The nice thing about Palmyra is it´s location in the middle of the desert and close to a rather large oasis. When arriving from Damascus one drives past the oasis and then reaches the field of ruins. What an amazing approach. The town of Palmyra itself is beyond the ruin field, starting after a second palm grove. It´s a surprisingly big town, one wonders what people do for a living. It can´t be just the small tourism sector and there´s no industry around. A desert military complex close by? An underground chemical plant for WMD American intelligence would like to think. In a country like Syria you never know what´s around the next bend. But the spectacular landscape and the ruins are the topic. So, we didn´t even have to get into town to get to our hotel, as we stayed at the wonderful Zenobia Hotel at the edge of the ruins. Some places have a strong atmosphere and a laid back feeling to them. Just like Palmyra with it´s rich and tantalizing history. It´s a place where you start imagining things, your fantasy has an easy game here. The silk road, Queen Zenobia, Aurelian and Diocletian are enough material for a suspense history thriller.

Of these three options, Palmyra is most definitely the wisest and easiest.

Now here is one resident of Palmyra of whom we know what he does for a living.

The Tetrapylon marks the intersection of the two busiest roads in Palmyra of ancient times.

Qal'at Ibn Ma'n in background.

The Mesopotamian Baal Temple was one of the most important

 religious centers in the first century middle east.

Here is the magnificent Zenobia Hotel right behind the ruins. Agatha Christie enjoyed her stay here also.

The Nekropolis west of Palmyra is strewn with above-ground and classical below-ground graves.

Many of the above-ground ones are in tower-like structures.

They were erected between 9 b.c. and 128 a.d.

Qal'at Ibn Ma'n is a muslim fortress built in the 13th century to ward off crusaders.

By that time the crusades were not a real threat anymore.

Back in 2001 Hafiz al-Assad, the father of the present dictator, was the benefactor of the Syrian People.

 Palmyra Gallery