April 24, 2005
May 11, 2004
10.09.2003
Wednesday, 10 September 2003, Aleppo, Syria 80 degrees, sunny Up early - 8:30 AM. After a great nights sleep in our blissful hotel, it's time to visit the famous Aleppo Souk. First, Naeif and I slap on our dishdashis, and...Read this update
December 09, 2003
09.09.2003
Tuesday, 9 September 2003, Palmyra, Syria 100 degrees, sunny Up early - 8 AM. Quick breakfast, showers, then off to the bus terminal for the ride to Palmyra. We arrive in Palmyra after an uneventful bus ride, and are dropped...Read this update
08.09.2003
Monday, 8 September 2003, Bosra and Suweida, Syria 80 degrees, sunny I wake up around 6 AM, very sick, will spare details here. Today is the day we were supposed to leave for Palmyra, Aleppo and Lattakia, but that will...Read this update
September 20, 2003
07.09.2003
Sunday, 7 September 2003, Jaramana, Syria 70 degrees, SUNNY, pleasant Wake up, breakfast on the terrace. This is a routine I could get used to. Naeif opts to spend the day at home with his family, and rest after the...Read this update
06.09.2003
Saturday, 6 September 2003, Jaramana, Syria 70 degrees, sunny, pleasant Wake up, breakfast of olives, eggs, bread, tomatoes and tea. As we're eating on the terrace, the groom from last nights wedding returns for breakfast at his new wife's family...Read this update
05.09.2003
Friday, 5 September 2003, Jaramana, Syria 80 degrees, sunny, pleasant We all wake up around 9 AM, jet lag seemingly not kicking in, for a breakfast of eggs and olives and tomatoes. After that, everyone takes showers, while I smoke...Read this update
September 04, 2003
04.09.2003
Thursday, 4 September 2003, Jaramana, Syria 90 degrees, SUNNY Today is the day my brother, Jeremy and Diana arrive, and it's cleanup day! I better get into the "motbouch" (kitchen) and help....Read this update
03.09.2003
Wednesday, 3 September 2003, Jaramana, Syria 90 degrees, SUNNY Today, it's all about swimming at the very swanky Elba Cham Palace outside Damascus....Read this update
01.09.2003
Monday, 1 September 2003, Jaramana, Syria 90 degrees, SUNNY We wake up surprisingly early around 9:30, and I decide it's finally time to go check in at the Safira Amerikee (American Embassy) since I've been here almost two weeks, and...Read this update
31.08.2003
Sunday, 31 August 2003, Jaramana, Syria 90 degrees, SUNNY Wake up late, as usual. All the food in Ommee's kitchen now makes me wary especially when I peek in the bottom of the refrigerator, and see a jumble of pots...Read this update
September 02, 2003
02.09.2003
Tuesday, 2 September 2003, Jaramana, Syria 90 degrees, SUNNY Today is my birthday, Happy Birthday to meeeeee! I'm 42!...Read this update
August 31, 2003
30.08.2003
Saturday, 30 August 2003, Jaramana, Syria 90 degrees, SUNNY I wake up and feel much better. Stomach cramps gone and I feel thinner also. Ah, the Syrian Diet . . . Naeif and I don our dishdashis and lounge around...Read this update
August 29, 2003
29.08.2003
Friday, 29 August 2003, Jaramana, Syria 90 degrees, SUNNY Wake at 9:30, and again at 10:30. Time to go up and drink Mate at Nizar's in our pajamas. We really don't change out of pajamas most mornings at all, until...Read this update
28.08.2003
Thursday, 28 August 2003, Jaramana, Syria 85 degrees, SUNNY Naeif and I sleep until 11 AM and wake up to NO WATER! The contraption that moves water up four floors only to have it cascade back down to the ground...Read this update
27.08.2003
Wednesday, 27 August 2003, Jaramana, Syria 85 degrees, SUNNY Typical leisurely morning, Naeif and I wake up late and eat breakfast. After that, we do a couple visits - notably, Naeif's aunt, who is a widow. His uncle died suddenly...Read this update
26.08.2003
Tuesday, 26 August 2003, Jaramana, Syria 90 degrees, SUNNY Today we get up fairly late - this is becoming a habit - and I decide it's time to pay a visit to my pals at the American Embassy. We finally...Read this update
August 27, 2003
25.08.2003
Monday, 25 August 2003 Arneh, Syria 80 degrees, SUNNY! Wake up around 9:30, and hang out on the porch. Despite the fresh mountain air, I didn't sleep a wink last night. It was because of the utter quiet. Not a...Read this update
24.08.2003
Sunday, 24 August 2003 Jaramana and Arneh, Syria 97 degrees, SUNNY! Naeif wakes up at 8 AM, to a little bit of digestive upset, and goes off to drink Yerba Mate. I wake up at 10:30, and am feeling slightly...Read this update
23.08.2003
Saturday, 23 August 2003 Jaramana, Syria 97 degrees, SUNNY! Naeif and I sleep until NOON! We get up, have a quick breakfast and beat feet out of Jaramana to Damascus. We're heading to the High Institute for Music and Ballet,...Read this update
22.08.2003
Friday, 22 August 2003 Jaramana, Syria 97 degrees, SUNNY! Wake up at 10:30 AM. Breakfast in the courtyard. I'd be happy with just tea and a hard boiled egg, but the dishes full of food are already piling up on...Read this update
21.08.2003
Thursday, 21 August 2003 Jaramana, Syria 90 degrees, SUNNY! A lazy day chez Rafeh, getting rid of remaining jet lag and giving Naeif some much needed "family time"....Read this update
20.08.2003
Wednesday, 20 August 2003 Paris, France 12:15 PM Thankfully, an uneventful flight from Chicago to Paris, with Naeif recieving "SSSS" status going through security at O'Hare. Both of us had to practically disrobe, but the security personnel soon realized that...Read this update