Ian Strathcarron in Innocence and War reports having determined which hotel the pilgrims stayed at. He assumes they must have stayed in the Christian quarter wherein he narrows it down to one that is at least identical to Twain's description, the Hotel Dar Al-Yasmin. Both he and Twain, many year previous, settle down with narghiles.
Twain reports becoming very ill with cholera or cholera morbus, Ian Strathcarron in Innocence and War is dubious, thinking that perhaps Twain is merely trying to escape from accompanying his fellow pilgrims to a Presbyterian church that had opened just a year before. I suspect, however, that he may have been hit with a dysentery type disease given all the well water he'd be drinking the day before. I've been hit with that twice now myself and both times it was 24 hours of extreme discomfort. The handling of drinking water Twain describes is less than sanitary including swimming poodles.
Strathcarron does go on the provide a rather detailed description of events and political postures leading up to the Christian massacres that occurred there just five years previous.
I may or may not be able to map all the points of interest in Damascus that Sam visited, but here is a brief list courtesy of Ian Strathcarron.
'Street which is called Straight', "Houses of Judas and Ananias', 'where St. Paul recovered', 'where St. Paul escaped', 'tomb Mahommed's children', 'tomb St. George (dragon)', 'where St Paul hid under rock', 'mausoleum for 5k Christians killed 1861', 'Naaman's leper house'.
Twain Chapter Comments
The Hotel in Damascus
Ian Strathcarron in Innocence and War reports having determined which hotel the pilgrims stayed at. He assumes they must have stayed in the Christian quarter wherein he narrows it down to one that is at least identical to Twain's description, the Hotel Dar Al-Yasmin. Both he and Twain, many year previous, settle down with narghiles.
Down with the Cholera
Twain reports becoming very ill with cholera or cholera morbus, Ian Strathcarron in Innocence and War is dubious, thinking that perhaps Twain is merely trying to escape from accompanying his fellow pilgrims to a Presbyterian church that had opened just a year before. I suspect, however, that he may have been hit with a dysentery type disease given all the well water he'd be drinking the day before. I've been hit with that twice now myself and both times it was 24 hours of extreme discomfort. The handling of drinking water Twain describes is less than sanitary including swimming poodles.
Strathcarron does go on the provide a rather detailed description of events and political postures leading up to the Christian massacres that occurred there just five years previous.
Excursion Itinerary 14 Sept
SLC and companions arrived in Damascus at sunset.
15 Sept QC departed Beirut at midnight.
Points of Interest in Damascus
I may or may not be able to map all the points of interest in Damascus that Sam visited, but here is a brief list courtesy of Ian Strathcarron.
'Street which is called Straight', "Houses of Judas and Ananias', 'where St. Paul recovered', 'where St. Paul escaped', 'tomb Mahommed's children', 'tomb St. George (dragon)', 'where St Paul hid under rock', 'mausoleum for 5k Christians killed 1861', 'Naaman's leper house'.