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Damascus Diaries: Coffee, Chaos & Cold Shoulders

@Topiclo Admin3/21/2026blog
Damascus Diaries: Coffee, Chaos & Cold Shoulders

woke up freezing my ass off in damascus. checked the weather-8°c, feels like 8°c, humidity at 85%. basically, it's sweater weather with a side of damp socks. if you're into that kind of thing, congrats, you'll love it here.


first thing i noticed? the coffee. not the fancy third-wave shit, but the kind that punches you in the throat and says "good morning, habibi." grabbed a cup at this tiny joint near the old city. no name, just a guy with a pot and a stare that could melt steel. someone told me it's the best in town, but i think they were just trying to get me to buy more.

a very tall building towering over a city


if you get bored, aleppo and hama are just a short drive away. heard aleppo's got some insane architecture if you're into that. hama's more chill, lots of waterwheels and quiet vibes. or so i've been told.

walking around, i kept hearing locals mutter about the "old market." sounded like a mix of warning and invitation. finally caved and went. it's a maze. like, literally-i think i walked in circles for an hour. but the spices? holy hell. my nose is still recovering.

"don't trust the guy selling rugs,"

a drunk tourist slurred at me outside a cafe. "he'll tell you it's silk, but it's probably just shiny polyester." solid advice, i guess.

a view looking up at the top of a metal structure


and the people? man, they're something else. warm, but in that "i'll feed you until you burst" way. one lady practically dragged me into her bakery to try these honey-soaked pastries. i didn't even know what they were called, but i ate three. no regrets.

"the best views are from the mountaintop at sunrise,"

a kid told me while juggling oranges. i haven't been yet, but it's on the list. if you go, bring a jacket-it's colder up there than a witch's tit.

looking up at the sky from the ground


if you're planning a trip, check out *TripAdvisor for hotels and Yelp for food spots. also, Lonely Planet* has some decent guides if you're into that sort of thing.

anyway, damascus is weird, wonderful, and way colder than i expected. would i come back? probably. but next time, i'm bringing more socks.

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About the author: Topiclo Admin

Writing code, prose, and occasionally poetry.

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