This has been written befor my arrest
I did not post it because I had no internet access in Lattakia

I did not change anything on this post, because I want you to konw in which state of mind I was day day before my arrest.

Entering Syria:

I suspected this border crossing would be interesting, and I was right.
On the Turkish side I lost one hour before I could leave, because the border was closed: Lunchtime.
Then came the Syrian side. This would be much funnier.
As a preliminary, my passport circulated around until every customs agent had seen it. Than the questions started:

Is Luxembourg in Germany? – No, it is an independent country

Is Luxembourg a republic? – No it is a Grand-duchy – A what?

Do you have a king? – No a Grand-duke – A what? – A little king…

Why is your visa from Bruxelles? – Because there is no Syrian embassy in Luxembourg, Bruxelles is in Belgium,

The capital from Belgium is Brussels, so where is Bruxelles? - It is the same - ? -
Meantime someone brought an atlas, and I show them the little spot where I come from.

Smiles on every face now.

Then starts the control of all my stamps (and there are some!) in my passport. They make this control really seriously. You must know, that if there is an Israeli stamp in your passport, you are not allowed to enter Syria, even with a visa. Same for Lebanon by the way.

For every stamp which is not clearly readable, I must explain where it is from, and what I have done there. Then:

Where is this stamp from? – America

No more smile

Why have you been in America three times last year? (Oh sh.t!) I try to explain. They do not really believe me. It takes a while… than we look at my website, and I show them photos from my last trips to the US. Now there are really great smiles on every face. I am famous! Suddenly we are good friends. I get a nice stamp in my passport, shake hands with everybody and enter Syria.