If you’ve already started to plan an around the world trip, you can now add Syria to the list of potential destinations. The United States recently lifted its travel advisory on the country, so you might feel a little more comfortable investigating what the place has to offer now. Syria isn’t totally cool with Washington DC just yet, as the US still considers them a country that supports terrorism. So just take it easy if you do decide to visit.

Nonetheless, the situation for travelers is getting better. The US has decided to bring back an ambassador to the country, as there hasn’t been one in like five years. Although the Syrian government is obviously happy about having the advisory lifted, they probably aren't about to start a tourism campaign quite yet. ]]> kjb 2010-02-23T10:30:21-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2005/8/22/9233/59099 Forget the technicolor overly-almond marzipan mini-fruits or chewy dried apricots of days past. If you're a fan of sugared, dried fruits, head to Damascus where they are literally works of art.

The NY Times enlightens us to the famous Damascene confectioner Ghraoui, which has roots from Ottoman times. The little fruit gems just sound beautiful:

Ghraoui's fawakeh mujaffafa come in octagonal silver gift boxes, and they look almost jewel-like: perfect miniature apricots, figs and even eggplants resting in individual paper nests. The fruits are picked while they are still tiny and carefully boiled in sugar syrup, then dried in the sun so they maintain their color and shape.

A seventeen-piece assortment costs $7.25. They are the traditional food for Syrian special occasions.

Related Stories:
·   Damascus, Syria: Ghraoui's Dried Fruits [NY Times]

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