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Syria

‘…no recorded event has occurred in the world but Damascus was in existence to receive news of it. Go back as far as you will into the vague past, there was always a Damascus… She has looked upon the dry bones of a thousand empires and will see the tombs of a thousand more before she dies.’
Mark Twain, The Innocents Abroad, 1869
 
Legend has it that on a journey from Mecca, the Prophet Mohammed cast his gaze from the mountainside onto Damascus but refused to enter the city because he wanted to enter paradise only once – when he died. In a place that vies for the title of the world’s oldest continually inhabited city, this is but one of thousands of stories.
 
Hotels:
Four Seasons - www.fourseasons.com/damascus/
Bloudan Grand Hotel - www.bloudangrandhotel.com
 
Restaurants:
Al Khawali Restaurant
Naranj
Haretna - www.haretna.net
Elissar Restaurant
Kan Zaman (Bet Jabri) - www.jabrihouse.com/
 
Shopping:
Sham City Cente - www.chamcitycenter.com/en
 
Entertainment:
 
Sights:
Al Azem Palace (Palace of As'ad, Pasha al-'Azm) -http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/As'ad_Pasha_al-Azm
Old City - www.oldamascus.com
Saladin (Selahedin) Mausoleum - www.lonelyplanet.com/syria/damascus/sights/42034
 
Getting Around:
 
Travellers are increasingly hiring cars for the convenience it brings. A popular option is to also hire a driver for a day. For car-rental options try the following:
  • Budget (499 9999; opposite Four Seasons Hotel Damascus)
  • Europcar Saahat Umawiyeen (222 9300; Sheraton Damascus Hotel & - Towers); Sharia Shoukri al- Quwatli (222 9200; Le Meridien Damas)
  • Hertz ( 223 2300; www.hertz.com; Cham Palace)
*Source: Lonely Planet