TravelChick

Painter in Artist's Workshop in the Old City, Damascus

Two days ago a friend and I got lunch in a courtyard restaurant and then wandered around the Old City for a while. We walked through the Jewish Quarter and were stunned by how quiet it is. Unlike the rest of Damascus, where you hear the incessant noise of cars honking and street vendors shouting, it was rather tranquil.

After walking down side streets for a while we came across an art gallery and artists' workshop set up by a Syrian artist in an old courtyard house. We stood outside for a while, wondering if we could go in, and finally I thought 'This is Syria! People are wonderfully friendly! Let's go in.' So we did. The place was heavenly: peaceful and full of wonderful paintings and bronze and wood sculpture.

A young man greeted us and told us to come in and have some juice. We happily accepted and slurped orange juice as he showed us a workshop where a painter worked, then the works of Mustafa Ali, the artist who started the gallery, then the cool, large stone basement room which he said they are going to build a bar in in the future.

After he showed us around we walked around the courtyard, just enjoying the serenity. A turtle ambled around under tables and chairs and a little girl splashed around in the courtyard fountain, which was filled with colorful balloons. A painter sat in a shady spot just off the courtyard, working on his art.

As we marvelled at the lovely weather, the tranquility the art brought us, and how wonderful it was to have stumbled upon this place, Ali walked over and started talking to us. He talked about his art and the workshop, and invited us to sit down and relax for a while. We sat down, took in some sun, and then bounded back out into the dusty street, refreshed by our wonderful discovery.

posted by Travel Chick @ 5:50 PM