An opportunity arose this summer and I grabbed it. Most travelers wait for wars to end before visiting countries where they are occuring. I visited Somalia earlier this year and was hit by a projectile. But I survived. So I found a tour operator and a guide and managed to talk one friend into going with me β kind of like what I did when I went to Venezuela. My trip might show others that it is possible, and I think tourism in Syria will soon take off.
I had long wanted to go to Syria. Syria has a rich history and many ancient ruins to go along with beautiful sights. In recent years Syria has of course been known for the war. I wanted to see for myself what the situation in the country is like now. My Syria trip was a bit of a spontaneous one. As of early summer, I had an open window of 10 days in my September schedule. I needed to be somewhere close to Europe. So I thought this could be the time I would visit not just Syria, but also Lebanon β two countries I really wanted to see.
I also figured that if the Syria part fell through I could spend the entire time in Lebanon. So I bookended my trip to Syria with stays before and after in Lebanon.
While searching for a tour, a friend and fellow traveler whom I met in Nauru recommended me a Syrian tour organizer. The organizer had some bad reviews online and I was warned not to use him. But I decided to go with him anyway. It was a gamble, and it ultimately paid off. So I asked friends if they would like to join me. Eventually one German friend of mine did, and we were on our way to the Middle East. My friend and I met up with a Lebanese guide and set out to explore the city. We had a full day to see Beirut before continuing on to Syria.
We visited the old city center, then walked along the seaside promenade to see the famous Pigeon Rocks in the sea. We sat down at a restaurant next to the Pigeon Rocks and enjoyed a traditional Lebanese meal.
