Jordanians are flocking to the Syrian capital Damascus for the first time in years for tourism and trade after the reopening of a border crossing that had been closed through years of war.

The border opened to people and goods on Oct. 15, restoring a route that had carried billions of dollars in trade for the region.

"The first day that Syria opened up, I came. This is my second time since then," said Mahmoud Nassar, 62, a flight engineer from Jordan's northern city of Ramtha.