Pictures!

I've returned to the first internet cafe I visited, where I wasn't censored. Turns out that Firefox does censor, but Internet Explorer doesn't. I have been only using Firefox at all the other cafes I've visited, so I'm wonding if I can go other places and bypass things. Something to investigate. Also, no good, Firefox. So much for the joys of open source.

Anyway! Onto pictures!













A very small portion of Damascus, as I walk to the Souk Hamadia. I'm writing this now from the post office, which is located sort of near the giant Sony building. I'll have better pictures of Damascus from above in a few days (the view from the rooftop of my tutor's apartment is breathtaking).













This sign appears at various points around the city. It's probably my second favourite picture of our leader, Bashir al-Assad, son of Halfaz al-Assad, the founder of modern Syria.













Bashir's face is everywhere. On the back of cars, on windows and the sides of buildings, framed in most shops. Here he watches from atop a stick next to the sidewalk as I walk home.













Hung from the roof of Souk Hamedia. I'll write more soon about the situation in Gaza and what it's like to be in Syria (the residence in exile of Khaled Mashaal, the leader of Hamas) during the current crisis, but suffice it to say that people here are very upset, and show it. There are daily demonstrations against Israel, Hamas cars drive around blaring songs, banners show up everywhere, and al-Jazeera talks about nothing else. (I attended a demonstration the other night and held a candle in solidarity with the Gazan people. It was a very small demonstration, not even a flag to step on.)













A demonstration in front of Hijaz Ottoman station a few days ago. The actual station, which is off to the left, is now covered with banners decrying the situation. In the background you can see another picture of Bashir.













Inside Souk Hamadia. This souk is large and grand, with a covered ceiling, shops lining both sides, and streets leading off to different souks.













Souk Hamedia leads to the famous Omayyad Mosque, which is directly behind me in this photo. This is the square in front of the Mosque, where a crowd of people were gathered around a hexagon filled with pigeons. A few men were yelling something over and over, and throwing feed into the center. Occasionally the birds would take flight, then swing back around. I have no idea why.













Walking to the south around the Mosque, you come to smaller souk streets dedicated to specifc wares. This is the gold work street.













The traffic near my home in Bramka.

All of these cars are parked. I live in the car parts district, so all the shops around me have to do with tires and mufflers and everything else you need to fix a car. Also, there are a lot of cars.

I live on this street, in an apartment to the right about halfway down.

In general, I am doing well. I'm a little overwhelmed with how much I have to know for my midterm on Thursday, but I've made friends in my class and have started studying with a group of Germans, so that's neat. I'm also a little thrown off because the work/school week here is Sunday - Thursday -- today feels like Tuesday to me. Finally, I've already managed to worry my host family by going out several nights in a row to spend time with friends, even though I told them where I was and was super safe coming back. I now have a midnight curfew. Sigh.