• Visit date: January 18 2021
• The visited post office: Damascus central post office
• Cost of sending mail: International mail was not available.
• Postcard availability: Postcards were sold at a bookstore near the main post office in Damascus. We couldn’t find any postcard at the post office or souvenir shops.

The history of Syrian postage is as colorful as the nation itself. In its early years as an independent nation, Syria relied on overprinted French and Turkish stamps until it could establish its own postal system. The current system dates back to 1975 and, as Syria Post’s website states, “develops and monitors the fair provision of postal services.” However, they remain silent on the cost and conditions for sending mail.

The main post office in Damascus is a large building, nestled midst bustling, narrow streets, but located just outside the old city. Damascus is an ancient and powerful city, and beyond its many sights, we asked our guide to incorporate a visit to the post office into our day tour. Our desire to visit the post office came as a surprise to our seasoned guide. No one had ever expressed such a wish before.

At the post office, we discovered that mail will not leave the country. During our visit, the spread of COVID-19 was still a major issue, hindering international communication alongside existing political challenges. The post office served as a hub for many transactions, but sending postcards and letters abroad was not part of its services. However, postage stamps were available for purchase. While initially we were told we couldn’t get a date cancellation on our postcards, after a lengthy discussion during which the teller repeatedly went back to consult with someone, we were able to get the cancellations on our cards. All payments were in cash, and as this was a government institution, a receipt from the bank was required to prove we had officially exchanged money.

Having paid and agreed to everything, we left our postcards at the main post office, and the next day, we retrieved them with the cancellations. However, we had to send them from another country.

Finding postcards was not an easy task either. But someone knew someone who knew someone who knew that one bookstore had postcards. While some of the clues were wrong, we eventually found the right bookstore. The selection was not big, but we were delighted to purchase them.

Besides visiting post offices, we also saw many other interesting places and had some truly memorable experiences. You can find the rest of my Syrian travelogue here.

The challenges of sending a simple postcard from Damascus reflected everyday life in Syria at the time. In the end, the postmarked cards began their journey from another country.

Our plan had been to continue on to Jordan, but at the border everything changed. We were required to take a COVID test, and Andry tested positive. What followed was a long wait while officials decided what would happen next and where we were allowed to go. Eventually, that night became a tense drive through the darkness toward the Lebanese border — racing against the clock, against uncertainty, and finally out of the country.

But that is a story for another post. For now, this chapter ends here — until the next post office.

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