Currency and
exchange
The unit is the Syrian
pound, which is divided into 100 piastres.
There are 5, 10, 25 and 50 piastre coins, and notes
for 1, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100 and 500 pounds. The values of coins are marked
in Arabic numerals only, the notes are printed in both Arabic and Roman.
Foreign currency and travellers’ cheques can be
freely exchanged, on presentation of passport, at Damascus Airport, at
the frontier posts, in the larger hotels, and at banks (normally open
from 8.30 am to 1 pm).
Friday is the normal
rest day, but some businesses run by Christians close on Sundays.
Government office are open from 8 am to 2.30 pm.
Private businesses often close during the day from 2 or 3 pm to 5 or
5.30 pm.
Museums are open every day, except Tuesday, at
the following times: from 8 am to 6 pm in summer (1 April to 30 October)
and to 4 pm during the rest of the year. The National Museum is open
from 9 am to 6 pm in summer and from 8 am to 4 pm during the rest of the
year.
Meals are served quite late: lunch from 1 to 3.30 pm
and dinner from 8 to 11 pm.
The foreign visitor is free to
go anywhere at any time. The language is the only drawback, for
those don’t speak Arabic. Fortunately there are many Syrians who
understand English and French which they often speak perfectly. At all
events their basic friendliness and hospitality is freely offered to the
stranger who may be lost or in difficulty.
Sunbathing is quite in order on beaches and at
swimming pools, and light clothing is accepted everywhere provided
decency is observed; vulgarity and bohemian behaviour is not looked on
favourably. Suitable clothes are required for visiting only places.
Shoes must of course be removed before entering a mosque and it is
forbidden to pass beyond the ikonostasis in an Orthodox church.
In this Arab country where all religious beliefs are
at home it is not surprising that there is a spirit of tolerance.
The Syrian merely expects this to be reciprocal. On this understanding
all kinds of discussion are possible; the visitor will soon realize that
he has much to learn….
The Syrian press is entirely in Arabic (with
the exception of the daily "Syria Times"). The main French, English,
German, Italian - and Chinese - newspaper are sale in the main bookshops
in Damascus.
Every day the radio transmits programmes and
news bulletins in various foreign languages, including English, French,
German and Italian.
There are two television channels, one of
which is broadcasting news and other programmes in French and English,
along with other languages.
Post and telecommunications. Stamps for
letters and postcards cost 19 and 10 Syrian pounds respectively. The
postal service is slow, but efficient: a letter posted in one of the
main towns will reach Europe in about seven days.
Express post is fast, but it is also expensive.
Telephone. Telephoning is not a problem.
International communications are reliable and direct. This was not the
case a few years ago, however
Sending telexes and telegrams is not a
problem, but it is very expensive.
Faxes can be sent from post offices. The major
hotels and most companies also have fax machines.
The coastal region enjoys a
Mediterranean climate; the heat is never excessive, there is usually
some breeze and humidity; March and April are often cloudy, even rainy
months.
The inland region enjoys a continental climate in
which the midsummer heat is only made bearable due to the low humidity.
Nights are often cool throughout the year. There are sometimes high
winds and dust-storms on the central uplands.
The Damascus region and some of the high valleys in
the Charqi and the coastal range (Bludan or Safitâ for example) enjoy an
equal climate.
Things are very different in the Euphrates and Khabur
basins where winters are severe and summers extremely hot.
Recommendations. The visitor should not be
without sunglasses and some form of protective head-gear, but he should
also bring a few warmer clothes. In summer it is advisable to carry some
remedy for digestive upsets caused by the heat, and sodium and potassium
tablets to prevent dehydration if he proposes to visit the desert areas
or the eastern parts of the country.
Syria is a healthy country. In both large and small
towns the water is clean, pure and safe to drink. There are numerous
chemists and no shortage of medicines - their quality and prices are
regulated by the Ministry of Health.
There are both governments hospital and private
clinics. With a doctor for every 2,500 inhabitants, Syria is better
provided than any other Middle Eastern country as far as health is
concerned.
Every year there are many
artistic, economic and sporting events.
Fairs:
- May: the Damascus
International Flower Festival (Floralies);
- June: Syrian Theatre Festival, held in a
different province each year;
- August: the Latakia Friendship Festival;
- Septembre: the Book Fair in Damascus
International Fair (end of the month);
Bi-annual events:
- September: the Bosra Folklore Festival;
- October: the Damascus Film Festival; the
Theater Arts festival, Damascus.
1 January - New Year’s Day
(Christian era);
8 March - Commemoration of the Revolution
(National Holiday);
21 March - Mothers’ Day;
17 April - Commemoration of the Evacuation
(National Holiday);
1 May - May Day (Workers’ Holiday);
6 May - Martyrs’ Day;
25 December - Christmas.
Other
celebrations (variable dates):
Easter;
(Both eastern and western church)
Al-Fitr celebration (end of the
Ramadan fasting);
Al-Adha celebration (celebration
of the sacrifice/pilgrimage to Mecca);
The Hegira New Year;
Celebration of the birth of the
Prophet.
Sporting and cultural events:
All through the year, sporting
events are held in the Damascus, Aleppo and Latakia stadiums and in any
town recently equipped with sports facilities.
The Institute for Sports Education sets the
programmes and helps organize events. The General Union of Sport is in
charge of providing sports education in poor areas.
The Cultural Centres also play their part in
organizing exhibitions and events to suit all tastes through out the
country.
Theatre:
In Damascus, "Mosaïec", a young
theatre group, retraces Syria’s customs and traditions through its
sketches.
This first folkloric show includes song, dance and
traditional music, and really should not be missed. Reservations: tel.
4422790 - 2222497.
This
very brief list
of basic Arabic phrases and vocabulary are indispensable for getting by
when travelling in Syria.
Hi: Marhaba
Mosque: Masjed, Jame’
Where is ?Ain?
Mother: Um
When? Mata?
Mountain: Jabal
Is it/do you? Hal?
Museum: Mathaf
How/what? Kaifa?
New: Jadid
Excuse me, Please:
Lutfan or Min Fadlik
Night: Masa, Lail
Thank you: Chukran
Pharmacy: Saydaliah
I would like: Uridu
Post: Barid
Take it: Khuz
Rain: Matar
give me: A’tini
River: Nahr
Many/a lot: Kasir
Road: Tariq/Chare’
Few/little: Qalil
Rose: Ward or
Zahr
Very expensive: Gali
Sky: Samaa
With: Maa’
Sister: Ukht
Without: Bidoun
Company (corporation):
Sharikah
Yes: Na’am
Son: Ibn
No: Kalla (la)
Square: Sahah
Pretty: Gamil
Steps: Imchi
It’s not pretty:
Laisa gamil
Strange: Gharib
Good, fine, ok: Jayed
Sun: Chamas
It’s not ok: Laisa
jayed
Syrian pound: Layrah
Souriah
Would you like? Hal
turid?
Town Hall: Baladiah,
Muhafazah
Everything is fine:
Machi al-hal
Very: Giddan
Good-by: Al-salam
Water: Ma’s, Miah
Ancient: Qadim
Week: Isbu’
baths: Hammam
Welcome: Marhaba
Be careful: Intabih
Woman: Saydah
Between: Bayn
Year: Sanah
Big: Kabir
You: Anta (singular)
Antum (plural)
Boulevard:
Tariq/Share’ NUMBERS
Brother: Akh
Zero: Sifr
Change: Al-mal
One: Wahed
Church: Kanisah
Two: Thnein
Daughter: Bint
Three: Thalatheh
Day: Yom Four:
Arba’a
Director: Mudir
Five: Khamsa
Evening: Masa
Six: Sitta
Exchange: Tabdil
Seven: Saba’a
Expensive: Gali
Eight: Thamania
Father: Ab Nine:
Tesa’a
Festivity: ‘Id
Ten: Ashara
Forbidden: Mammu’
Eleven: Hdaash
Flower: Ward
Twelve: Thanaash
God: Al-Rab
Thirteen: Tlattaash
Good evening: Masa
al-Khair Fourteen: Arb’ataash
Hello: Sabah al-Khair
Fifteen: Khamstaash
Health: Sihhah, Afiah
Sixteen: Sittaash
House: Dar, Bayat
Seventeen: Sab’ataash
Ill: Marid
Eighteen: Tamanta’ash
Important: Ham
Nineteen: Tisa’ataash
Little: Saguir
Twenty: A’shreen
Man: Rajul
Thirty: Tlateen
Market: Souq
Fourty: Arbaaeen
Me: Ana Fifty:
Khamseen
Meal: Ta’am
Sixty: Sitteen
Midday: Zuhram
Seventy: Sabaaeen
Miss: Anisah
Eighty: Tmaneen
Month: Chahr
Ninety: Tis’in
Moon: Qamar One
hundred: Miyya
A thousand: Alfain
DAYS OF THE WEEK
Sunday: Al-ahad
Wednesday: Al-Arb’aa Day: Yom
Monday: Al-Itnayn
Thursday: Al-Khamees Month: Shahr
Tuesday:
Al-Talata Friday: Al-Jum’aa Year: Sana
|
