Ain Dara and Qala'at Samaan

Location:
NW of Aleppo, getting close to border with Turkey.
Scenery is beautiful with rolling rocky hills and pine trees and agriculture. Also whole fields of sun flowers.

Sites:
Ain Dara - Neo-Hittite (c. 800 BC) site. Famous for the huge footprints walking into the temple (probably the feet fo the deity, note they only go into the temple). Spent about two hours alone on the tell trying to make sense of the layout of the temple and its architectural decoration (mostly lions and sphinxes). E and M love Ain Dara.

Qala'at Samaam / Saint Simeon - Remains of a cathedral from 5th/6th centuries AD on the top of a rocky hill. Apparently Simeon situated himself atop a pillar NW of Aleppo in the 5th century, soon gathered a following of pilgrims and later (6th century) had a whole religious center and town devoted to his lofty religious teachings. Famous picnic spot, great tiolets (for a fee), ruins were nice, but overloaded with tourists.