weird shopping

The shops here are very strange. Being an old city, a lot of the shops are converted from ground floor apartments and sometimes basement and 1st ones. You get the occasional shop such as Benetton or Kickers which convert a whole building of about 3 floors normally into 1 store. They are really attractive especially at night when they are lit up. Banking laws have been eased a lot now and there is an influx of foreign banks from the Gulf or European banks with a Middle Eastern partner. They are converting whole buildings and they are quite attractive.

Shopping is a strange affair. There are different markets for whatever you want. There is the electrical market, the herb market, the plumbers’ market etc. Obviously it’s not just at these specific markets that you can buy these things but it’s so easy to go from one to other to compare the prices. Compare the prices???? Yes ‘cos a lot of them sell the same thing!!!! You need to really know where you’re going to find the shops that sell that unique light fitting or the correct Grohe douche or the fresh, ground cumin. It really is an experience…

New buildings are springing up but not enough. Syria needs investment and believe me, the money is there with the people. They know how to spend their money and if the item is available and of quality, they will buy it. The average wage is about $300 which is very low. But consider this… It is very difficult or laborious to get a bank loan. Mortgages (European way) are not available, car loans or higher purchase are just being introduced… So when someone buys a house, they buy it in cash and in full! Cars until recently, the same. Everything in fact is paid in full in cash! People have cash and even though Syria is considered a poor country, people do have cash. By contradiction, having lived in Manchester for years, people are considered rich and YET they are in debt! They don’t actually own their own homes but house prices are doing well and they grade themselves by the cost of their house(s). Like anywhere I suppose but weird nonetheless?

There are shopping malls there and again, not enough. I was surprised at the cost of some of the items there. They were cheaper than from a market in central Damascus. I thought it would be more expensive so as to compensate for charges etc. but no!