Palmyra

 

The Syrian desert about 300 KM north east of Damascus

 

Palmyra was a trading city for caravans from the east for thousands of years. Here you see some columns from the ancient temple at Palmyra. Our guide said that the temple was a pagan temple built to worship Baal. As ususal, I didn’t pay too much attention. He had a very strong Arabic accent and I was trying to get a good viewpoint. I do remember the name Zenobia who was like a queen and ruled the city during Roman times.

 

I read on Wikipedia, that the Bible says Solomon built the temple. Maybe they are right, but you can’t be sure, can you? I mean once I saw my name on Wikipedia as an expert on the Wodaabe tribe. Holy Moly!

 

Up on the hill is a citadel where Palmyrenes could observe comings and goings of caravans or invaders. We were driven to the citadel where I got this bird’s eye view.

 Luckily, Palmyra is far from all the strife going on in Syria now and so it won’t be destroyed by bombs. I hope not anyway. 

I used Exposure 4 from Alien Skin software to make the Dauguerreotype looking shot. I think it helps. The original is good but not contrasty enough to suit me. My favorite teacher loved high contrast and I could tell he didn’t like any thing else you showed him. So, being a good-goody, I tried to please him. Who else would I please? I mean I didn’t have my own taste in those days.

 

Here is the original. I still like it  but I’m enamored of Exposure 4 now.