Phil's Mideastern Meanderings

Greetings from Damascus! Right, I appreciate that I'm behind, but I've been a little under the weather with a poorly tum. (Sympathy, please.)

I'll try and bring you up to date in the 10 minutes I have before we leave for Palmyra…

Thu 18th Felt pretty crummy, emerging late fom my tent. Glad to be transported to the Petra Moon Hotel. Decided to make the effort and walk into Petra with Liam and Dawn. (Chris elected to sleep: wise man.)

Well, what can I say? It's probably more commercialized than you might think: Indiana Jones Cafe, and loads of touts trying to sell rides on donkeys, camels & pony-traps, but that's par for the course, really. Nothing can detract from the sheer geological splendour of the Siq, over 1km long, as you wander towards the famous Treasury. There are ancient water-chanels carved into the shady stone walls (cunning: these guys knew how to move water). The colours are breathtaking, and seem to shift with the light. Then, of course, comes the moment you've been waiting for, when you turn the corner and catch your first gimpse of the rose-red pillars of the Treasury. It really is worth it. It's a huge site, and there's plenty more to see, but I was pretty pooped, and waited at a cafe while the others couted ahead. More than enough for one day.

Fri 19th Decided against the 14km hike to the monastery. Shame, but I need to rest. Relaxed, caught up on journal, and started to really appreciate the inane distractions of western culture: watched The Island, Lawrence of Arabia and, of course, Indiana Jones & the Last Crusade :^) There was really cute cat with 2 kittens playing in the lobby. One had markings that made him look like Hitler. Ah. Right, Sorry, but time's up! Love to all ;^)