Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
until I upload me own phots, this hideous cliche will have to do.
I am living for approximately J130 a month in a wonderful apartment in the old town of Damascus on the border with the Christian and old Jewish quarter. To get there you journey through the intriguing and peaceful labyrinthine passages that are highly disorienting. The apartment is better than I possibly could hope for, with beautiful pink climbing flowers, grape vines and jasmine that twines around the roof terrace and courtyard which is patrolled by two white dogs called poochy and lassie and two white doves that look as if they have already collided backwards with a brick wall. They also sport lovely feathery white trousers. Even the bathroom has character, with its unique loo-flushing system and lid that is removable, though not I think by design. Everything here is half built, or half falling down, or a combination of both.
If that wasn't good enough, I now know the arabic for whale - hoot. Arabic is officially my favourite language now.
Tonight, if I do not crash with general fatigue, India and I shall walk the streets of the old city, find the souq and celebrate ramadan. Tomorrow is the placement test. I know now that I am going to be in the bottom group, which is strangely comforting. It's only upwards from there.
- comments