40C and no cold beer

My daughter Jessica and I spent a day touring the ruins of Palmyra. It’s mentioned in texts back as far as 2000BC, but most of the ruins are from the first and second century. Once Syria’s star tourist attraction we were the only foreigners they have seen for a long time, as there are very few foreigners in the country. It’s very hard on any one working in the tourist industry. In the old city of Damascus the souqs (markets) are still busy and bars aren’t too hard to come by. Despite what you hear on the news I feel that my daughter Anya is lucky to be living here surrounded by such generous and friendly people.