Middle East Trip: Day 9

Day 9: Leaving Syria

Our last morning was a full one as we completed packing, grabbed a few last photos off the balcony, ate breakfast (I had settled into creating a Middle East egg burrito using boiled eggs, pita bread and other ingredients) and had bags out front ready to go by nine. Not only were Mohammed and his brother Hussein there on time with the taxis but V and the two brothers, H and H, continued to bless us, showing up from the other monastery in order to escort us to the airport. H S gave Larry a traditional Arabic headpiece and, after many hugs and kisses, as we drove off in the mini-vans, people in one, luggage in the other, he shouted out loudly standing in the middle of the street “I love you”.

Our trip to the airport took place in the morning rush of Damascus. Once again we were so tight in traffic I could easily have reached out our open window (none of the taxis we used were air-conditioned) and touched the driver next to me. Occasionally one would look up at me and register surprise to see a van of Americans in the middle of Damascus; I loved to smile and wave hello. I turned to Marsha and commented on how I would miss being a celebrity. She quickly got me grounded it, reminding me I was more of a novelty than a celebrity. My fifteen minutes of fame didn’t even last fifteen seconds.

Arriving at the airport V handled our baggage check in and almost without any effort on our part we were at the first security check where we once again said our good-byes. After passing through we laughed that we half-expected V to turn up yet again, maybe wearing a security uniform to further escort us to our plane. I did lose the tongs to my hooka as I passed through screening of my bag.

After a wait we were bused out of an older Jordanian airliner for a cramped uncomfortable two hour flight to Dubai. Sitting next to a Syrian exporter we engaged in a friendly conversation, with him offering to help us in Dubai if we needed it. With only a six hour lay-over I suspected we would be okay although I was so grateful for the offer.

Arriving in Dubai Rodney and I stayed at the airport while the rest of the group took a brief bus tour of the town. After the last couple of days of riding in buses and taxis the last thing I wanted to do was sit yet again in another vehicle. I spent some time just walking around the airport terminal, stretching my legs, and browsed the duty free shop which, as far as electronics and such, was much more expensive than back home. Since the others had left the airport they had to go through customs which presented a wrinkle or two in us getting back together, but it worked out fine in the end. After a hamburger from Braum’s at the airport we went through tight security checks, myself being frisked twice, and then boarded a wide-bodied jetliner. By midnight we were airborne and began the 13 hour flight back to the United States.