Jordan!

Okay, I am now even FURTHER behind.   So far behind that I am writing this in a hotel room in Buenos Aires the day before heading to Ushuaia and my Antarctica trip.

Jordan was incredible.  To save time, I am just going to post pictures.  Sorry I don’t have time to be creative with verbage.  

Outside of the capitol, Amman (which I Now know is pronounced Ah-MAN and not Ahh – mon) are the ruins of Jerash.  These are some of the most impressive Roman ruins I have ever seen.

Petra was the next big site and what most people come to this beautiful country to see.  It did not disappoint.

Slot Canyon heading in to Petra
Shopkeepers in Petra
Petra rocks
Buggy in the slot canyon
Petra Treasury
Petra Treasury columns
Roman arch in Petra
Tired penguin and Joe

Pictures just cannot do justice to Petra, or Wadi Rum, our next stop.

One evening we took a cooking class.  It was a lot of fun, but I will say they need to get their knives sharpened.

On one of our last days, we visited the River Jordan…more like the Jordan Muddy Creek.  On the other side of the water is Israel.  It is so good that these two countries get along now.

P.S.  As I mentioned above, I will be getting on a plane to Ushuaia and from there on to a boat to Antarctica.  I will be gone for 3 weeks and internet connectivity will be pretty sparse if it exists at all.  If I do manage a signal somewere, I will try to post a picture of a penguin or whale.  Otherwise, stay tuned for a long post in January.

I wish all of you a very happy holiday season and all the best for the New Year.  Stay safe and warm.  Can’t wait to see everyone in 2019.

Israel – the other bits

I am so far behind in my posts.  Israel was so amazing I had no time or energy to deal with pictures and posting.  So, pictures won’t have that much description.

After Jeruselem, we traveled to the West Bank. If you didn’t know, Bethlehem is in the West Bank.  We also visited a Palestinian refugee camp and heard about the politics from the Palestinian perspective (the previous evening we had a lecture with a rabbi).  

The key symbolizes the homes the regugees left behind.  

Wall art in the West Bank.
Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem.
Mosaic at the church of the Nativity.
Joe was happy to be back in his homeland.

After the West Bank, we continued on to Masada.  Truly an amazing Roman Fortress.  The picutres didn’t look like much when I tranfered them, but this barraks shot can give you an idea of the site.  Definately worth a visit.

After an AMAZING 8 days in Israel, we crossed the border in to Jordan.