This post has also been written before my arrest. After passing the Syrian border, I cycled some sixty kilometers to Lattakia, where I spent my first night on Arab soil. I was happy to be in an Arab country at last, the aim of my travel. In Lattakia I was interviewed via telephone by RTL. This interview was broadcasted the next day at 12.30 hours.

By then I was already in prison….

I did not change a single word of this post. I want you to see how euphoric I felt after that first day. I was eager to learn more of the Arabs and their hospitality.

Here my post:

1.       The day was hot, and I stop in the first village after the Syrian border to refill my water bottles. The shop owner is Armenian, his name is Joseph. He introduces me to his family, his wife offers me a mandarin, which I find delightful. Joseph and his family are orthodox Christians, he is very excited to tell me about the visit from their pope the day before. When I leave his shop after half an hour, his wife offers me a kilo of mandarins for the journey!

2.       Later, in a rather steep climb, a car coming from the opposite side stops, turns around, and comes next to me. The driver offers me some fresh water!

3.       When I enter Lattakia, I ask some young people where I could find a hotel. “Follow me” I follow them until they stop in a small street. No hotel around! “Wait!” The driver enters his house and comes back with a bicycle! For a quarter of an hour he guides me through his home town, until I found what I was looking for!

4.       And finally, I should not forget to mention all the people waving at my and shouting “Welcome to Syria”!

The nightmare would start the next morning.