6th April. Hama, Syria

Two posts today as well as a few images. Had trouble loading them on to my memory stick but all is well again.

Hama is one of the ‘must sees’ of Syria. Mainly for the Norias or water wheels that elevate the water from the Orontes River used to supply the town and irrigate the land. Massive things standing at least 6 metres tall. Sadly the Orontes is now a sewer with methane gases belching up to the surface through the putrid slime. Perhaps outside the town things may be better, we shall see tomorrow. I believe they are still working further upstream
A great day’s travel; after our interrupted night on the beach we headed inland visiting this amazing crusader fortress built on top of these wooded slopes that at times drop sheer to the creeks below. Qala’at Saladin would seem to be quite impregnable but was eventually taken by the Arab invaders. The setting is magnificent but the road to it brought memories of some of the hairpin bends on the Lowari Pass in Pakistan, at least this time the road was sealed.
We then continued toward Hama stopping off at Apamea. Built by one of Alexander’s generals in the 2nd Century BC, the columns and pillars of the main thoroughfare are still quite imposing. This street would be 15 metres wide and would stretch at least a kilometre. Visitors are often joined by a flock of sheep passing through as the site isn’t fenced. Earthquakes over the centuries have demolished most of the city though the colonnades have been re erected
It’s good getting to the warmer areas. A smaller van is not so good in colder climates. Getting outside, setting up table & chairs for a meal or the hammocks to relax in is a big part of the enjoyment of motor homing and that is out of the question up till now. I see they are having more snow in the UK, don’t envy them.