HALEB

So this last weekend we went up to Aleppo in Northern Syria to take care of the graves of a Joseph Wilford Booth and Emile Hubbard who were two missionaries who worked in the near East at the Beginning of the 20th century. Elder Hubbard died here in 1908. He was killed by small pox. They worked in Turkey, Syria, Palestine, and Greece.

Elder Booth served here working mostly with the Armenians within the Ottoman Empire. He lived in this area for almost 20 years, (died in 1928) and was the first Mission president out here in the near east. It was great to go up there. I really like what quote they chose at the bottom of his tombstone.

This was one of the graves of the Armenian members out here in Aleppo. There was a good sized branch out here, but when things started to get hairy around, the missionaries were called out, leaving the members leaderless. However, Elder Booth was able to get special passes, and when the Ottoman displacement of the Armenians began, most of the members were moved to safety.

Mosque, the Citadel, and the Souq of Aleppo. The first place was the Great Mosque, a sister Mosque to the Ummayad Mosque in Damascus.

Along this wall sit blind beggars who are given the alms. I liked this mosque because though it was large and famous, it is not merely a tourist stop, it is a functioning working mosque more than anything.
It is pretty much the same picture, but I liked the lighting in it more.

The Citadel

It gives a great view of the city. I tried to take some good photos of the castle itself, but it was so vast I could not. I wish that I could have because it was amazing.
And why am I holding my arms out? I have no idea.

The third was the great souq of Aleppo. It is supposed to be better than the Bazaar in Istanbul, and Market in Cairo, making it the best in the Middle East. I have not seen the other two, so I cannot judge, but it was pretty large and impressive. It was nice that there were not cars like you have in Damascus. We wandered around for a while. These are some of the pictures I got.

Juicers are all over the city. Here and in Damascus. They squeeze it there and then sell it straight to you for about a dollar for 12 oz. This man is selling pomegranate juice, which I don't care for. It irritates my throat.

Apparently the cane business is a slow one.

In the morning unleavened bread is baked, and then thrown out onto carpets to cool. Then I go buy it.

It was just one day, but it was good day. I really liked Aleppo. Also this was a great sunset.