Today, the Arab capital of culture glistened under the snow. Shining beneath a white sky which enveloped the city with tenderness and lent it an awe-inspiring aura, Damascus seemed to settle comfortably into a role it always knew it deserved.

Believe it or not, I am still mentally adding anecdotes and insulting examples to my first list of grumbles about driving, and about smoking.

The English like to say “mustn’t grumble.” Like hell I mustn’t: I personally must, and I will. And not just about politics and economics.

There is a common denominator between the name of the new Syrian car and the continuing “modernization” in Old Damascus …

Here's a short update from Damascus. People here are fed up; prices are high, business is slow, and all other things are remaining equal or getting worse. Yes, you can find almost anything in the shops, but disposable income has become more limited than ever for most Syrian families.