{"product_id":"syria-from-ohio-to-aleppo","title":"Syria: From Ohio To Aleppo","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e \u003cdiv\u003e \u003cdiv\u003e \u003cspan\u003eWhat if you could walk through 4,000 years of history in just two weeks?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhat if you could trace the steps of prophets, emperors, crusaders, and merchants, and at the same time sit for tea with cousins you had never met before?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhat if you could see a country not just through the scars of war, but through the laughter of children in its streets, the painted ceilings of its homes, the domes of its mosques, and the resilience of its people?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThat is the journey captured in Syria, From Ohio to Aleppo ― a photojournalistic travel memoir that blends history, culture, and personal discovery into one unforgettable book.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFrom Ohio to Syria: A Journey of Return\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Alo family ― Mohammed and Arwa, and their children Zane, Razan, Zaki, and Zayna ― left their quiet life in Toledo, Ohio, to travel to the homeland of their father and grandfather, Syria. For two weeks, they immersed themselves in two of the world's most storied cities: Aleppo and Damascus.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFor four days in Aleppo, they explored its legendary citadel, wandered souks scarred by fire and war, and witnessed the strength of a city that has endured for millennia. For eight days in Damascus, the world's oldest continually inhabited city, they walked through bustling bazaars, prayed in the Umayyad Mosque, studied painted ajami ceilings, and discovered how history lives not only in monuments but in the rhythm of daily life.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis wasn't just sightseeing. It was transformation. What began as a family trip became a pilgrimage of identity, resilience, and hope.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA Photojournalistic Memoir Like No Other\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis book isn't just words ― it's filled with photography. Every page captures Syria as the family saw it:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eGolden sunsets spilling over Aleppo's Citadel.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMerchants smiling in shadowed bazaars.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe octagonal domes of the Umayyad Mosque, glowing in the evening light.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eChildren sketching mosaics and tracing calligraphy on ancient walls.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCousins embracing at the airport, strangers moments before, family forever after.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eEvery photograph is paired with storytelling that blends travel writing, memoir, and history.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhy This Book Matters\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBecause it is more than travel.\u003cbr\u003eBecause it is more than history.\u003cbr\u003eBecause it is more than photographs.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt is a testament to survival and hope.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFor travelers, it offers a rare, intimate glimpse into Syria's treasures, many of which are only now reopening.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFor historians, it ties ancient civilizations to lived, modern experiences.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFor families, it shows how travel can transform children and parents alike.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFor the Syrian diaspora, it is a bridge to home ― honest, heartfelt, and filled with love.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA Tribute and a Hope for the Future\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis book is dedicated to my father, Dr. Abed Alo, who left Syria in 1977 and could not return after 50 years. It is also dedicated to the cousins in Aleppo who welcomed the Alo family as kin.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBut above all, it is dedicated to Syria itself: a nation scarred by fourteen years of war, where electricity, water, and technology remain fragile luxuries, but whose spirit endures with unbreakable strength.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Alo family leaves Syria changed. They return with the belief that the country will rise again ― building modern infrastructure while preserving the timeless treasures that make it unique.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThey dream of a Syria where children can learn in classrooms, not ruins; where souks bustle not in shadows, but in light; where castles and mosques are not just relics, but proud symbols of resilience.\u003c\/span\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Books Prime","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45915612971199,"sku":"f5165c36-ec1e-4d0d-8fa0-bce9f76c6385","price":74.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0761\/7550\/7647\/files\/f8750ab0bbe2724d208c483e6a1439ea.jpg?v=1785080735","url":"https:\/\/books-prime.com\/products\/syria-from-ohio-to-aleppo","provider":"Books Prime","version":"1.0","type":"link"}