oasis.
Admission to the castle is 150 SP.

Syrian hospitality

Fondest memory: My best memory from Syria is absolutly whene I stayed with a family in the village Abtin, 50 km south of Aleppo.
I met the family and their friends outside the citadel in Aleppo. They found someone who could translate for them. One of them spoke a few worlds English and I speak very few words of Arabic. But they were all very nice and I went with them to their village to stay over the night.
In Abtin there are both muddhouses and stonehouses and cultivated fields around the village.
We ate a lot of delisious food and drank tea.
If you get an invitation and feel confortable accept the invitation. You will meet really nice people and it is defenitly the best way to see a country.