Inkwell: Authors and Artists

    
Marie, I feel like a total carpetbagger showing up with this question on
your last day--it's a Well thing: I asked a question elsewhere and they sent
me here to ask you...  Do you happen to be able to tell me if it's standard
for hotels in the Middle East (specifically Aleppo, Amman, Damascus,
Jerusalem, Istanbul) to offer free wireless? (Being sent on a cultural
exchange reading tour and trying to decide if I should carry a travel
computer or not. I have been told zero details about where we'll actually be
staying, as it's all still being organized--but it starts later this month.)
Thank you for your kindness should you be able to answer.

I've just got back from being on a simpler trip and haven't done one like
this before. If anywhere earlier in this dialogue you answered questions
about travelling tips, packing light, etc., do point me toward it? And
again, huge apologies for arriving here both late and with such a narrow-
curiosity-aspect to my questions. The cultural part looms so huge, my mind
frets the practicalities instead.
  

    
Marie, Frako, thanks for a wonderful conversation. It's been big fun
reading along.

Our Official Eye Of Inkwell is turning to Scott MacFarlane's book and
conversation now, but we'd love for you to stick around as long as you
like to keep this conversation going.
  

    
As long as people have questions about Africa travel and living, I'll be
here. And Marie will have the option of answering those questions at her
leisure.

But at the end of the 2-week mark I'd like to say Marie, it's been a great
pleasure getting answers from you. I thoroughly enjoyed your book--thought
it was a fun balance of humor, seasoned observation and emotional barometer
of the smart traveler. I'm looking forward to the day *I* can compare all my
eastern and western routes with yours!
  

    
A quick answer for Jane: 
I haven't been to Syria since 1998, but I'd be *very* surprised if
wi-fi was a standard inclusion at most hotels. A quick google of "wifi
Damascus" did turn up some places. But by no means expect it there.
Amman, Istanbul, and Jerusalem--it's far more likely. And I hope you
are going to Jerusalem AFTER Syria and have no evidence of any visits
to Israel in your passport. (Economic boycott, you know, same idea as
Americans can't officially go to Cuba!) 

If you were going to the Gulf, you could expect wi-fi or ethernet
access almost everywhere. But you're not, so the only way to find out
is to find out the names of the hotels and google them. 

If you don't want the hassle of carrying a laptop, just use internet
cafes. If you want your laptop, carry a USB stick so that you can
download your mail and read it in your room later even without a direct
connection.
  

    
Thank you to everyone for participating and for thoughtful dialogue.
And especially to Frako for keeping things moving along.

It's been great fun and I'm happy to check in frequently to see if
anyone has any more questions. Of course, I can also be emailed
directly through my sites or blog <http://www.mariejavins.com> I am
happy to try to answer questions about things, sometimes even when I
don't have a clue (so proceed with caution).

Finally, my whole point is that anyone can follow their traveling
dreams--it's not so hard and not so expensive, and remember to stop at
the travel clinic for dik-dik repellent before you go.
  

    
What's the best brand for that?
  

    
In case Marie's still here--thank you for the answer--and, for being an
Inkwell guest as well...
  

    
Frako, I hear that Avon makes a product that is intended to be used as
a nail polish remover, but many swear that they have anecdotal
evidence that it wards off rabid dik-diks. Scientific trials have
proven it to have no effect whatsoever on small animals but have
conclusively determined Nails-So-Tough to be an effective enamel
deterrent.
  

    
I'm hoping for something that repels only at close range . . . since I'd
love for those adorable little guys to come up to me first!
  

    
Careful, they look cute but are vicious killers.
  

    
Keep those little horns razor sharp, eh?