Some thoughts on Damascus

I have been back in Damascus for almost a week now and I must say things are getting slightly better in the city. There seems to be a concerted effort to plant trees in the surrounding mountains and hills and the effects of this are starting to show, but only just. It is genuinely good to be back, apart from the two hours I had to wait in the airport whilst some mule in a uniform who can't read Arabic let alone English let me through. I missed this place.