Driving to Bludan

Posted by aim_abdullah in Labels: Syria

Took a drive along the mountainous country road leading towards Bludan, a resort town about 40kms out of Damascus. There was very light traffic with the only occassional car passing by us and hence it was a truly leisure late mornning drive. The villages that sprung along the mountain roads looks picturesque – pictures in postcards and was made to understand that some of the villages are made up of the population that moved out of Qunetra. Life in the villages that we passed through are not hurried and tranquil.

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Stopped by a nursery along the road to get some flowers (which just started to bloom) for the apartment in conjunction with the beginning of Spring. As usual prices in villages for such items are usually far cheaper than what one would have to fork out in the city center. We could see some snow blanketing the mountain top from afar as we neared Bludan. According to the locals, Bludan is a favourite holiday resort for domestic and foreign tourists during summer where the temperature is far more cooling than the heat in Damascus. Hence, it was still early for the normal hustle bustle of summer environment in Bludan now. According to the locals also, aside from the nice mountain weather in summer, the town’s growth was also due to the availability of imported goods such as branded shoes, Bohemian crystals, electrical items, fresh fruits and vegetables, etc. We just passed the time walking around the town and window shopping.

Stopped at a popular diner by the roadside on the way back to Damascus for lunch. Had charcoal grilled chicken, fries and salad. It was a simple and healthy lunch though different from the one that I am used to - the “finger licking’ good” of Kentucky Fried Chicken.