In 2004, my ex and I and another couple went on a Mediterranean cruise, we spent one Day in a city called Latikiah in Syria, I was going to stay on the ship but my friend Steven really wanted to see the city, so we did, we were all confused and scared, but curios.
We found a small restaurant so we went in for lunch, as we’re sitting waiting for our order, a man comes to us and asked if we are Americans, Steven said yes…. So the guy in his native tongue shouted something followed by what sounded like America, at that point I was thinking we are as good as Dead.
Few minutes later another man comes in and asked the same thing, and then he started asking us about the food and the weather and all kind of stuff, his English was good but hard to understand… we told him that we are tourists and we are just here for few hours…. He asked if we have seen much of his city I said no, we don’t know Arabic and we cannot drive… but I would love to.
He politely asked to leave, went and talked to the guy that took our order, then came back to us with a smile and said I am going to give you a tour of the city, come with me…. At that point I was saying my prayers…we stood up thinking we are hostages now…. he walked ahead of us to his car, which was yellow and had a Tax sign on it, he turned around with a smile said, my Name is Tarik, he opened the door for my wife while I sat shotgun.

He first took us to the most beautiful restaurant I’ve ever seen, on the top of Hill viewing the Mediterranean sea, he was insulated when I tried to pay for lunch, after we realized that we not hostages I started talking, I learn that Tarik has a Master degree in engineering but cannot find a job so he’s taxi driver, Steven at one point told him that we thought we are taken as hostages, he said, we love Americans, but we don’t like bush and laughed.
He took us on tour through the historic part of the city, and inside one of the castles that was used during the crusades

After the tour,he asked if I like to meet his mother, I said sure, he took us to his very simple house, and introduced us to his wife who’s a teacher and his mother, they both had their hair covered but I can see their faces, the mother greeted us as if we were her children. as soon as we sat down food started coming, I told tarik we’re full, he said…you are our guests, you have to eat, Mom will take that as an insult… the sweet old woman didn’t speak any English but kept pointing to different food and talking in Arabic, and Tarik kept telling me, Mom wants you to try this then try this… my stomach was about to explode but the food was really good. Steven’s wife pointed out that she loves one of the sweets that was on the table, the Mother got up and came back with a bag full of that sweet and gave it to her.

Tarik spent the entire day with us, took us to most historic places, took us to lunch, and his home and brought us back to this ship. he refused to take a penny from us, although I insisted, he said you are guests in my city, you are my guests… I told him he’ll be my guest when he visits US, he said it’s near impossible for him to get a visa.
This was the best day of our cruise, we talked about everything that day, from Hotdogs to religion to politics, I learned a lot from Tarik that day, their history their culture, and their unconditional generosity.

Sounds like an amazing journey...

at first it really wasn't , I truely thought we are going to die.

it was incredible to compare what the media wants you to believe and the truth.

sounds like you had a great time

it was an awesome experience.... I wish I am able to contact them again and thank them, but I never got his last name…. I don’t even know if I am spelling his first name correctly.