Early in the morning — far earlier than I’m built for — the desert’s darkness slowly lifted to reveal an ancient civilisation that took formidable pride in town planning.
Avoiding the oppressive daytime temperatures and crowds I stood alone looking at Palmyra: a city complex mentioned in the Hebrew Bible.
And I was also fortunate to enjoy the hospitality typical of Syria. A car full of electricity experts no less, who stopped to drink their morning tea among the breathtaking scenery.
They shared all they had with us, happy we had travelled into the heart of their country to witness our shared history.
But if Islamic State have their way, this standing time capsule will be soon be razed. The loss to Syria and the world would be immeasurable. All for nothing — a crazed belief in some new twist on an ancient lie. While bricks will always count less than lives, the loss still matters.
Here is what I saw that day:
UPDATE
Sadly, as pre-warned the bastards went in and shot to pieces anything they could find. This photograph can no longer be taken.