Having feared the tourism was about to be hit hard by all the negative media attention in Syria and neighbouring countries such as Iraq and Iran, it was time for Samosir Images to go and photograph Syria and see for themselves. “On arriving in Syria there wasn’t any negative feelings about us rocking up and driving across the border,” said Chris Raven, “they treated us like anyone else. The problems and the secrets supposedly going on the country, especially with nuclear weapons, certainly wasn’t on the minds of the border officers, apart from when they found a book in the boot of the car which we’d both written.” Having been quizzed about the book the brothers feared the border patrol would assume they were journalist, but luckily the book was thrown back in the boot and they were waved through without any problems. In a similar way to other countries in the Middle East, the brothers had to be careful what they took pictures of – photographing government and military buildings could’ve meant a trip to the prison.

On arriving in Damascus, a hot, congested city with little thought for pedestrians, the cameras were poised as they explored the city on foot. The dark streets and the lively Old Town were full of Syrian holidaymakers and locals enjoying the markets and the historic mosques on every corner. “We saw a handful of Western tourists,” said Simon, “well, of course, in the tourist areas especially. They did look a little sheepish as they were walking around, but the atmosphere seemed pleasant enough, with the exception of a few strange looks, and a man selling spices in the Old Town who did ask us why we had come here. But apart from that the people were friendly and a boy working on a new mosque was happy for his picture to be taken. What ever is happening behind closed doors in Syria it’s certainly not affecting the daily life of the people. It’s a great country.”

To visit the travel photo library please go to: www.samosirimages.com

Contact: Stuart Hill
+44(0)845 652 0351 info@samosirimages.com
Agency / Source: Samosir Books Ltd

The picture below is the copyright of Samosir Images.


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