Bosra

Alden woke up yesterday needing some solo time. He took a taxi to a bus station he had never been to, and purchased a bus ticket to Bosra.

Bosra is about 2 and a half hours south-east of Damascus. It is the site of (an amazing) Roman amphitheater.

Alden's bus didn't leave for an hour, so he hung out in the bus station, attempting to read while little kids attempted to sell him "Bebsi." (Side note: Alden never drinks soda, unless it is Coke with Jack, but he has enjoyed drinking "Miranda" here in Dimashq. Miranda is an amazing orange Fanta type drink with "fitanmin C." So it is healthy, right?)

Alden was the only tourist on the bus, which charged down the highway with impressive agility and speed. Arriving in Bosra, Alden followed the Lonely Planet's advice to obtain a ticket home, since the return bus in the evening fills up sometimes. It is a good thing he did; the bus left at 5:30, not 6:00, as Lonely Planet said. (Although, knowing Alden, he would probably get to the bus stop half an hour early anyways, and he would have been fine...)

Walking through Bosra, which is a town of maybe 500 people, Alden found the Amplitheater, which is surrounded by an Arab fortress. Alden sweet talked his way into yet another student ticket (20 cents rather than a dollar or two). Having been too lazy to obtain a ($25!) international student ID, Alden has managed to use his regular student ID with a 100% success rate. Alden's a charmer.

Bosra's amplitheater is amazing; Alden startled the only other tourists (a nice Austrian couple) with his loud, "DAAAAAAMN!" With several hours to spend exploring the Roman ruins, Alden took his time meandering around.

Upon his return to Dimashq, Alden got a steak and a bottle of wine at Naranga. It was a good day.