Jordan. "indeed"

I would love to have a terribly witty way (rhymes, or a cross word) to present the fabulous, four day trip I had in Jordan. But for lack of time and wit, I will just say this:

Jordan is like fresh tomatoes on a thin crust pizza.

And I love fresh tomatoes on a thin crust. And I love Jordan. It was friendly, blustery and felt like a movie adventure. We saw desert, river and rock. And the rock was cool because the rock was Petra.

This is site where John the Baptist was beheaded. I apologize for looking so cheerful. Sarah and I had just finished performing the Jon Wallin cover of "the Good the Bad and the Ugly" theme song.

Before I came to the middle east, I bragged to my little sister that I was going to ride a camel. Alas, I haven't and don't think I will. Though not an animal rights activist, there is something inherently wrong in paying this man 10 dinar to take part in abusing this poor creature, though grotesque he may be. This is in Petra, by the way. PETRA.

 

As I was taking this picture the owner of they "why not" shop said, (in the same way a circus master announces an act,) "WELCOME!, to the....why not shop!" Drum roll.

 

This is at the top of the world. According to the sign to your right. That you can't see because it isn't in the picture. At least I know it is at the top of Petra....because I climbed to that flag.

 

Only read this if you know anything about Lawrence of Arabia. This is part of the remaining railway system that Lawrence of Arabia bombed in his attempt to unite the Arab states. That's why it is cool.

Sir Thomas is mimicking the man. 

 

I was crowned Queen of Amman! 

Prayer tower at the Abdullah mosque.

His name is Yousef and he was our guide and he was fantastic! His English was superb, improved by the fact that he said "indeed" every chance he got. 

We went to a museum/ ancient city and there were children there on a field trip. They were gorgeous. All of them wanted me to take their picture and show it to them and they all told me their names.

They are so beautiful!

My roommate Melissa and I at the Jabbok river. 

 

One of the best parts of this trip was meeting up with my good friend James who is in Jordan doing the Arabic study abroad. He took me all around Amman and fed me all sorts of street food that was forbidden by our doctor. But what won't we do for a little schwarma? 

My reward for eating the street food? I got very sick and was bed ridden for an entire day with a fever and other unmentionable things. It was wretched, to say the least. But I am feeling wonderfully better now!

Lately

I have been doing things and here are some pictures.

 

Once we went on a field trip and this is where they took us....somewhere where we herded sheep and goats. 

 

This one is my friend.

 

A girl named Rivkah braided my hair. She is a braider virtuoso. 

 

This was at our Arab culture night! We dressed up, ate delicious Arab food and had a presentation from two shakes about the Koran and the call to prayer.

 

A bakery in West Jerusalem!

 

Synagogue on a fast day.

 

Arad.

 

We went to an organ concert and this was the star. He was incredible. His back was so sweaty and the acoustics in the church were amazing.

A Run With a View

One of the best parts of my day begins when I crawl out of bed and quietly change into my long exercise pants and baggy t-shirt. I wait outside my room in the commons area and hope Marianne and Sarah managed to pull themselves out of bed too, (sometimes they are the ones hoping), because we have to run in groups of three or more. We walk the three flights of stairs to the top entrance, scan our cards at the gate, wave to the security guards and start our run. There are only two routes we are allowed to take and even though we pound the same pavement everyday, it doesn't feel repetitive. It feels really good. And the view is gorgeous.

On Friday a few of us walked to a synagogue along the same streets we run and I snapped some pictures of what we see every morning.

 

 

 

 

Marianne! My stalwart running buddy. This picture was outside the old city wall. 

And wonderful Sarah! This is the only picture I have of her. She is on the left and Sister Skinner, our program director's wife, is in the middle. We were in the Blue Mosque in Turkey.

"The mold of fashion" tourist style

Sites of the world are cool and all, but sometimes sites of humans distract me. Some people are so fabulous looking. Here are the fruits of my labor.

 

Pearls in the middle of ancient Greek ruins? Yes please.

 

I think I want to be this woman when I hit middle age. 

 

Classic.

 

You can't see this man's wife but rest assured that she dragged him here.

 

Classy. I wish I were her friend.

 

Heels and a pencil skirt. Be impressed with this woman's stamina.

 

Great shot. 

 

Who wears a onezie jumpsuit? She does. And well. 

 

This family of sailor hats is for you mom. :) I won't forget those days.

 

"My name is Siddel, I am from Switzerland, I have lots of money and there is a purple sweater tied around my neck."