The Twin Falls times. [volume] (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1905-1916, 1910-04-28
ROBERTSON HOTEL BLOCK

the next morning. We were soon hud-
died in our little compartment on the
little narrOW-guage French train, and
after two bells, and five whistles, we
started for Damascus, the Oldest city
in the world. Damascus is only ninety
miles from Beyrout but it took the lit
tie train nine hours to make the trip
Soon after leaving Beyrout the little
engine commenced to puff as we as
cended the Lebanon mountains We
soon were gazing on one of the most
beautiful landscapes of our entire trip
so far We saw mountains and valleys
which seemed to be a biblical picture
in reality. Cedar and pine trees, cy-
press and olive, and deep green YER
dure covered the majestic hills and
mountains. The pretty valleys did not
have the usual homes, although every
foot apparently was under cultivation.
The farmers dWelt on the hill or
mountain top in picturesque villages
Of square stone and clay houses with
fiat, clay roofs. It was raining as we
passed through this section and we
saw the people on the roofs of their
houses, industriously pulling hand
roller back and forth to more firmly
pack the clay and make the roofs
water proof. About $50 we stopped
for our evening meal as an Assyrian
eating house. Fortunately they had
figs, walnuts, dates and oranges on the
table for it was plain to be seen that
common Americans were not educated
up to Assyrian cooking. Our walters
were not over-particular about their
personal appearance, and red fezzes
seem to be worn at all times inside
and out of doors. The base of their
cooking seems to be boat butter, olive
Oil and curry with many of the vege-
tables seasoned with cinnamon. II
any one feels that dieting would bene-
fit them ] advise them to live any
where in Syria about six months. Al
ter our train again started on it's way,
we again enjoyed the wonderful pan
Drama until darkness set in. We ar
rived at Damascus at ten o'clock at
night. After the usual confusion and
babel we finally found our carriage
and found that a combination of Arab
horses and drivers meant something,
as we were whirled along to the hotel
( at a terrific rate The odor, which
greeted our noses, proved conclusive
lily that Damascus was all that was
claimed for it, in age. Upon being as
signed to our room by gowned Turk
we found the beds seemingly quite
clean, but narrow and high, with 9
canopy of light material draped al
around them. We were called fol
breakfast by the ringing of a cracked
bell through the halls, and boiled eggs
seemed to be popular with the guests
The bread here seems to be made O.
/ the whole wheat, being dark ant
rather pasty with a queer taste. .Aftel
breakfast we were loaded in carriages
of the ancient landau pattern, ant
drawn by Arab horses. / am told tina
all riding and driving horses in tn
Turkish empire are stations and seen
to be very high bred, but perfect.
controlled by their Arab drivers, wit
are natural horsemen. The mang,
dogs here are as thick ins.tae street
as in Constantinople. S0 goat
are driven through thes ....=. an
the dogs are so thick and IL Sd 8
old, with no sewers but thu g
the entire place seems pen
musty smell of refuse, anu