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My brother and I ended the trip as we started, sitting in an airport laughing.  Luckily for us, this time it was in Paris and the source of our humor was better dressed.  We had smooth flights from Jordan to Paris to Atlanta to Tampa for me and to Ft. Lauderdale for Jim.  At Atlanta we had to go through customs and recheck our bags.  Our Paris flight arrived late so we were not sure if we could make our connections.  Jim missed his but was only delayed by an hour.  I made mine by the skin of my teeth.  What is most amazing, all of our baggage made it.

It was a wonderful trip and we both have a lot of work to do on our photos.  Israel is a beautiful country.  I now understand why so many people move there.  If I were Jewish, I might move.  The people are so nice and so very funny.  They have this wonderful self-deprecating sense of humor but always show pride in their country. 

Petra was such a highlight and Amman Jordan is such a modern, clean city.  There is construction, activity and a positive atmosphere.  The people are friendly and always display pride in their country. 

We were also very lucky that we had great people that were on the tour.  For complete strangers to come together for two weeks and accept each other as we all are was such a gift.  I have to give a special thank you to my brother.  He was so much fun and I can't describe how much I appreciate the fact he went with me.  As I always say, if I could have had my choice of brothers, I would still have the same brother.

It is truly wonderful to be home.  The dogs cry, Joe cries (OK, so the part about Joe crying is just not true) and I cry.  All are tears of happiness.  When I woke in the middle of the night, I thought this is the most comfortable bed and then I realized I was home.  Another clue was having a dog cuddled up next to me.  I always learn so very much through my travels and one of the things I learn and relearn is that there is no place like home.  This will end this blog.  I hope it has been interesting for anyone that read it.  One of the questions I always get is, “Where are you going next?”  Namibia sounds nice to me.

Petra

Today was the highlight of our trip, the Lost City of Petra.  We were all excited but I do not know how any of us could have been prepared for the experience.  We left the hotel at 8 am and returned around 4 pm.  It has been a day full of wonder and fun.

Our hotel is right next to the entrance to Petra.  The Nabataeans built Petra around 600 BC.  It is amazing the engineering done by these people.  The population is estimated to have been between 20,000 to 35,000 people.  A German discovered Petra around 1812.  In 1985, it became a World Heritage site and the Bedouins that were still living in caves were relocated. 

It is stunning to say the least.  I took just over 800 pictures today.  Granted many of them will be deleted.  Every step and every turn give an opportunity that should not be passed up.  I am so lucky that my intestinal problem is gone.  The tour company is so very smart to end the tour here.  I liked everything we have done and every place we have visited.  Petra, however, is in a class by itself. 

We walked the normal tour of Petra, had lunch and then about a dozen of us continued up to the top of Petra to a monument that is called the monastery.  It was grueling and worth every bit of the 2 hours it took.  When we came back down, there were camels waiting for us to take us half way back.  We laughed all the way until we had to walk the remaining distance.   It has been a wonderful day full of laughter, great sites and wonderful memories. 

Entering Petra

No motorized transportation allowed

Winding road

The monument called the Treasury

New Friend

Locals taking a break.

At the top of Petra.

The monument called the Monastery. 

Leaving by local transportation.

We had dinner at a local restaurant and it was wonderful.  The highlight of the evening was the entertainment.  Five men dancing and four playing instruments.  It was great fun.  Of course they asked for people to join them in the dance.  Many of you won't be surprised I did but many will be surprised brother Jim danced.  It was great fun.

Entertainment

Jim and Linda dancing

Tomorrow we head to Amman and leave tomorrow night.  As good a trip as it has been, it is very good to be heading home.

Dead Sea and Petra

Dead Sea at morning.

Today we left the Dead Sea and traveled to Petra.  It took most of the day.  We made two stops along the way; one at Mt. Nebo and one at Madaba.

Dead Sea from hotel lobby.

Mt. Nebo is where God showed Moses the Promised Land and then Moses died.  He never did make it to the Promised Land.  After looking out from Mt. Nebo, poor Moses must have said to heck with this and decided not going to the Promised Land may not be so bad.  The site is beautiful and is currently owned by the Franciscan Monks.  They are in the process of preserving the mosaic floor and completely renovating the church.  On a clear day you can see to Jerusalem but today was not one of those days.  There are a lot of people coming and going which makes the site busy.  If you could spend some time there, it would probably be very moving. 

Jordanian landscape.

Monument to Moses dedicated by Pope John Paul.

View from top of Mt. Nebo.

Church at Madaba

We then proceeded to Madaba and visited a church and then had lunch.  After lunch, we drove for three hours to Petra.  It was dark once we arrived, took a walk around and then had dinner.  The hotel is great, as they all were. 

Some of the art inside the church.

Lunch

Entering Petra area.

Tomorrow, we visit Petra and return via camel.  It should be another full day.  Day after tomorrow, we leave for home.   

Jordan and Jerash

View of Dead Sea from the infinity pool.

I skipped the trip to Jerash hoping to finally kick the illness.  It must have done the trick, as I was able to eat some breakfast and have soup for lunch.  I had a quiet day.  Jim took the trip to Jerash and said it was wonderful.  Jerash was a city built by the Roman King Hadrian in 168 ad.  The city was one of many in the Roman Empire.  The city was ultimately destroyed by earthquakes and then abandoned.  Jim said the city was as impressive as Pompeii. 

Jerash, picture taken by J. Carbone

Roman colonnade, picture taken by J. Carbone

After everyone returned, they all ran down to the beach, lathered in the mud and went floating in the Dead Sea.  The salt content is 33%.  The Great Salt Lake is 27% and the Atlantic Ocean is 3%.  The high salt content is why people float without having to tread water.  You should only stay in for 20 minutes because you might become dehydrated. 

J. Carbone, picture taken and published by his sister.

Floating in the Dead Sea.

Priceless!

We leave tomorrow and visit Mt. Nebo, where Moses died, and then on to Petra.  We will be heading back home soon and while this trip has been good, the thought of home sounds better.  

Jerusalem, Bethlehem and Jordan

Today is our last day in Jerusalem and I am sad we are leaving.  It is such a great city and we have had a wonderful visit.  Jerusalem has been wonderful.  (Even though I have been ill.)

This morning we went to the West Bank so we could visit Bethlehem.  We had to cross into the Palestinian territory and had to have a guard come on the bus and allow us to proceed.  It was not a big deal but a few years ago, this would not have been possible.  Arabs that live in the West Bank cannot leave without permission and have to get special permission to go into Israel.

The main abbey of the church.  The panels allow
viewing of the original flooring.

We went through Manger Square and into the church.  The church is another one that is managed by more than one religion, here the Greek Orthodox and Roman Catholic.   We had to wait for a mass to finish, the steps to be cleaned and then we could go in.  Once again, we are in a small, cramped area.  A fourteen silver star is in the floor marking the spot Jesus was born.  A group of Russians was in front of us.  One of the women laid on the floor, kissed the star, stayed there for a minute and then screamed at the top of her voice.  We all stopped, our guide asked if all was well and then she got up and left.  My brother was next to her and immediately said, “I did not touch her!”  Even with all the Russian dramatics, it is a very special place.  I am surprised at how unprotected all the art and icons are.  We are allowed to take pictures with flash, I don’t, and can touch everything, and I admit I sometimes touched the icons.  We lit candles and before you know, a priest came along and was removing the candles we lit.  

Jim lighting candle.  You can see many of the icons behind him.

Priest removing lit candles.  

Priest going to say mass to the left and the Russians crowding the
area of the alter at the spot Jesus was born.

Fourteen pointed star marking the place Jesus was born.

We all got a chance to have our own moment of prayer but it was done in silence.  Other groups sang and prayed aloud which did add to the moment.  The city of Bethlehem is small in comparison to Jerusalem.   There is no shortage of shop owners and they all want to make a deal, drive a hard bargain but still make a fair sale.  Once you get into the way things are done, it seems very normal.

We returned to Jerusalem for lunch and then left for Jordan.  We went through the Jordan River Crossing Gate from Israel to Jordan.  There is an immediate difference in the cleanliness, the structures and general upkeep.  We leave the road and then go to our hotel, which is very opulent.  As in many Arab countries, there are the rich and then everybody else.

Jerusalem and Masada

Taking the Gondola to the top of Masada.

Last night we did not make it to the caves.  I was not feeling very good and my brother was tired.  I guess I needed the rest more than anything.

Today is the second day Hanukkah and we drove to Masada, which is south of Jerusalem.  Once you get outside of Jerusalem, it is very clear that you are in the desert.  Masada’s history spans 103 BC to 74 ad.  The two most famous periods were the Herodian Period, named after King Herod and the Siege resulting in the mass suicide of Jews.

Some of the Masada ruins.

Herod, not really a nice king, wanted a winter palace.  So he built it at the edge of the Dead Sea where there was no water.  It took about 10 years to build and he used it until his death, 4 BC. 

In 73 or 74 AD, the Jews had the last rebel stronghold against the Romans at Masada.  The Romans were about to capture the site and the Jews.  The Jews were afraid of becoming slaves and having the women and children being used in terrible ways.  It was decided that they would commit suicide rather than suffer at the hands of the Romans.  As it turns out, two women and five children hid and did survive by hiding.  It is a site of great importance and gave the Jewish military a focus that they will never give up.

Alter where Jesus was crucified.

One of the places that has made a big impact on me is the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.  I went back again today which makes my third visit.  This church is said to be the place Jesus was crucified, resurrected and buried.  The church is run by five religions which means it is hard to get anything done.  There is a chapel that is supposed to be where Jesus was crucified.  Another slab of rock is suppose to be where the women prepared Jesus for burial and then the place they say is the ultimate place of his body.  Even though there are hundreds of people going through the church all the time, it is still moving.  However, my favorite scene is the one of the priest going along and putting out the candles people have lit.

Priest putting out candles.

Jerusalem

On the way to the Temple Mount

Today we went to the Temple Mount and saw the Dome of the Rock, but only from the outside as only Muslims are allowed in.  Of course that was not always the case and as our guide said, look at all the money they are loosing.  After that, we walked through the Arab section of Israel, stopped at Falafel restaurant for a snack, visited the Holy Sepulcher again, and had lunch at the Israel Museum.  I skipped the Holocaust Museum and came back to then to the hotel for a nap.  It seems that Montezuma also resides in Jerusalem and he has paid me a visit. 

Arab Market

Jim in front of Dome of the Rock

The 5th Station of the Cross.  This is a little chapel there.

African Monks on top of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.

Greek Orthodox Chapel inside the Holy Sepulcher.

Tonight we are going to a light show (no pictures allowed) and then we are going to go into some caves they have excavated by the Western Wall.  Another full day.  

Jerusalem

Dome of the rock and Church of Mary Magdalene in the back.

Mosaic of Old Jerusalem

Synagogue

Today we toured the Jewish Quarter of the Old City, visited the Western Wall, previously called the Wailing Wall, went to the Mount of Olives and finished the day at the Garden of Gethsemane.  It was a full day and I think we are all tired.

View from King David Tower

We saw all the different parts of the Old City behind the wall.  Learned that the Old City was built and destroyed several times, visited four synagogues and then had lunch.  Jerusalem is still full of contrasts.  You will see Orthodox Jews and Arabs side by side.  At the Western Wall, it is men on one side and women on the other.  An Orthodox Jewish man was dispensing blessings by shaking hands and when I extended by hand, he ignored me.  The guide said Orthodox men do not touch women that are not their wives.  The men that he blessed only gave a dollar for the blessing.  I told him too bad, I would have given $20.  OK, so it is not true, but I wanted to give him something to think about.

Every time we turned a corner, we were in a different century.  Also, very few cars are allowed in the Old City, so everyone walks.   The British mandated that all building would be done in sandstone or the sand colored rocks.  The City of Jerusalem has kept that standard and the city has a uniform look to it. 

Western Wall

Mount of Olives

Making Friends

The most moving part of the day was at the Gardens of Gethsemane and the Church of the Agony.  This was where Jesus prayed before being crucified.  It is a somber church and it is very moving when you touch the rock Jesus prayed upon.  

Church of the Agony

Garden of Gethsemane