Aleppo
Suks y Mercados
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Siria / Syria tour with any Travel in Style tour to Egypt,
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Title:
Suqs/ Mercados
Publication/
Ejemplar: Saudi Aramco World
Writer/
Escritor: Louis Werner
Translatotion/
Tradución: Ruth Saravia
Aleppo
y Damasco se disputan el titulo de la ciudad más antigua del mundo que
ha sido habitada de manera continua. Ambas son mencionadas en las tablas
Eblaite del tercer milenio A.C. donde Aleppo aparece mencionada como
Hal-pa-pa. No obstante, las reliquias neo-Hitita finas recién encontradas
en el montículo alto de lo fuera la gran fortaleza de a Alepo, parecen
favorecer en este concurso de antigüedad a esta ciudad, la mas al norte
de estas dos ciudades más grandes de Siria.
Desde
la antigüedad Alepo se ha dedicado al comercio; importes y exportes
a larga distancia de objetos exóticos y el comercio cara a cara de mercadería
para el uso cotidiano. Esta actividad ha sido el sustento de la economía
de Aleppo. Los gritos anunciando nueva mercancia y el chachareo de los
mercaderes que repica aun el las estrechas calles es el eco de las voces
de aquellos comerciantes que la fundaron hace 4.000 años.
Hoy
en día hay unos 15 kilómetros (9 millas) de calle dedicadas a los suqs
o mercados, callejones sin salidas y zaguanes comerciales van a dar
a la avenida principal que mide un kilómetro y medio. Esta avenida principal
esta cubierta en parte de piedras con las que fue fundada y ladrillo
y sigue la ruta de Decumanus, la calle principal de la ciudad de este
a oeste trazada en tiempos de la Grecia antigua. Así como esta calle
fue trazada fueron tantas otras en varias ciudades en el mundo Mediterráneo.
En
aquel entonces Aleppo era el centro principal de importación y distribución
entre el este y el oeste. Aquí las riquezas de la India y Mesopotámia
se encontraban con sus compradores e intermediarios que las embarcaban
hasta el continente Griego y posteriormente a Roma.
Empezando cerca de la ciudadela, la calle principal Decumanus corre
cuesta abajo pasando por los puestos de artesanías y otros como el suq
al-Attarine o mercado de perfumes. Hasta abajo esta el portón lo suficientemente
alto como para que pasase un camello sin tener que agacharse en rumbo
hacia el Puerto de Antioquia, 80 Kilómetros (50 millas) hacia el occidente.
Hoy, comerciantes recién llegados a Aleppo, llegan desde Moscú por avió
o desde Turquía en autobús. Los objetos exótico que alguna vez se distribulleron
aqui para la venta ahora han dado cabida a los productos de marcas globales.
In
English : Click Here
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THE
LANGUAGE OF THE JESUS IN THE LAND OF THE BOOK
Syria
is truly the Land of the Book. The ancient alphabets of the Near East
grew into Aramaic and then Hebrew, and finally Arabic and the modern
Latin script that you're reading!
Jesus
spoke to His Disciples in Aramaic. And nowhere else in the Holy Land
does His language live as in Maaloula, where His words may still be
heard exactly
as He spoke them. For the believer, or for anyone who values traditions
of faith, it is a deeply moving experience.
Maaloula
is just a short drive from Damascus, and home to Christian community
that thrives after 2000 years.
As
much as any land, Syria is the birthplace of the Christian faith. St.
Paul converted on the road to Damascus, and in the early centuries of
the Church,
six Syrian bishops were elevated to the Holy See as popes. The grand
Omayyad Mosque is built on a sacred site shared by Muslims and Christians
for centuries,
expressing the true brotherhood at the center of both faiths. Two million
Syrians worship as Christians.
The
full panoply of the Christian experience in the Near East has been played
out in Syria. The Krak des Chevaliers is the unique unconquered Crusader
fortress
that stands intact as if ready to host the Knights of the Cross once
again––and is a must stop for the visitor of faith to the
holy sites.
Extend
your stay in Syria for one day and visit Maaloula
Siria
, Jordania A La Completo
Sample
Charming Boutique Hotels in Syria :
Talisman Hotel: Damascus
Talisman is more than an hotel: it is more like a home. We will provide
you all the services and luxury of a five stars residence. Two wide opened
courtyards with outdoor swimming
pool. Private and exclusive Turkish Hammam.
The Talisman is a luxury «charm» hotel situated in the old
town of Damascus, twenty minutes from the airport, a hundred yards from
the old Roman straight way (Medhat Pacha) and the historical Bab Sharqi,
famous now for its souks and street markets. This old Jewish palace, built
in a quiet side street and easily accessible by car, has been restored
in the most authentic tradition of an Arab house.
Each
of the 16 rooms and suites at Talisman is unique with its personalized
lay-out and decoration. All the rooms are equipped with the latest commodities:king
size bed, mini bar, central heating, individual air-conditioning, plasma
television set with decoder so that you may choose any channel you please,
DVD reader, wi-fi internet connection, telephone. Executive suites are
larger and have a desk corner. The bathrooms are spacious and planned
for your rest and well-being: finely worked wooden basins with their matching
mirrors, old cement tiled or beige marble floors, bath tub or shower cabin,
or both, hair-drier and comfortable bathrobes.
Zenobia hotel: Palmyra
built in 1920 … Agatha Christy was one of the welcomed guests ,
the Zenobia Hotel is ideally located in the middle of Palmyra archeological
site; rooms offers a wonderful view of the traces of past civilizations,
which you can explore at your ease.
The
26-room hotel offers a wonderful view of the traces of past civilizations,
which you can explore at your ease. The hotel is a masterpiece of elegance
and warm hospitality that is part of our commitment to tradition particularly
amidst this historical surrounding. You are welcome to the world of Zenobia
hotel where you relive the past and feel the glorious days of Palmyra.
The hotel rooms; all are air-conditioned, with central heating and a telephone.
The Countess suite is a duplex room, with two double beds and a private
bathroom on each deck. ( Supplement applies, and you must really book
in advance to get this suite)
The
Oasis restaurant offers a wide variety of delicious cuisine whether it
is indoors or in the open air with a direct view on the ruins.
Palmyra
was known as the bride of the desert, where once stood as one of the greatest
Roman oasis cities of all times. The extensive roman ruins, only a three-minute
walk from the hotel; stand gracefully to remind us of the glory of Palmyra's
past
Beit Wakil Hotel: Aleppo
A true example of the distinguished 16th century Aleppine architecture,is
a charming palace situated just outside the old city walls.This perfectly
preserved structure which has stubbornly defied the destructive elements
of time,ranks among the most elegant and
beautiful palaces in the region.
The
Hotel is in " Jadidah" which is a particularly picturesque quarter.
Next to the main Maronite church is Sissi Street, which is full of old
Arab residences. Most have now been converted into small boutique hotels
and restaurants serving the delicious local Arab-Syrian cuisine for which
Aleppo is famous. Beit Wakil is one of the loveliest examples. Simple
on the outside, but you enter a beautiful courtyard with a fountain, a
majestic arch, coloured marble flooring and arabesque glass windows. You
can descend past an underground bar into stone-built cellars with a labyrinth
of tunnels, said to lead all the way to the Aleppo Citadel.
Beit
Wakil,a true example of the distinguished 16th. century Aleppine architecture,is
a charming palace situated just outside the old city walls.This perfectly
preserved structure which has stubbornly defied the destructive elements
of time,ranks among the most elegant and beautiful palaces in the region.
Faithful to the old Aleppine tradition the exterior is castle like,simple
and void of any decoration,but as soon one enters inside a magical oriental
story like world comes into existence
The
beautiful courtyards with breathtaking relief and tracery work of their
walls, the marble fountains among the jasmine and lemon trees, the unique
iwan with its majestic arch and colors marble flooring,the elegant arabesque
woodwork of the wall cupboards,the hand drawn wooden ceilings with corniche,
the famous central Qa'a (large room: Lobby ) with its suspended dome and
coloured arabesque glass windows,the stone built cellars and the lime
stone caves below with a labyrinth of tunnels , one of which , links the
palace to the Citadel of Aleppo , are just few of the many elements which
distinguishes the Aleppine masonry art and Arabian architectural genius
Today,
Beit Wakil welcomes its guests as a four star hotel with all the modern
comfort facilities. Beit Wakil rooms and suits are centrally air conditioned,
with traditional comfortable Aleppine furniture, minibar, music, T. V
and satellite services, phone and private bathrooms. Both our summer and
winter restaurants offer a wide verity of delicious Aleppine mezes and
specialties together with an oriental entertainment program of classical
Arabic music and dancing.
Aleppo
includes a virile population, a splendid architecture,and a fine Arab
tradition. Aleppo AL-Chahba, 355 Kilometers from Damascus, has been a
prosperous city since the 3rd millennium B.C. and has maintained its status
through town development and an increasing population. It has played a
vital role in the history of the area from the time of the Akkadian and
Amorite Kingdoms. Until recently it has always been the center of the
junction of the ancient trade routs. The old city was surrounded by a
wall incorporating defense towers and fortified gates built during the
Islamic period. A large part of the wall still standing, for example Bab
Qinisrin, Bab Al-Nasser, Bab Al-Hadid, Bab Antakia. Aleppo is also known
for its mosques and churches and is considered the third city in the Islamic
world because of the number of its mosques and schools. The Archaeological
Museum contains exhibits from the stone age to modern times. It has particularly
interesting collection of antiquities from some of the most ancient site
in Syria (Mari, Ugarit, Ebla) , objects found in the Euphrates Basin,
Hama, Tell Halaf and Ein Dara, in addition to remains from Greek, Roman,
Arab and Islamic periods. Most famous of Aleppo's sights is the citadel,
from where all of the city can be seen.
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THE
PAGANISM OF PALMYRA
The city-state of Palmyra in northeast Syria just off the Iraqi highway
was phenomenal. Palmyra is Syria’s start tourist attraction and
one of the world’s most splendid historical sites. Palmyra’s
intriguing history, along with a profusion of colonnades, temple and funerary
towers are mesmerizing in this desert oasis. Palmyra means the city of
Palms (as one would expect on an oasis in the desert).
The ruins mostly are from the 1st and 2nd centuries A.D. The history dates
at least to the 2nd millennium B.C. Early rulers included the Assyrians
and Persians and then the Seleucids under the descendants of Alexander
the Great’s empire. This area was an indispensable staging post
for caravans from the Mediterranean, Mesopotamia and Arabia. It also was
important on the silk route from China, India to Europe. Passage was only
permitted by paying a heavy toll (there is nothing new about toll roads!).
As the Romans became more powerful, Palmyra was permitted to be a free
city and served as a buffer between East and West. The citizens had equal
rights with those of Rome. This all led to great wealth and prosperity.
Zenobia became queen of Palmyra in 267, expanded her kingdom but was eventually
defeated by Emperor Aurelian.
The city fell in 634 to a Muslim army and literally disappeared under
the sands of the desert until 1678 when two English merchants reintroduced
it to the West.
The single most impressive part o the ruins is the temple of Baal (Bel).
This was mostly completed by 32 A.D. and was a major site of pagan worship.
There is a prominent podium of the sacrificial altar with a large canal
leading from it to collect the blood. A million sheep and goats were killed
her yearly. For comparison, Muslim men today go to Mecca once in their
lifetime. Each man is to bring a sheep to sacrifice. During that special
week, over a million sheep are killed yearly creating a river of blood.
This happens every year even now. Palmyra was the center of pagan worship
and continued the worship of Baal as noted in many texts in the Bible.
The great 1 km colonnaded avenue is really special. Around this are the
theater, Diocletian’s Baths and the Tetrapylon. The Tetrapylon is
a tight grouping of four columns with each of the pillars supporting 150,000
kg of solid cornice. One is of the original pink granite from Aswan in
Egypt. The Valley of the Tombs is very striking. The underground burial
chambers of “the three brothers” is a piece of art with frescoes,
paintings and statuary.
The paganism going on here contemporaneous with the teachings of Jesus
and the apostles presented a strong contrast of beliefs and hope.
THE
PROMINENCE OF ALEPPO AND DAMASCUS
These two Syrian cities both claim to be the oldest continually occupied
city in the world. Both lay claim to a 4000-year history of being a city.
We found both of them to be fascinating.
Our introduction to Damascus was at night. We drove into the old walled
city and were let out of our car. We followed our guide through a labyrinthine
of narrow streets to our house-hotel. We knocked on a plain exterior door
and were let in. Inside was a lovely courtyard with balconies, large decorative
pool, plenty of plants all of which led to another courtyard. Our room
was at the far end of the first courtyard. The furnishings were all dark
wood inlayed with mother of pearl. It was breath taking.
The next day we were led throughout the old city. The emphasis was on
the markets (souks) on and just off the street called Straight as recorded
in Scripture Acts 9. We visited the Umayyad Mosque. This is Syria’s
most significant religious structure. A mosque has been here since the
Muslims came in 636 A.D. There were Muslim pilgrims and teachers from
Iran and Saudi Arabia.
After that we toured the lovely Azem Palace which was built in the mid
1700’s. It includes lovely rooms, courtyards and fountains.
Aleppo is located near the Turkish border and the Mediterranean Sea. Our
lodging was likewise in a 300-year-old house with lovely courtyards. The
Citadel was built by the Marmukes, an Islamic dynasty, in the mid 1300’s.
It is an impressive fortress on the highest point of the city.
The souks (markets) were fascinating. We watched the butchering of a camel.
All meat sold is killed that day, as Islamic law requires fresh meat.
The market was not as busy as Damascus and was designed for the residents,
not tourists. Marilyn got some lovely jewelry. She also went shopping
the night before at some shops in our neighborhood. The products included
2 Bedouin silver pieces for a necklace and a lovely 60-year-old embroidered
tablecloth. We ate that evening at Sissi’s close to our lodging.
We had excellent eggplant ratoulle, cheese bread, mushroom soup. The best
was stopping at a small bakery with a wonderful variety of pistachio pastries
covered in honey!
I will close with HIGHLIGHTS from a variety of places, then zingers and
trip conclusions:
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