In the far north-east of Syria near Hassake on an archeological excavation

on the way














restored parts on the Tell, parts of one temple




Aaron working

The excavation I visited is in the far northeast of Syria, close to Hassake, in a place called Tell Beydar. There are Syrians, Germans, Italians and people from Belgium digging since about 20 years already. They work on a settlement that has been inhabited since 2,450BC, trying to excavate specially from this period because they found scripts in one of the excavated buildings and try to get as much knowledge about this period now as possible – although there are also younger layers from e.g. the Hellenistic time. I spent two days there – and belive me, the people working there have a rather comfortable life in a wonderful excavation house built in the traditionell Syrian mud brik style, they get really good food and a lot of alcohol. When I arrived in the late afternoon Aaron, the friend of mine who works there, suddenly stopped guiding me around and said that we have to leave the Tell quickly and get back to the house to not miss the cocktail-time… And they even got Kaviar (only Iranian, but who cares) and Syrian truffel. So life seems not too bad although very remote. But two days were perfect for me, especially because the boss of my friend took some time off to guide me through the whole excavation, explaining everything they did and do now and answering to all my questions. I never had such a good guide before!

In Aleppo




sunset at the citadell






a french guy from the hostel and me were asked from these girls to take a picture with them








street in Aleppo




in the market

the old market

In Deir ez-Zor (eastern Syria)
the Eufrate

Random








in Quneitra near the Golan Heights
























near the Syrian border to the from Israel occupied Golan Heights







Who has the nicer smile??

Still in Palmyra



pure kitsch




in the oasis at Palmyra

a Beduine-girl

Palmyra (Syria),
after Damascus I went there with Tomaso for one day

Some more impressions of Damascus



How many cats are in the picture?




in the city centre of Damascus









near my hotel

Rana, my Syrian friend from 2 1/2 years ago, and her son (who remembered me from 2 1/2 years ago, even that I had longer hair - incredible!)

Springtime at St Simeon near Aleppo

One day in Quneitra, near the Golan Heights which are occupied by Israel



a destroyed church

the "other" side

Why I had to cut my hair...


I went to a Syrian hairdresser to have my hair cut before leaving Syria - I thought it was a good idea to do it in Syria because in Turkey it would be more expensive.
Talking to the hairdresser he explained that he speaks French, so I told him in French how I want my hair to be cut, what I DON'T want (a fringe!!!) and I showed him a picture in one of his hairstyle-books of the cut I want - so what is there to be misunderstood??

When I came out of his shop I felt like the mixture of a Russian prostitute, an astronaut with a helmet on his head and a 45 year old Syrian with a neat haircut:

That's why I asked Isa to cut my hair really short - because the fringe was the shortest part and I absolutely didn't want a fringe - and I think she did a good job (without having learnt how to cut hair)

One friday on an excursion with a Syrian socialist party to Bosra

Fridays are either the worst (if you want to be alone in the sights) or the best days (if you like being with thousands of Syrians) to visit sights in Syria because it's their weekend



me and the former president Hafiz al-Assad







school children dancing "dabke" in the amphitheater at Bosra










another school class, it was the month of excursions for Syrian
schools








typical situation - Syrian children try their English on Isa from Denmark (she cut my hair) and Jose from Spain












Fadi in the red t-shirt invited us to join the trip with the Socialists to Bosra