Fifty-ninth Post From Türkiye: Christmas in Jordan

I am not sure why I haven't learned by now that I should trust Jack when he suggests a vacation spot. We have recently been on two trips that beforehand I was for sure I wouldn't enjoy and then ended up loving. Jordan was one of those trips. It was amazing! People were so friendly and inviting. The food was fabulous. And the sights were so awesome. I am so glad we went! 

Hello, Jordan!

Looking over Wadi Musa from our hotel.

While walking to the entrance to Petra we passed this cute little donkey. I was super excited and took a picture not knowing that while touring Petra I would see literally hundreds of donkeys.
Oh-well he was sweet.

You can catch a ride on a horse to the entrance of the Siq. Trum really enjoyed it. Later, on the way out, Jack made me ride a horse as well, but I will NOT be posting a picture as I was wearing a hot-pink rain jacket and I looked ridiculous. So just use your imagination.

Entrance to the Siq and inside. It was so gorgeous wandering through this canyon!

Jack finally fulfills his dream of walking in Indiana Jones' shoes at the Al-Khazneh (the treasury) !!

Plenty of opportunities for a quick ride on a camel.

More rock cut buildings in the Street of Facades.

The colonnaded Roman street.

Thinking some thoughts inside the Great Temple (plus we ate our hotel provided lunch here, not too shabby!).

Hiking to the Monastery.

Donkey!

 We were hiking and hiking and hiking up to see the monastery and it was a bit cold and a bit steep and I was sort of taking my time as I am out of shape and I like to take lots of photos but I have to wait for all the other tourists to get out of my shot, so eventually Jack and Trum just forge ahead. Then Jack sends me a text and says, "It is still really far and steep and I don't think you will think it is worth it." So instead of finishing the hike I sat down to enjoy the view and then this kind woman invited me to share her fire. Frankly, I think I had a better experience. Luckily Jack got a pic of Trum at the top for me to enjoy!

View of the area around Petra. The valley is waaaaay down below.

From Petra we traveled to Wadi Rum. 

Wadi Rum is a protected desert wilderness in southern Jordan. It has amazing sandstone mountains, natural arches and prehistoric inscriptions and carvings line rocky caverns and steep chasms

But for Jack the coolest bit was that Lawrence of Arabia hung out in the area. And the movie was filmed here as well.

We booked with a camping place that arranges everything for your visit. We started out with a jeep tour of the desert. The first stop was the watering hole of Lawrence’s Spring is named after Lawrence of Arabia, who allegedly washed there. 

Some of those pre-historic carvings.

Jack and Trum hike to the watering hole. Just to get a sense of the size of this rock, Jack and Trum are in the circle.

Waaaay zoomed in, almost to the spring.

They made it! 

Plenty of opportunities to hang out and not drink tea in Bedouin tents.

Enjoying our jeep adventure.

Khazali Canyon

Burdah Arch

Fun on a sand dune! 

Lawrence's House (alleged)

Trum needed his own kafiya. They showed him how to wear it Bedouin style.

Back at Camp!

Snuggled into our tent.

Hiking up to enjoy the sunset from a ridge.

Enjoying the fire, conversation and dinner in the big tent.

Gorgeous desert morning!

Nothing makes Jack happier than forcing me to ride on various animals. So he arranged for us to take the hour long camel ride back into town. Wow! It was pretty fun for about 20 out of the 60 minute ride. The walking gait of a camel is not something we are accustomed to. We all had some chaffing and sore muscles at the end.

Camels snacking in a tomato field.

Awesome!

Fun stuff from Jordan.

More about the trip in Part 2.

Fifty-eighth Post From Türkiye: Giving Thanks in Rome Part 2

We had so much fun in Rome I had to split the retelling of it into two posts! So here is Part 2.
On our third morning we started off with a visit to the Colosseum. 

Some times in order to take one "good" photo, you have to take a lot of goofy shots. The kids helped provide plenty of goofy photos at the Colosseum.

The Colosseum is three tiers and is the largest amphitheater ever built.  It was used for gladiatorial contests and public spectacles such as mock sea battles, animal hunts, executions, re-enactments of famous battles, and dramas based on Classical mythology. Basically it is really cool.

From there we moved on to the Roman Forum. 

It is a rectangular forum (plaza) surrounded by the ruins of several important ancient government buildings at the center of the city of Rome. 

Trum and Tyler and The Arch of Titus.

The ruins of the Temple of Julius Caesar. Where they held Julius Caesar's funeral pyre. Jolly.

Resting while listening to dueling guidebooks.

The main road to the Roman Capitol, the Clivus Capitolinus.

Outside of the forum there were lots of street performers. These guys couldn't see us well enough to get us to pay for this picture. Plus we were sneaky.

 Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at The Altare della Patria ("Altar of the Fatherland"), also known as the Monumento Nazionale a Vittorio Emanuele II  is a monument built in honor of Victor Emmanuel, the first king of a unified Italy. 

And it is mad huge, yo!

Apparently people don't really like it because they destroyed a large area of the Capitoline Hill (Roman era) and a Medieval neighborhood to build it. And they think it looks a little pompous.

Well you can't please everyone. 

Listen, if you've seen "Roman Holiday" then you have to go and stick your hand in the Bocca della Verità or The Mouth of Truth. Luckily Trum and I are both extremely honest so we came away with our hands intact. It's right outside the Basilica of Saint Mary in Cosmedin where we saw the alleged skull of St Valentine. 

We turned the kids loose to run wild in the Circus Maximus. Which is an ancient Roman chariot racing stadium. It's funny how they can be tired from walking but have plenty of energy to run all over an open space like this.

One of four protests/rallies we came across as we traversed the city that day.

We had circled back to the Colosseum and the Arch of Constantine.

As the day came to a close we headed out to a different part of town for some dinner and to see Michelangelo's Moses housed in the church of San Pietro in Vincoli.

You had to pay money to turn on the lights to view it. I think that's some good business sense for the church and totally worth it.

These kids are the best!

We sadly had to part ways the next day. The Drydens off on their long drive home and us to the airport for our flight.

But before we left Jack couldn't leave Rome without subjecting Trum and I to some fascist architecture, so on our last walk through the city we stopped to see this lovely building.

Luckily we were cheered up later when we encountered a herd of Italian Boy and Girl Scouts. They full-on wear hats and knee socks. I say we bring back that look in the US!

Last view of Ancient Rome.

So thankful we got to see Rome with our friends!