Credit: Christian Lindgr

The Syrian civil war is oftentimes referred to as the “worst humanitarian crisis” of our time. When reviewing the facts, this title makes sense.

Since conflict erupted in 2011, more than 11 million people have been displaced from their homes. Mercy Corps writes on its website, “Families are struggling to survive inside Syria, or make a new home in neighboring countries. Others are risking their lives on the way to Europe, hoping to find acceptance and opportunity. And harsh winters and hot summers make life as a refugee even more difficult. At times, the effects of the conflict can seem overwhelming.”

While this may be true for some Syrian civilians, it doesn’t appear to be the case for all residents in the country. When a traveler named Christian Lindgr visited Syria for 10 days with a  10-day tourist visa, he found the opposite of a war-torn country.

Lindgr wrote on Bored Panda: “I was completely free to walk around the cities on my own. During my visit did I visit Damascus – Aleppo – Homs with the countryside and Tartous and the coast.”

“Yes, there´s destructions in Syria but A LOT less than excepted. I was even granted full access to inside Aleppo Citadel. Supermarkets are just as well stocked as in the west and people go partying in bars in the weekend,” he added.

Following are pictures from his travels which challenge the media’s narrative that Syria is a place of destruction and chaos. Learn more: unusualtraveler.com

Umayyad Mosque, the 4th holiest place in Islam

Credit: Christian Lindgr

Aleppo Citadel

Credit: Christian Lindgr

Traditional mountain village

Credit: Christian Lindgr

Local restaurant in Damascus

Credit: Christian Lindgr

From inside the main market in Damascus

Credit: Christian Lindgr

A Tamer Hidi (juice) salesman at the streets of Damascus in Syria

Credit: Christian Lindgr

Locals on the street in Damascus

Credit: Christian Lindgr

Locals partying in Damascus

Credit: Christian Lindgr

Milkman on streets in Damascus

Credit: Christian Lindgr

Art galleries are open all over Aleppo

Credit: Christian Lindgr

Rak des Chevaliers is a Crusader castle in Syria and one of the most important preserved medieval castles in the world it dates back to 1142

Credit: Christian Lindgr

Supermarkets are well stocked

Credit: Christian Lindgr

European cheese in the supermarkets

Credit: Christian Lindgr

Aleppo Citadel

Credit: Christian Lindgr

From inside Aleppo Citadel

Credit: Christian Lindgr

I Love Damascus

Credit: Christian Lindgr

Lindgr at the top of Aleppo Citadel

Credit: Christian Lindgr

A beautiful girl looking at her friend taking wedding photos

Credit: Christian Lindgr

Locals on the streets

Credit: Christian Lindgr

Solider giving Lindgr flowers

Credit: Christian Lindgr

Locals enjoying a local concert

Credit: Christian Lindgr

Rebuilding has begun

Credit: Christian Lindgr

From the old souq in Aleppo

Credit: Christian Lindgr

Kids in east Aleppo

Credit: Christian Lindgr

People are rebuilding their shops in Aleppo

Credit: Christian Lindgr

A Christian wedding in Damascus

Credit: Christian Lindgr

Cleaning up has begun

Credit: Christian Lindgr

Ruins

Credit: Christian Lindgr

Alcohol shops are everywhere

Credit: Christian Lindgr

Remains of parts of the city

Credit: Christian Lindgr

The remains of the market in Aleppo

Credit: Christian Lindgr

Aleppo train station

Credit: Christian Lindgr

Local men

Credit: Christian Lindgr

Kids

Credit: Christian Lindgr

Shops are soon ready to open in the old Aleppo market

Credit: Christian Lindgr

Crowds

Credit: Christian Lindgr

Ruins

Credit: Christian Lindgr

Not every soldier is a man

Credit: Christian Lindgr

Is the mainstream media lying to the public? Comment your thoughts below and share this news!

Source: Bored Panda