I used to live in Aleppo in northern Syria. Today someone posted a picture of the souk in Aleppo and the memories came flooding back. We used to go to there often, not every weekend but probably twice a month. A friend introduced us to Aladdin shortly after we arrived and we would always make sure to visit him whenever we went. What an amazing young man! He could converse with almost every nationality that came to his shop. If he didn't have what we wanted, one of his many brothers would and would be sent for, while we sat and drank sweet, mint tea, surrounded by scarves, blankets, table cloths, soap and so much more.
The pictures below gives you a sense of what it was like but it's missing the donkeys! You could sit and watch the world go by in Aladdin's shop and that would include a number of donkeys carrying loads of goods to their owners' stalls.
The souk has sections for different products. Near the entrance we used to go in, there were a number of sellers of women's under garments, the most interesting being the knickers with flashing lights. My daughters called them 'landing lights'. I wish I had a photograph or two of those. The wedding dresses were also located in the same area. Quite spectacular!
I miss Aleppo. I always planned to go back but never got round to it and now I never will. I mourn the loss of such a beautiful city, so many wonderful people, and a their way of life.
2 comments:
Enjoyed reading about your memories of Aleppo. Are you certain you or the girls don't have a pair of those lighted knickers tucked away somewhere?
Wish I could have gone shopping here. It's not on the list of missed opportunities.
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