Aleppo

November 4th
Today we went on a thirty hour train ride to Syria! It was really fun. We met a Jordanian guy who was going to Jordan to visit his family. We also met some Swiss, Scottish, British, and Irish people. Jonas and I made a pulley system from his bunk bed to mine. We got cups and attached them so we could put stuff in them and send it across. The views from the train were great.

November 6th, Aleppo
Today we went to the souq and Mama bought some (CENSORED) for presents. We saw a donkey and lots of cool other stuff. There was one guy that lied to us. He said, "My shop is just down here, not left or right." So we went down straight and turned left and turned right and OUT of the souq! We said "No, we want to go in here" but he kept on saying "No my shop just down here. Finally, Papa said "We're going in here." We went in and then he popped up again and said "This my shop."
We also saw people we saw in Ephesus and in Istanbul!! Today we also saw everybody we met on the train except for the Jordanian guy:( but he was going to Jordan right away.
It was a fun day.

November 7th
Today Papa asked people for directions. One of them touched my cheek and then...KISSED ME! (At least it wasn't a girl.) We went a little way and had to ask again. This guy tried to help us but then he took us to his house, brought us in and gave us some water and mandarin oranges. He was very nice. Then he took us to the citadel!
Inside it was cool (until the school group came). There was a room with a really good echo. The throne room was absolutely AMAZING! Marble floor, fountain in the middle, mother of pearl inlay chandeliers! The castle probably took 15 years to build without the throne room! It would have taken a long, long, long (well, you get the point). After that we went to the mental hospital. There were different areas for people depending on how ill they were, and another area for women.
Of course it is not in use but it was very peaceful.

Matthew