Gelato in Damascus

Bakdash ice-cream shop in the old souk in Damascus. Started in 1885.

Finding funnies in Damascus is tough,
but buying milk? Hopeless. One
can’t find the silky stuff.

Yet Bakdash thrives. Not just to sell, per se,
pistachio-covered ice cream,
but bowls of hope — they say—

to sweet apologists who feel no qualms
sharing treats with friends before . . .
dropping off their car bombs.