Location:
The Syrian Arab Republic is a small country, which lies on the eastern coast of
the Mediterranean Sea.
With a total area of 71,500 square miles (85,180 square kilometers), Syria is
slightly larger than the state of North Dakota. Two-thirds of Syria is desert;
the other third is part of the Fertile Crescent along the Mediterranean coast.
About 80 percent of the population lives in that fertile region.
Since the dawn of time, the area that is Syria has been a crossroads of
civilization, the bridge connecting the cultures of the eastern Mediterranean
and the Fertile Crescent, and the beginning of the Silk Road joining the West
with the East. It was here that the cultures of Mari and Ugarit rose and fell;
where the Assyrian, Sumerian, Phoenician, Babylonian, Egyptian, Greek and Roman
empires and cultures met and influenced each other.
The total population of Syria is more than 18 million. Half the people live in
cities, 4 million in Damascus alone.
IMPORTANT FACTS ABOUT SYRIA
Weather:
A pleasant and varied Mediterranean climate with four distinct seasons. The
average daily temperature in June is 24ºC/75ºF with an average rainfall of only
1 mm the entire month.
Time Zones:
- March through October: GMT + 3 hours
Languages:
Although Arabic is the official language, other languages are spoken: Kurdish
(spoken in the north and north east), Armenian (mainly in Aleppo), Turkish (east
of the Euphrates) and Aramean (biblical language spoken north of Damascus).
French is spoken by very few and English prevails in large cities.
Major Cities:
Damascus (3.8 million), Aleppo (4 million), Homs (1.5 million), Latakia (883
thousands), Hama (1.4 million), Tartus (716 thousands), Deir-ez-zor (1 million).
MOST IMPORTANT SITES:
Damascus,often referred to as the oldest continuously inhabited city in the
world, has a wealth of historical sites. Some of the most famous sites include:
The Umayyad Mosque, Azem palace, the House of St. Ananias, St. Paul's window,
National Museum, Al -Takieh, Hamidiyah Bazaar, Saladin's Mausoleum.
North of Damascus is “Ma'Alula”, a spectacular village carved into the mountain,
where people still speak Aramaic, the language of Jesus Christ.
For more information on Syrian sites, please visit the Syrian Ministry of
Tourism’s website.
Sanabel has coordinated with a local travel agency to offer conference
participants various tours which highlight Syria’s most famous landmarks. To
learn more about these specific tours, please visit Syrian Tours.
HOW TO GET THERE:
By land: Syria is connected to Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Turkey via many major
highways.
By Sea: Latakia and Tartus, two Syrian seaports, are located on the
Mediterranean.
By Air: Damascus, Aleppo and Latakia are connected with all continents by their
National carrier (Syrian air) and many major international airlines.
Airport:
Most international airlines operate frequent connections to Damascus
International Airport from Europe, Africa and the rest of the Middle East.
Damascus International Airport is located 32 km from city center and
approximately 16 km from the Ebla Cham Hotel, located next to Sanabel’s 2010
Conference venue.
For information on airport transportation, visit the Airport Transportation
page.
Currency:
Currency unit is the Syrian pound (SP) – and is often referred to locally as
"lira".
1 Syrian Pound = 100 piasters
1 U.S. Dollar = 51 S.P.
Notes: 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000 S.P.
Coins: 1, 2, 5, 10, 25 S.P.
A tourist exchange rate operates through banks (approx. 40 SP to A$1). Hotels
that exchange US dollars often offer a poor rate of exchange; therefore, it is
recommended that payment for any extras be done in Syrian pounds. Major credit
cards accepted in most tourist areas.
Food and Drinks:
Syrians eat typical Middle Eastern food. Common dishes include hummus (a ground
chickpea paste), falafel (fried, ground chickpeas), and shish kebab (lamb chunks
on skewers). A special Syrian dish is farooj, roasted chicken with chilies and
onions. In general, Syrians love their food either very sweet or very sour.
Common basic ingredients in Syrian food include lamb, chicken, chickpeas,
eggplant, rice, burghul (cracked wheat), olives, and yogurt. Syrians drink their
coffee (qahwa) strong and sweet; tea (shay) is also drunk frequently. Stuffed
grape leaves are a common dish in Syria, as elsewhere in the Middle East. Meals
in Syria last a long time, two to three hours or more. Most food is eaten by
hand or scooped up with flatbread.
Shopping – Syria is one of the best Middle Eastern countries for shopping. A wide range of
goods and handicrafts are found in all the souqs (covered markets) in each main
city, but particularly in Damascus and Aleppo.
Souq al-Hamidiyeh, located in the center of Damascus, dates back to 1863. The
shops there sell everything from tissues to leather-work, from sweets and
ice-cream to exquisite handmade brocades, mosaic, and copper inlaid with silver.
Bargaining is both expected and undertaken by all storeowners in a pleasant
manner.
Tipping – Not quite as universal as in most Middle Eastern countries, but is generally
expected in larger hotels and restaurants. Conserve all small notes as they can
be difficult to obtain.
Safety – Syrians are, for the most part, very friendly and visitors are
made to feel very welcome.
Phone – IDD service is available. Mobile phones generally work; however please check with
your local service provider before you travel.
Voltage and plugs – 150/220v. 50Hz. Blackouts are not uncommon.
Other Information:
Tap water is not potable; however, bottled water is widely available.
Photography in Syria is not a problem but avoid photographing police, army
personnel or military establishments.
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