Dera'a Diaries: When the Weather Feels Like a Plot Twist
so here i am, somewhere between a spreadsheet and a suitcase, staring at the numbers 250582 and 1400040712 like they’re clues to a treasure map i’m too tired to decode. turns out they’re just coordinates and a timestamp for dera’a, syria. yeah, syria. not exactly the first place you’d expect a freelance photographer to land, but hey, that’s the gig.
i just checked and it’s 15.77°c there right now, feels like 14.63°c, which is basically hoodie weather with a side of existential dread. humidity’s at 47%, pressure’s holding steady at 1011, and the ground-level pressure is 937. sounds like a weather report written by a philosophy major. anyway, if you’re into mild, slightly moody climates, this might be your vibe.
now, about the neighbors-if you get bored, daraa and al busra al sham are just a short drive away. not that you’d want to speed through them, but it’s good to know you’ve got options. someone told me that the ruins near al busra are hauntingly beautiful, but also that the locals will give you the side-eye if you show up with a tripod and a dream.
i heard that the best coffee in town is at this tiny spot called al madina cafe. not sure if it’s on yelp, but it should be. the guy behind the counter has a mustache that could star in its own indie film, and he’ll probably tell you stories about the old days if you buy him a cup. i’m not even sure if he speaks english, but that’s half the charm.
and then there’s the food. someone warned me that the falafel here will ruin you for life. like, you’ll go back home and wonder why everything tastes like cardboard. i’m not even a falafel person, but now i’m curious. maybe i’ll check out tripadvisor for the top-rated spots, or just wander until i smell something that makes my stomach growl louder than my existential dread.
anyway, this place isn’t exactly a tourist hotspot, but that’s what makes it interesting. it’s raw, it’s real, and it’s got stories written in the cracks of its walls. if you’re into that kind of thing, dera’a might just surprise you.
p.s. if you’re planning a trip, maybe don’t rely on my advice. i’m the guy who once got lost in a supermarket for 45 minutes because i couldn’t find the exit. but hey, at least i got some good shots of the cereal aisle.
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