Us and the Kiddos: Syria Date Night

Syria was the first country we visited in our house! While it probably wasn't the most 'fun' country we've ever done- the food wasn't bad and the fact that we got to do it in our new house made it that much better! :)

As a result of the ongoing Syrian civil war, there are currently two governments claiming to be the de jure government of Syria, using different flags to represent the state.

Syria, officially known as the Syrian Arab Republic, is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the west, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest. Wikipedia

Capital: Damascus

President: Bashar al-Assad

Capital and largest city: Damascus; 33°30′N 36°18′E /33.500°N 36.300°E

Population: 18.43 million (2016) World Bank

Official languages: Arabic, Modern Standard Arabic

Cool Facts about Syria:

The two stars in the Syrian Flag represent the previous union between Syria and Egypt.
Syria is a founding member of the United Nations.
Damascus (commonly known in Syria as ash-Sham), the capital city of Syria,is called the “Jasmine City.” It is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world.
The Assyrian New Year falls on April 1st. Celebrated with the arrival of spring, Kha b-Nisan literally means the first of the month of Nisan.
The Shouting Valley is the meeting point of four countries: Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, and Israel. It is an “echo point,” and people often use it to communicate with their relatives on the other side.
The city of Damascus gets its name from Damask, a variety of cotton fabric rich in exquisite patterns.
The only Pope to ever visit a mosque was John Paul II. He visited the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus in 2001.
Present day Syria is a battleground of the whole world, with troops from nearly 34 countries fighting a complex web of wars. Their main enemy is the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria/Levant.
In December, 2015, the U.S. completed a record 9000 airstrikes in Syria.Two months later, Russia joined in with a 400+ strikes in just 6 days.
ISIS and the Syrian Government are fighting a water war to drain out water from each other’s territory.
The Syrian refugee crisis is the worst humanitarian crisis since World War II. It deeply affected 14 million residents who were forced to flee or face persecution from religious fanatics. According to the U.N., it will take $7.7 billion to meet the urgent needs of the most vulnerable Syrians in 2016.
Syria has been drinking beer to chill out since times immemorial. A historical reference to beer is found in the Ebla tablets, which date back to 2500 BC.
In Syria, it’s the government’s job to get you drunk! There are two varieties of beer, Al-Shark Beer and Barada Beer, both produced by the state
The Aleppo Codex, an ancient Jewish manuscript, remained in Syria for five hundred years. It was lost during a riot in 1947, but was later smuggled into Israel by a Syrian national. The sad news: only half the pages remained.
The city of Aleppo in Syria was named the Islamic Capital of Culture in 2006.
The Al-Madina Souq, a link in the ancient silk route, is the perfect example of a tinsel town. Oblivious to the modern era, it maintains the rare charm of a medieval marketplace, filled with exotic goods and stunning architecture.
Qudud Halabiya and Muwashshah are the two forms of Arab music and poetry uniquely developed in Syria.
The internet hacktivist group Anonymous has declared war on The Syrian Electronic Army because of its censorship laws.
Syria has close ties with the country of Iran. The latter is believed to have spent $15 billion annually in Syria during the Syrian Civil War.
Palmyra, a city dripping with history and culture, was deliberately destroyed by the Islamic State of Levant due to its polytheistic statues. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a rare gem of the ancient world.
The fourth holiest place in Islam is the Umayyad Mosque, located in Damascus. It also is home to the mausoleum containing the tomb of King Saladin, as well as the Shrine of John the Baptist.
The Aleppo Citadel in Syria is the mother of all citadels. Built in the year 3, BCE, it is one of the oldest and largest castles in the world, standing strong even today.
Syria was once a tourist hotspot for its religious and historical wonders, but the war caused a 75% decline in the tourism industry.
Russian company Megapolis Ltd. has organized war tourism trips to the frontlines of the Syrian conflict. The other popular choice is Ukraine.
The capital of Syria is known for its steel. The Damascus Steel swords were feared and revered by the crusaders for their extremely sharp edges.
The Kurdish People form a distinctive community, which is believed to have originated from the ancient Assyrian city of Nineveh.

All the recipes were out of a Syrian cookbook called Our Syria, Recipes from Home, by two Syrian refugees- you can find it at Barnes and Noble- check it out!