Shoes, Wallet, Coffee and Friendship.

By the time Lindsay and I made it to Damascus, Syria we were beat. We had been traveling for well over a week and had just arrived on a night train from Aleppo, Syria. My little "puma trainers" were simply not doing the trick so I needed to get a new pair of shoes. That night while walking the streets near our hotel we found a shop that was open. The owner sat politely and welcomed us with a very happy "welcome to my shop." I purchased some shoes and a wallet and after some brief conversation went on to our hostel. Our last night in Damascus we wandered by this shop again and the minute the shop owner saw us he gave us a huge smile, a big wave and a "please come in my friends." He invited us into his shop and made us a cup of coffee/tea which is true Middle East hospitality. We sat there for about 2 hours just discussing family, friendship, politics, etc. He had us call his kids on the cell phone so that they could "talk to Americans." We found out that he is working 2 jobs to support his wife and 5 kids. His brother (a police officer) was also there to share in the conversation. I will never forget as this man (speaking the best English he could) tried to explain to us that it is the U.S/Syrian governments that don't like each other but that Syrians "love Americans." For us this night was the perfect ending to an AMAZING experience in the country of Syria. What we found there were the nicest, sweetest people we have ever meet. We are taught to believe that the Syria is full of terrorist & extremest but for Lindsay and I it is full of friends; including this man and his little shop in the middle of Damascus.