Damascus — IRIS ASSAD

أهلا وسهلا - Welcome in Damascus, the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world … anno 2021.

Early morning in the Christian part of the Old Town.

Early morning in the Christian part of the Old Town.

Bab Sharqi - one of the seven ancient city gates in Damascus.

Bab Sharqi - one of the seven ancient city gates in Damascus.

Part of the Straight Street, the main Roman road.

Part of the Straight Street, the main Roman road.

Old men sitting next to one of the numerous churches in the Old Town of Damascus.

Old men sitting next to one of the numerous churches in the Old Town of Damascus.

It might look old but it's still in use on regular basis.

It might look old but it's still in use on regular basis.

A lovely yellow duck parked in one of the narrow side streets of the Old Town.

A lovely yellow duck parked in one of the narrow side streets of the Old Town.

A door in the Old Town of Damascus. You never know what kind of a palace might be hiding behind it ...

A door in the Old Town of Damascus. You never know what kind of a palace might be hiding behind it ...

Or not ... A humble living room in one of the typical Arabic houses in the Christian part of the Old Town..

Or not ... A humble living room in one of the typical Arabic houses in the Christian part of the Old Town..

A quick peak into someone's bedroom.

A quick peak into someone's bedroom.

A large house waiting for a new owner.

A large house waiting for a new owner.

Ancient walls but fresh garlic.

Ancient walls but fresh garlic.

Inner courtyard in a Christian house.

Inner courtyard in a Christian house.

Small kitchen on the first floor in an old Arabic house.

Small kitchen on the first floor in an old Arabic house.

The vibrant roundabout next to the Bab Tuma, another ancient gate of Damascus.

The vibrant roundabout next to the Bab Tuma, another ancient gate of Damascus.

Residential area near to the Old Town of Damascus.

Residential area near to the Old Town of Damascus.

French Hospital in the Bab Tuma neighborhood.

French Hospital in the Bab Tuma neighborhood.

One of the nightlife hotspots near to the Bab Sharqi, calm in the daytime.

One of the nightlife hotspots near to the Bab Sharqi, calm in the daytime.

View from the rooftop in a friend's house on the As-Zaytoun Church.

View from the rooftop in a friend's house on the As-Zaytoun Church.

Customers waiting to be served in the old-town bakery famous for it's croissants.

Customers waiting to be served in the old-town bakery famous for it's croissants.

Antique shop "Once Upon A Time" in the Straight Street.

Antique shop "Once Upon A Time" in the Straight Street.

A furniture workshop in the old town of Damascus.

A furniture workshop in the old town of Damascus.

Film shooting in the Dar-Al-Noor hotel in the old Jewish neighborhood.

Film shooting in the Dar-Al-Noor hotel in the old Jewish neighborhood.

One of the rooms in the same hotel.

One of the rooms in the same hotel.

View from the rooftop in a Christian house near the Bab Sharqi.

View from the rooftop in a Christian house near the Bab Sharqi.

People sitting in the shadows next to the entrance of the historic market.

People sitting in the shadows next to the entrance of the historic market.

One of the Umayyad Mosque minarets.

One of the Umayyad Mosque minarets.

Inner court of Umayyad mosque, one of the largest and oldest mosques in the world.

Inner court of Umayyad mosque, one of the largest and oldest mosques in the world.

In the ancient souq, next to the spice sellers.

In the ancient souq, next to the spice sellers.

The famous ice cream parlor Bakdash in the Al-Hamidiyah Souq.

The famous ice cream parlor Bakdash in the Al-Hamidiyah Souq.

The traditional coffee shop Al-Nawfara in the heart of Old Damascus.

The traditional coffee shop Al-Nawfara in the heart of Old Damascus.

Inside the Great Khan of Damascus.

Inside the Great Khan of Damascus.

Roof details in the Al-Azm Palace, built in 1749.

Roof details in the Al-Azm Palace, built in 1749.

Narrow street in the Muslim neighborhood of the Old Town of Damascus.

Narrow street in the Muslim neighborhood of the Old Town of Damascus.

The inner courtyard of the restaurant Beit Jabri, situated in one of the old Arabic houses in the Muslim neighborhood.

The inner courtyard of the restaurant Beit Jabri, situated in one of the old Arabic houses in the Muslim neighborhood.

Red peppers laid out to dry in the 1st floor of the restaurant.

Red peppers laid out to dry in the 1st floor of the restaurant.

Historical Hejaz railway station, built for a direct train line from Damascus over Amman to Mekka.

Historical Hejaz railway station, built for a direct train line from Damascus over Amman to Mekka.