Baron hotel Aleppo

When we arrived in Aleppo, Ahmed the hostel owner explained some of the local customs to us. He also gave us a sheet of paper in English with the most common Arabic phrases that we would need to make our life easier while in Syria. So we learned how to count from 1 to 100 and say things like 'Is there any cheaper?' and 'I love you' in Arabic. Very handy.
He explained that if we wanted to buy alcohol that there were only a few places we could go to. He mentioned the famous Baron hotel and told us about its history - that the author Agatha Christie and the soldier TE Lawrence had both stayed there. So we decided to go and have a look at this historic place. Just walking through the front door brings you way back in time. The bar is like something from the 1920's and you can see lots of old memorabilia around the place. I took a photo of the bill that Lawrence supposedly never paid when he stayed there. I also noticed an archaeological map of Syria from around the same time. You can definitely feel the hand of history in this place when you go inside. We got there at noon and I suggested we have a beer and the others agreed. Why not.