I don't understand why Palmyra supplanted Petra as the main trade center in this region of the Middle East -- Petra ruins are way more impressive. Actually, it was the favoritism of Rome which played the most important part in the rise of Palmyra, but apparently all that Roman favoritism only resulted in arches,
columns, 
columns and arches, 
columns and castles (that's a castle up on the hill in the background), 
and columns and camels. 
At least there is no charge for one to wander around the Palmyra ruins today. The danger being that a camel rider may befriend you, offer you a free ride, then turn into a lecherous lout as he takes you miles away into the desert. Luckily, Hannah and Diana returned unharmed, although they both felt rather "icky" after the experience.
I took a liking to this motorcycle (note the fringe) 
and a local fellow struck up a conversation with me while I was admiring the seat cover, eventually working up the courage to ask me if we perhaps had a book on sex in the truck that he could have. A what?! A number of quips came to mind, none of which probably would have translated very well, so after a bit of an amused pause I simply shrugged and said "Sorry," and he dejectedly slumped away. I'm not exactly sure what he was expecting. I mean, I suppose I could have given him a copy of "The Stud" by Jackie Collins (the most lascivious and hilarious book we have on BiRT), but I think he probably was looking for something more graphic. Besides, I couldn't very well let this poor guy get all his ideas about sex from a Jackie Collins book. That's just not good travel karma.
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