Palmyra in Happier Days

The most impressive ancient ruins in Syria can be found at Palmyra. In Biblical and Babylonian times it was known as Tadmur and today the modern town alongside it bears that name. When I visited Palmyra on a backpacking trip through Syria in 1998, the entire ruins (other than the Temple of Bel) was ungated and open, so we could wander in and out even at night.