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Syria (Latakia, Bania, Tartus, Arwad, Safita, Homs, Hama, Palmyra)

The bus to Latakia
He liked the hat so much I gave it to him
Welcome to Latakia
Hardly a beach paradise
On to Banias
Where I rented a bike (and a manditory driver) for the day
Together we saw some cool castles...
and incredible panoramas through the surrounding mountains
Wildflower and mountains
Continuing down the coast to Tartus
Oil tanker off the coast
All in strict accordance with OSHA procedures
Looking down on Safita
A small and unremarkable mountainside town
Sunset over Safita from the tower
'What is wrong with this picture?'
The boat to Arwad
Oil tankers and fisheries
The main industry of Arwad (boat building)
Muhammad builds this boat single-hand in 2 months and then sells it for $8000 including a Mazda engine
Sucken ships along the jeddy
The local trash dump
Kids as usual
Me sick as a dog in Alkindi Hospital, Homs
The nurse working on her 3rd insertion of the IV
Thankful me and all mighty Doc
After 3 days I am starting to feel better
Sunrise over Mystas
My campsite in the orchard on the hill
Welcome to Hama
Famous for its water wheels
Waterwheel and river
Waterwheel and Arab
The bus to the desert town of Palmyra
Climbing the castle for sunset
Looking down on Palmyra
Sunset from the castle
Climbing down
Steps and doors
Exploring the ruins the day after
Some important ruins
Looking down on the ruins
Some tombs in the distance
The castle in the distance
The castle less in the distance (the magic of zoom)
A real desert oasis
Lambs and the spaces in between