Syria's youth flaunt new wealth

Under the arcade of the fancy Four Seasons hotel in Damascus, Anas Mashafej gazes at the windows of Aishti, an up-market clothing shop that sells designer brands such as Armani and Roberto Cavalli.

A bright - and expensive - shirt attracts the attention of the 22-year-old college student. After some hesitation, he decides to buy it and postpone buying other items he needs.

"The general atmosphere at college encourages wearing well-known brands," he said. "Most students brag about their designer acquisitions."

Jamil, who wears torn jeans and a T-shirt with an image of a skull on it and has dyed blond hair, said, "I don’t feel awkward dressing this way. All my friends dress the same ... This is how I express myself."

Kids like Jamil attend private universities and spend their free time in the new malls of Damascus, using restaurants like KFC and Hardee's [These clones eat at places that I would rather starve then touch !! I crave Flafel and Mana'ish and they want KFC??? pathetic] as well as an array of amusement centers, modern cinema theatres, and parking lots where they can show off their expensive cars.

"This place feels like Europe, as if you are somewhere in London or Rome," said Mansour, who comes from a modest background, adding that the price of a cup of coffee is almost equivalent to what he earns in a day.