Let us pray … for the beautiful country of Syria;

for those who have lost everything that they held dear;

for those who sold their houses, everything to escape the dangers;

for those who fled to an uncertain future in Europe.

Pre-war Damascus was, quite simply, stunning.

Songs for viewing this gallery – each one gives a different mood to the city, just as the city has different moods – so try ’em all:

Damascus Where are you now, artist, I wonder?

Bicycle and shadows Damascus

Typical backstreet – easy to get lost in the old town

Damascus Holding up a tree

SEE: Let us Pray, Three wheels on someone’s wagon now, I guess

Damascus Courtyard of the Talisman

Damascus Saturday morning hanging outside the mosque

Room at the Talisman

The Roman arch in the main square in front of the entrance to the souq

Damascus February light

Damascus Inside the door at the Talisman Hotel

Damascus In the souq – sweet shops

Through the Roman arch

Damascus But the inside of the Talisman boutique hotel would not be imagined from the entrance

Damascus Plastic foodfor sale in the souq

Souq

Family

A newly-washed street

Food seller in the souq

Damascus Entrance to the souq

Damascus Saturday morning at a coffee shop

Damascus Backstreet facing the entrance to the (unmarked) Talisman hotel

Damascus What? All the pies? Moi?

Main square in old Damascus and entrance to the souq

Damascus How the leather-sellers hand you your purchases

Leather sellers’ street

Hats off

Not only muslims allowed in the mosque.

Cars under the Roman arches

Papa Josef

A big coffee pot

Young and old

Damascus An automobile of distinction

Damascus Oil cans

Damascus Buying koranic books

And where many of these lovely people are now. The eyes tell the story.

In the apothecary shop

Leather-sellers houses/workshops

Leather sellers’ houses

Out of the souq

Blackbirds

Main square old Damascus

Leather sellers

The artist

Damascus Orange seller

Domes

Lights in the souq

Main square

Birds on the mosque

City of immigrants

Light