![The main Syrian highway running north from Damascus through Homs and Aleppo to Turkey](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79215081.jNIgZphy.SyriaMay07589.jpg) The main Syrian highway running north from Damascus through Homs and Aleppo to Turkey |
![Lots of overhead signs on the Syrian roads have been hit by oversized vehicles](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79215083.Y4f1Crb3.SyriaMay07590.jpg) Lots of overhead signs on the Syrian roads have been hit by oversized vehicles |
![Monumental tile wall just outside Damascus](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79215084.4MYHMhMD.SyriaMay07591.jpg) Monumental tile wall just outside Damascus |
![Assad Evermore](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79215085.bbf2JSb2.SyriaMay07592.jpg) "Assad Evermore" |
![Exit from the Damascus-Homs-Aleppo highway for the Damasus-Baghdad highway and Palmyra](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79215086.6iZs7bGt.SyriaMay07594.jpg) Exit from the Damascus-Homs-Aleppo highway for the Damasus-Baghdad highway and Palmyra |
![Palmyra 213 km](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79215087.ASvH73jS.SyriaMay07595.jpg) Palmyra 213 km |
![Damascus-Baghdad Highway](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79215088.BYEfdwTE.SyriaMay07597.jpg) Damascus-Baghdad Highway |
![Damascus-Baghdad Highway heading east into the Syrian Desert](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79215089.o9LdZ45v.SyriaMay07599.jpg) Damascus-Baghdad Highway heading east into the Syrian Desert |
![Syrian Desert](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79215091.cSeIZS4C.SyriaMay07601.jpg) Syrian Desert |
![Rest area on the Damascus - Baghdad highway](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79215093.peOxBuXl.SyriaMay07604.jpg) Rest area on the Damascus - Baghdad highway |
![Rest area mosque, Syria](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79215092.p1a9gcGC.SyriaMay07603.jpg) Rest area mosque, Syria |
![Junction where the road to Palmyra splits from the road to Iraq](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79215094.zZqBNVDO.SyriaMay07605.jpg) Junction where the road to Palmyra splits from the road to Iraq |
![165 km to the Syrian border post at Attanf (Al-Tanf)](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79215095.4MDnpV4c.SyriaMay07607.jpg) 165 km to the Syrian border post at Attanf (Al-Tanf) |
![The road to Palmyra is well maintained and well marked, so a driver/guide is unnecessary](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79215096.gNvTJQni.SyriaMay07608.jpg) The road to Palmyra is well maintained and well marked, so a driver/guide is unnecessary |
![...but if you do have to ask a local for directions, ask for Tadmor](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79215098.TpMtIzHd.SyriaMay07609.jpg) ...but if you do have to ask a local for directions, ask for "Tadmor" |
![Baghdad straight ahead](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79215099.p4dHmB86.SyriaMay07612.jpg) Baghdad straight ahead |
![Desert workshop with the mechanic's phone number spray painted on the side](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79215100.u9W6h3cC.SyriaMay07613.jpg) Desert workshop with the mechanic's phone number spray painted on the side |
![Syrian desert](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79215101.f8TPrwQc.SyriaMay07614.jpg) Syrian desert |
![Syrian desert enroute to Palmyra](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79215102.Mde5cICf.SyriaMay07615.jpg) Syrian desert enroute to Palmyra |
![The road through the Syrian desert from Damascus to Palmyra](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79215103.cVO41MOI.SyriaMay07617.jpg) The road through the Syrian desert from Damascus to Palmyra |
![Road through the Syrian desert](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79215104.nf5TPCyf.SyriaMay07618.jpg) Road through the Syrian desert |
![I refrained from photographing the military airfields and tanks](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79215105.gU5Piesn.SyriaMay07619.jpg) I refrained from photographing the military airfields and tanks |
![A herd of sheep in the desert, Syria](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79215106.vC0hRPB6.SyriaMay07620.jpg) A herd of sheep in the desert, Syria |
![Sheep in the middle of nowhere, Syria](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79215107.QthtV6vZ.SyriaMay07621.jpg) Sheep in the middle of nowhere, Syria |
![Bagdad Cafe 66](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79215108.wqwoDWP3.SyriaMay07622.jpg) Bagdad Cafe 66 |
![This Bagdad Cafe was the first of 3 between Damascus and Palmyra](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79215109.X5TCHq63.SyriaMay07623.jpg) This Bagdad Cafe was the first of 3 between Damascus and Palmyra |
![Bagdad Cafe 66, Syria](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79215110.SDGPk6ei.SyriaMay07624.jpg) Bagdad Cafe 66, Syria |
![Baghdad Cafe, a popular break between Damascus and Palmyra](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79215111.jiqISKZr.SyriaMay07625.jpg) Baghdad Cafe, a popular break between Damascus and Palmyra |
![Bagdad Cafe 66](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79215112.AyUYzUIy.SyriaMay07626.jpg) Bagdad Cafe 66 |
![Bagdad Cafe 66](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79215113.umPGdvFs.SyriaMay07628.jpg) Bagdad Cafe 66 |
![Syrian Beehive House at the Bagdad Cafe 66](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79215114.1uXFE6E2.SyriaMay07629.jpg) Syrian "Beehive House" at the Bagdad Cafe 66 |
![Syrian Beehive House at the Bagdad Cafe 66](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79215116.oTmCA19x.SyriaMay07630.jpg) Syrian "Beehive House" at the Bagdad Cafe 66 |
![Bedouin tent (supposedly you can spend the night) Bagdad Cafe 66](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79215117.PhC7wHFF.SyriaMay07631.jpg) Bedouin tent (supposedly you can spend the night) Bagdad Cafe 66 |
![Syrian Beehive House at the Bagdad Cafe 66](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79215118.I1fwXnJL.SyriaMay07632.jpg) Syrian "Beehive House" at the Bagdad Cafe 66 |
![Syrian Beehive House at the Bagdad Cafe 66](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79215119.r7WuYa8c.SyriaMay07633.jpg) Syrian "Beehive House" at the Bagdad Cafe 66 |
![A short distance down the road from Bagdad Cafe 66 is another Bagdad Cafe](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79215120.Y0KLL6NG.SyriaMay07634.jpg) A short distance down the road from Bagdad Cafe 66 is another Bagdad Cafe |
![This Bagdad Cafe pulled in 3 busloads of Turkish tourists](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79215121.6LwzTPWO.SyriaMay07635.jpg) This Bagdad Cafe pulled in 3 busloads of Turkish tourists |
![Bagdad Cafe (number 2)](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79215122.m1iPbIVj.SyriaMay07636.jpg) Bagdad Cafe (number 2) |
![Looks a bit like Texas...](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79215123.GaXynm4P.SyriaMay07637.jpg) Looks a bit like Texas... |
![Beehive House at Bagdad Cafe number 2](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79215124.AN8gPGj3.SyriaMay07638.jpg) Beehive House at Bagdad Cafe number 2 |
![My rental car, a bit on the expensive side ($80/day unlimited mileage, full insurance)](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79215125.D6vL9eg2.SyriaMay07639.jpg) My rental car, a bit on the expensive side ($80/day unlimited mileage, full insurance) |
![The license plate of my Syrian rental car](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79215137.MlbEc3G0.SyriaMay07681.jpg) The license plate of my Syrian rental car |
![Syrian beehive house](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79215126.qfk6F2D4.SyriaMay07641.jpg) Syrian beehive house |
![Syrian beehive house](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79215127.QbyTICQJ.SyriaMay07643.jpg) Syrian beehive house |
![Sign still using the French spelling, Palmyre](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79215128.se6duUSu.SyriaMay07644.jpg) Sign still using the French spelling, Palmyre |
![Another major junction on the way to Palmyra, crossing the Homs-Al Tinef raod](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79215129.7or4QGrf.SyriaMay07645.jpg) Another major junction on the way to Palmyra, crossing the Homs-Al Tinef raod |
![Bagdad Cafe number 3](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79215130.zef76Cod.SyriaMay07648.jpg) Bagdad Cafe number 3 |
![Syrian Traffic Police, for help dial 115](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79215131.LmUJAH1K.SyriaMay07651.jpg) Syrian Traffic Police, for help dial 115 |
![Giant billboard approaching Palmyra](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79215132.OisqO9Ih.SyriaMay07652.jpg) Giant billboard approaching Palmyra |
![Ahlan bikum fi Tadmor](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79215134.XUkSoet4.SyriaMay07655.jpg) Ahlan bikum fi Tadmor |
![The first sighting of the main ruins at Palmyra](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79215135.7xnanfs1.SyriaMay07669.jpg) The first sighting of the main ruins at Palmyra |
![The oasis of Palmyra](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79215138.TQJ3b5ty.SyriaMay07718.jpg) The oasis of Palmyra |
![Mosque in the new town, Tadmor](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79215139.RMTn6Ffb.SyriaMay07737.jpg) Mosque in the new town, Tadmor |
![Sign for Palmyra's city center and ancient city](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79215140.6JBdlvHZ.SyriaMay07804.jpg) Sign for Palmyra's city center and ancient city |
![In case you came in from Homs, and not Damascus...](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/79215141.rhx5Qr5f.SyriaMay07805.jpg) In case you came in from Homs, and not Damascus... |