![Road through the Syrian Desert leaving Palmyra](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79215155.cg7JZqtJ.SyriaMay071226.jpg) Road through the Syrian Desert leaving Palmyra |
![Iraq and Damascus to the left, and our route, to Homs and Tartus to the right](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79215156.BUJ8H8qa.SyriaMay071228.jpg) Iraq and Damascus to the left, and our route, to Homs and Tartus to the right |
![Truck with two decks for transporting sheep](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79215157.cGAtRa0k.SyriaMay071230.jpg) Truck with two decks for transporting sheep |
![Blacktop road through the empty Syrian Desert](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79215158.9v95ja9m.SyriaMay071231.jpg) Blacktop road through the empty Syrian Desert |
![Beehive house, Al-Fruqlos, Syria](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79215159.dtBQzTZy.SyriaMay071232.jpg) Beehive house, Al-Fruqlos, Syria |
![Beehive house, Al-Fruqlos, Syria](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79215160.cMAFugLI.SyriaMay071233.jpg) Beehive house, Al-Fruqlos, Syria |
![Beehive house, Al-Fruqlos, Syria](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79215161.oCoVFZGW.SyriaMay071234.jpg) Beehive house, Al-Fruqlos, Syria |
![Beehive house, Al-Fruqlos, Syria](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79215162.LQkL7vZ0.SyriaMay071236.jpg) Beehive house, Al-Fruqlos, Syria |
![Beehive house, Al-Fruqlos, Syria](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79215163.n8SUk7L8.SyriaMay071237.jpg) Beehive house, Al-Fruqlos, Syria |
![A short distance esat of Al-Fruqlos, the road enteres an more fertile region](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79215164.cv7VcrA3.SyriaMay071239.jpg) A short distance esat of Al-Fruqlos, the road enteres an more fertile region |
![Olive orchards, Syria](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79215165.1Upt1YQO.SyriaMay071241.jpg) Olive orchards, Syria |
![Olive orchards, Syria](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79215166.QVpNud9i.SyriaMay071242.jpg) Olive orchards, Syria |
![Olive orchards, Syria](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79215167.2sgVO8uO.SyriaMay071243.jpg) Olive orchards, Syria |
![New residential areas on the southern end of Homs](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79215168.HHl5YUUz.SyriaMay071244.jpg) New residential areas on the southern end of Homs |
![New residential blocks, Homs, Syria](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79215169.MHHamTrA.SyriaMay071245.jpg) New residential blocks, Homs, Syria |
![Road signs directing me through Homs](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79215170.JKFU2uZL.SyriaMay071247.jpg) Road signs directing me through Homs |
![Homs, Syria](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79215171.AaUgyR67.SyriaMay071248.jpg) Homs, Syria |
![Former President Hafez Al-Assad at the entrance to Hama](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79322191.eBOwPDct.SyriaMay071250.jpg) Former President Hafez Al-Assad at the entrance to Hama |
![Syrian taxi, Hama](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79322192.kjxJcKcZ.SyriaMay071251.jpg) Syrian taxi, Hama |
![Heading for the center of Hama, Abdl' Nasser Street](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79322193.yakA2AZA.SyriaMay071252.jpg) Heading for the center of Hama, Abdl' Nasser Street |
![Mosque, Said al-a'as Street](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79322194.xvYUXZUL.SyriaMay071253.jpg) Mosque, Said al-a'as Street |
![A large mosque on the north side of Hama on the main road to Aleppo](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79322195.ac3gGUFJ.SyriaMay071254.jpg) A large mosque on the north side of Hama on the main road to Aleppo |
![Mosque, Hama](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79322196.NNj1Ysx7.SyriaMay071255.jpg) Mosque, Hama |
![An old Mosque along the Orontes River, Hama](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79322197.LbKZ255E.SyriaMay071256.jpg) An old Mosque along the Orontes River, Hama |
![Orontes River, Hama, Syria](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79322198.koGfAnrT.SyriaMay071257.jpg) Orontes River, Hama, Syria |
![Hama, town of the norias](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79322199.8FO6RMTS.SyriaMay071260.jpg) Hama, town of the norias |
![Norias are giant medieval waterwheels used to convey water via aqueducts to irrigate fields](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79322200.T0jWW00r.SyriaMay071261.jpg) Norias are giant medieval waterwheels used to convey water via aqueducts to irrigate fields |
![17 of these giant norias remain in Hama](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79322201.gGuCD4u2.SyriaMay071262.jpg) 17 of these giant norias remain in Hama |
![Remains of an aqueduct, Hama, Syria](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79322202.3Znx1s6u.SyriaMay071263.jpg) Remains of an aqueduct, Hama, Syria |
![Man chasing a sheep while local boys return from swimming](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79322203.wTYZlVwy.SyriaMay071264.jpg) Man chasing a sheep while local boys return from swimming |
![Local welcoming me to Hama](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79322204.kYu4LqkD.SyriaMay071268.jpg) Local welcoming me to Hama |
![Dam along the Orontes River, Hama](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79322205.WVTpToIB.SyriaMay071269.jpg) Dam along the Orontes River, Hama |
![Dam along the Orontes River, Hama](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79322206.T82TAIJi.SyriaMay071271.jpg) Dam along the Orontes River, Hama |
![Al Nouri Mosque, 1172, Hama](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79322207.47K6rOLu.SyriaMay071273.jpg) Al Nouri Mosque, 1172, Hama |
![Al-Nouri Mosque, Hama, Syria](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79322208.hQzmwPmy.SyriaMay071274.jpg) Al-Nouri Mosque, Hama, Syria |
![Map of central Hama](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79322209.6osrWYQG.SyriaMay071275.jpg) Map of central Hama |
![Nouris behind the Al-Nouri Mosque](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79322210.Qi0lPELb.SyriaMay071277.jpg) Nouris behind the Al-Nouri Mosque |
![Al-Nouri Mosque and the Orontes River](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79322211.Y87WUW5l.SyriaMay071278.jpg) Al-Nouri Mosque and the Orontes River |
![Domed building near the Al-Nouri Mosque, Hama](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79322213.3kpyd3W8.SyriaMay071280.jpg) Domed building near the Al-Nouri Mosque, Hama |
![Apamea Cham Palace Hotel, Hama, Syria](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79322212.Y9iEweuM.SyriaMay071279.jpg) Apamea Cham Palace Hotel, Hama, Syria |
![Boy on a bike with a NY Yankees hat, Hama](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79322214.EII5p6WZ.SyriaMay071281.jpg) Boy on a bike with a NY Yankees hat, Hama |
![Another young boy in Hama](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79322215.qgmz8dfj.SyriaMay071282.jpg) Another young boy in Hama |
![Nouri, a giant medieval waterwheel used for irrigation](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79322216.tScyGxlY.SyriaMay071283.jpg) Nouri, a giant medieval waterwheel used for irrigation |
![Many of the nouris still rotate making a creeking noise](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79322217.BqvpfCwI.SyriaMay071284.jpg) Many of the nouris still rotate making a creeking noise |
![The nouris once held buckets to raise the water](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79322218.mO2iMVBG.SyriaMay071286.jpg) The nouris once held buckets to raise the water |
![Looking up](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79322220.HLBISxG4.SyriaMay071287.jpg) Looking up |
![The axle of a giant nouri waterwheel, Hama](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79322221.Ckcoj0fM.SyriaMay071288.jpg) The axle of a giant nouri waterwheel, Hama |
![Waterwheel and the Orontes River at the Al-Nouri Mosque](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79322222.43hL3wkJ.SyriaMay071289.jpg) Waterwheel and the Orontes River at the Al-Nouri Mosque |
![Backside of the Al-Nouri Mosque, Hama](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79322223.0iQ6rxV3.SyriaMay071290.jpg) Backside of the Al-Nouri Mosque, Hama |
![Palestine Languages Institute, Hama, Syria](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79322224.Rap8bxiD.SyriaMay071291.jpg) Palestine Languages Institute, Hama, Syria |
![Narrow alley leading to Azem Palace, Hama](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79322225.6FKrtUSG.SyriaMay071293.jpg) Narrow alley leading to Azem Palace, Hama |
![Old town, Hama, Syria](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79322226.mGh44KU9.SyriaMay071294.jpg) Old town, Hama, Syria |
![Azem Palace, Closed Tuesdays](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79322227.VBbk9DDP.SyriaMay071295.jpg) Azem Palace, Closed Tuesdays |
![Kasr Al-Azem, Hama](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79322228.JRsPNFts.SyriaMay071296.jpg) Kasr Al-Azem, Hama |
![Old town, Hama, Syria](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79322229.GfL7xDFk.SyriaMay071297.jpg) Old town, Hama, Syria |
![Haaj and Umrah tours to Saudi Arabia by Procare Travel & Tourism, Syria](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79322230.AZ5hJsD0.SyriaMay071298.jpg) Haaj and Umrah tours to Saudi Arabia by Procare Travel & Tourism, Syria |
![Fountain in the center of Hama, Syria](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79322232.gYLgxUMp.SyriaMay071299.jpg) Fountain in the center of Hama, Syria |
![Noria Al-Jisriyeh, Hama, Syria](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79322233.HIdnD9Ky.SyriaMay071300.jpg) Noria Al-Jisriyeh, Hama, Syria |
![The locals must get tired of the groaning and creeking noises as the wheels turn](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79322234.yO2zyUvP.SyriaMay071301.jpg) The locals must get tired of the groaning and creeking noises as the wheels turn |
![Noria Al-Mamouriyeh, Hama, Syria](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79322235.BV75xbw2.SyriaMay071302.jpg) Noria Al-Mamouriyeh, Hama, Syria |
![Noria waterwheel on the Orontes River, Hama](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79322236.2XX9ITRP.SyriaMay071303.jpg) Noria waterwheel on the Orontes River, Hama |
![Parkland along the north shore of the Orontes River, Hama](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79322237.PWMgZzpL.SyriaMay071304.jpg) Parkland along the north shore of the Orontes River, Hama |
![Noria Al-Mamouriyeh](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79322238.P9EaJE4A.SyriaMay071305.jpg) Noria Al-Mamouriyeh |
![Hama, Syria](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79322239.dz7fQFvY.SyriaMay071306.jpg) Hama, Syria |
![Flowering bush and the Mosque Al-Nouri with its waterwheel, Hama](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79322240.uu3QiP7s.SyriaMay071307.jpg) Flowering bush and the Mosque Al-Nouri with its waterwheel, Hama |
![Noria, Hama](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79322241.yVwlBbZX.SyriaMay071308.jpg) Noria, Hama |