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14 photos that show what the nightlife is like in Damascus, Syria's war-torn capital Tuesday May 17, 2016 at 4:03 PM Courtney Verrill Omar Sanadiki/Reuters The Syrian civil war has been raging for more than four years, and while millions of refugees have fled the country, there are many young Syrians who are just trying to live normal lives. In Damascus' Old City, just a mile away from the war's front lines, young Syrians have started going to bars and clubs in an effort to experience normality. This is not something you would have seen two years ago — many of these bars have opened just over the past couple of months. Below, take a look at what nightlife is like in Damascus' Old City, as captured by Reuters photographer Omar Sanadiki: Security in Damascus improved in February, after Russia's intervention and a partial truce brought a sense of calm. Omar Sanadiki/Reuters Source: Reuters Locals started to go out and socialize a bit more. Omar Sanadiki/Reuters "This is something you certainly wouldn't see two years ago, and it's picked up even more recently," 23-year-old Nicolas Rahal told Reuters. "I can now go to this pub or that nightclub. Places opened and people came." Omar Sanadiki/Reuters Source: Reuters Experiencing the city's nightlife gives Syrians a chance to live their lives instead of hide in fear. Omar Sanadiki/Reuters Late-night socializers can be seen drinking beer, watching football, and smoking water pipes at popular Damascus bars. "People are tired of war and just want to live a normal life, so they go out, they socialize," Dana Daqqaq, a bartender at Pub Sharqi, told Reuters. Omar Sanadiki/Reuters Many people had thought about fleeing the country, but now with the opportunity to socialize and have a somewhat normal life, they have decided to stay put. "When I started to see life I stayed here," 21-year-old Dana Ibrahim told Reuters. "I don't want to be a refugee." Omar Sanadiki/Reuters Source: Reuters But the war is still happening just miles away from the bars of Damascus' Old City. Omar Sanadiki/Reuters Distant artillery fire is sometimes heard, and soldiers carrying assault rifles roam around, searching vehicles for bombs at army roadblocks and causing traffic jams. The death toll has most recently been reported at more than 470,000 people. Omar Sanadiki/Reuters Source: The New York Times At times, bombings happen just miles away from the downtown scene. Omar Sanadiki/Reuters Nightlife is about more than forgetting the war: It is also helping to employ people at a time when the economy is suffering. Omar Sanadiki/Reuters According to Reuters, inflation has caused the Syrian pound to lose 90% of its value since 2011. Omar Sanadiki/Reuters Source: Reuters Five hundred fifty Syrian pounds � which converts to about $1 � will get one beer. Omar Sanadiki/Reuters The traumatic experiences people have had are an unspoken truth, and it's not typically brought up by people socializing at bars. Omar Sanadiki/Reuters Each person seen out is almost guaranteed to have a traumatic experience from the war that follows them. Omar Sanadiki/Reuters See Also: How NATO should respond to Russian aggression in the BalticsThe story of Wojtek: The 440-pound bear that drank, smoked, and carried weapons for the Polish army during World War IIBehold, the largest plane in the US Air Force SEE ALSO: China's tech work culture is so intense that people sleep and bathe in their offices