Bosra and Palmyra, southern and eastern SYRIA

From Lebanon I went back to Damascus (Syria) and then to Bosra (in southern Syria near the Jordanian border). Bosra is an ancient city dating from the 15th century BC. It showcases the oldest Islamic square minarets and a lovely old Roman theater built in the second century AD, which seats 15 thousand spectators, and is considered one of the most beautiful and well-preserved Roman amphitheaters in the world. Bosra played a prosperous role as an important halt for pilgrims on the way to Mecca which lasted until the early 17th century.

From Bosra I headed back to Damascus, and from there I went deep into the eastern desert on the road to Baghdad, Iraq (passed the Baghdad Cafe...a very lonely but colourful cafe cum restaurant with a very sad camel waiting outside). My destination was Palmyra. Palmyra is in the heart of Syrian desert, and is often described as the "bride of the desert". Its magnificent remains tell of a heroic history during the reign of Queen Zenobia. Zenobia ruled Palmyra in a way that astonished both West and East. Without telling much here.....let me just say...she was quite a woman!! The "Oasis", as it is sometimes called, is located near a hot-water spring called Afqa, which made it an ideal halt for caravans moving between Iraq and Al-Sham (present day Syria, Lebanon, Holy Land and Jordan), trading in silk from China to the Mediterranean. Spending a full day in Palmyra was just great...walking around the old ruins, huge colonnades, the amazingly well preserved Bel Temple, Arch of Triumph, the Amphitheater, the Baths, the Straight Street, the Congress Council and the Cemeteries...really an amazing place...and tough to imagine what life would have been like here under the reign of Queen Zenobia (by the way...she claimed to be the daughter of Cleopatra...no wonder!)