Syria: From Ohio to Aleppo

What 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?

What 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?

That 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.

From Ohio to Syria: A Journey of Return

The 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.

For 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.

This wasn't just sightseeing. It was transformation. What began as a family trip became a pilgrimage of identity, resilience, and hope.

A Photojournalistic Memoir Like No Other

This book isn't just words -- it's filled with photography. Every page captures Syria as the family saw it:

Golden sunsets spilling over Aleppo's Citadel.

Merchants smiling in shadowed bazaars.

The octagonal domes of the Umayyad Mosque, glowing in the evening light.

Children sketching mosaics and tracing calligraphy on ancient walls.

Cousins embracing at the airport, strangers moments before, family forever after.

Every photograph is paired with storytelling that blends travel writing, memoir, and history.

Why This Book Matters

Because it is more than travel.
Because it is more than history.
Because it is more than photographs.

It is a testament to survival and hope.

For travelers, it offers a rare, intimate glimpse into Syria's treasures, many of which are only now reopening.

For historians, it ties ancient civilizations to lived, modern experiences.

For families, it shows how travel can transform children and parents alike.

For the Syrian diaspora, it is a bridge to home -- honest, heartfelt, and filled with love.

A Tribute and a Hope for the Future

This 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.

But 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.

The 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.

They 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.