Photos

The Ummayad Mosque in the old city of Damascus is one of the oldest in the world.

Adjacent lies the shrine of Saladin, Islamic hero of the Crusades, while inside the prayer hall is a large shrine dedicated to John the Baptist, as well as a Shi'ite shrine for Imam Hussein, which is visited by many Iraqi and Iranian pilgrims.

What you see in this photo is the church style minaret and the ablutions fountain, where Muslims wash before prayers.

The main thing I like about mosques in general, as compared to churches for example, is that they are great places simply to hang out in - especially on hot Middle Eastern days, they are good spots to bring a good book, and just lay out and relax. Local families do the same, and the welcome is always warm.