Today I am on a "Journey of Discovery". I see the "Pearl of the Desert," the ancient ruins of Palmyra in Syria. I move toward them through the desolate, windswept landscape. The ruins of this once glorious city appear as if rising from a sea of shifting sand.

I walk through the city, strolling among her 2000-year old columns and monuments. I swear I can hear the cries of her inhabitants as history comes alive through the words of my local guide. I feel humbled by the magnificent Temple of Baal with its 40-foot high 600-foot long walls. I walk down the 3/4 mile Grand Colonnade and stop at the public baths. I look around; I feel as if an attendant should be coming to hand me a towel!

Now I sit in the amphitheater. It is so well preserved I wonder when the next performance will begin. I think about my surroundings. This crossroads of people and cultures is Syria, a country steeped in history. When I look around me I am surrounded by the past. When I close my eyes I hear the language of Christ - Aramaic - that is still spoken by the people of this strange and wonderful country. I'm so glad I travel with HLO Tours. They know how to make history come alive through the places and people of Syria.