Syria is the cradle of civilisation and I was not disappointed by the amazing collection of world-class sites such as the Roman theatre in Bosra, the desert ruins of Zenobia’s oasis town of Palmyra, the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus and Krak des Chevaliers as the finest castle in the area and not forgetting Aleppo with its souqs.

Syria has got modern hotels but occasionally you can be pleasantly surprised and stay in character properties like Al Mamlouka in Damascus or Beit El Wakil or Diwan Rasmy in Aleppo and you may still be able to watch dervishes whirling around the tables of Umayyad Palace restaurant. The beauty with Syria some sites are often empty and one can add to an itinerary Baalbeck and Jordan. I once travelled in the spring when flowers blossomed and then at Christmas when it was cold but void of travellers when the sites were empty and sometimes shared with donkeys!  Food is often a choice of mezes with meat and sweets and the lentil soup I had in Palmyra is a favourite in our household once the chef gave me his secrets. It is a destination for culture with great indoor and outdoor museums and would suit travellers with a sense of adventure wanting to retrace the past with its wonderful wonders.