Day 92 Thursday 17/12/09

If only we knew how the day would pan out!

The Jordanian border crossing was a bit more problematic than our entry but the Syrian one was far easier than anticipated, although we were stung $100 for a “diesel tax”. Syria was cold and bleak, as we headed north to Damascus, chatting about meeting up with Speleo Club du Liban that evening.

After getting lost around Damascus, we were assisted by a friendly taxi driver who told us to follow him and then gave us directions. We found the right road and headed on to the Syrian border. Negotiating the flooded border post, we eventually, after much confusion and lack of information, past the border and drove the several miles to the Lebanese border. Whilst queuing for the border, a money-exchanger asked us if our car was diesel, and then told us that we would not be able to enter. A few minutes later, another money-exchanger told us the same. Why wouldn’t a diesel car be allowed?

Emma decided to walk up and check with the customs/army about bringing a diesel car in, only to be told that they were banned. Why? The answer was simply because they are illegal. We turned our car around and headed to back to Syria, our heads spinning. We stopped at the border and had to pay another $100 diesel tax as we had left the country, just to rub salt in the wound. Emma asked about where we could park the car long term in Damascus so we could then take the coach to Beirut – the answer was, we couldn’t, as the car was in Emma’s passport and she could not leave the country without the passport.

There was nothing we could do – all our planning, our dream of spending two months exploring, caving and skiing and time with our friends in our “second home” was destroyed – we were devastated.