Essential information
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).
Days and times
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.
Freedom and communication
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.
Climate and health
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.
Festivals, fairs and festivities
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.
Official holidays and traditional celebrations:
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, "Mosaďec", 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.
Vocabulary
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