Monthly Archives: September 2017
Syria Before The Conflict Part 7, The People
Now I have come to the end of my 2009 tour of Syria it is time to consider the people who I came across. I have purposely concentrated on the Syria that I saw on the trip – fantastic history, fabulous architecture and wonderful people. As I now often reflect on what has happened these […]
Syria Before The Conflict Part Six, Damascus
The capital was to be our last port of call on our magical Syrian tour. The bus from Palmyra was packed, so we took the only available seats right at the back on the left hand side. Before long a soldier was leaning on Hamish’s shoulder fast asleep! We stopped half way for a foodstop. […]
Paris 2017 Style
Paris is an every year destination for Mrs Wilbur & I and after years of staying in various arrondissements, we now usually find ourselves stopping in the 18th, in the area of Montmartre. Montmartre is the ‘village’ of Paris, the former hang out of the avant garde of the likes of Toulouse-Lautrec, Van Gogh, Monet […]
Chartres Cathedral
An hour south-west from Paris Gare du Montparnasse by train, Chartres makes an excellent option for a few hours out if the capital. The small city is dominated by its huge cathedral, a classic Gothic structure with its vaulted ceilings, flying buttresses, beautiful stained-glass windows and amazing carvings inside and out. Add to that the […]
Syria Before The Conflict Part Four, Roman Ruins
After a couple of nights in Hama we were half-way through our Syrian adventure. We had decided to take another train part of the way for the hell of it – for less than an hour between Hama & Homs. We stopped briefly in Homs, first negotiating a taxi for the ride south, a price […]
