Nibal Bakfalouni
The Syrian phoenix rising from the ashes declaring that the will of life for the Syrians is stronger than the planned death. The Syrian Tourism Co. (formerly Al Karnak) initiated its first recreational tourist trips to the Syrian coast in Tartous in cooperation with the International Company for Pharmaceutical Industries (UNIPHARMA), which invited a group of Syrian doctors and their families to participate in this trip. The three-day trip started on 13th November 2014 at seven in the morning, and the group travelled along the international highway Damascus-Homs. The first break the group had was at the station of Homs Gate, then continued their way to Tartous passing through Mashta al Hulw and reaching their destination in the Cave of Aldwayat.

The bus later stopped to share a snack meal in front of a tannour (local old oven), where the participants recalled memories of the Syrian loaf that holds the smell of life and hope of victory.

The group later passed through Safita and visited its famous Tower. They spent their night in the luxurious hotel of Safita AL Sham. The next morning, UNIPHARMA held a scientific workshop in the Meeting Hall of the Hotel in the presence of all doctors participated in the trip. The group later visited the ancient Husn Sulayman, which is located at the summit of a mountain rises more than 1000 meter above the sea level. A few kilometers away from this archeological site lies the shrine of Prophet Matta.

Then the group drove through a wavy fabulous mountainous road which reflected the beauty of one of the most beautiful lands in the world. They stopped to have lunch in AL Shurfa Restaurant in Mashta al Hulw.
They later celebrated the first fruit of the Syrian Tourism Co. The last day of the trip, the participants visited the Corniche of Tartous.


On the way back to Damascus, the group stopped in a station in the city of AL Nabek to have some rest recalling the memorable moments they spent in this trip.