Tan Line

Tan Line

Just a peck on the cheek please

Esther Poking fun at Minnesota Winter

Esther Poking fun at Minnesota Winter



Peggy listening to Hani on the Via Dolorosa

The Via Dolorosa or "Way of Suffering" is the traditional route Jesus took to the cross. Orthodox Christian and Catholics will retrace this route using the stations of the cross along the way.

A strange thing happened in Nazareth

Israeli Defence Forces

IDF taking a break in the Old City of Jerusalem. Not an uncommon sight around Israel.

Bedouen girl selling beads



Jordanian Military Piper



Pepper Berries...Yep this is were it comes from.

Israel flag flying high over Masada

The Chief of Staff of the Israel Defence Forces (IDF), Moshe Dayan, initiated the practice of holding the swearing-in ceremony of soldiers who have completed their Tironut (IDF basic training) on top of Masada. The ceremony ends with the declaration: "Masada shall not fall again." The soldiers climb the Snake Path at night and are sworn in with torches lighting the background.

Streets of the Old City of Jerusalem

Twists and turns and lots of little deadend streets, almost no cars. The ramps are for carts of goods going to market.

Mashowh & Falafel in Shuneh

Our guide and driver stopped in this small farming town in the Jordan river valley for an impromptu lunch of. Steaming hot Mashowh pita bread and hot Falafel. Put a half dozen Falafel in the middle of this foot wide pita, fold it over, give it a smash and you have lunch.
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last breakfast in the Middle East

Our group has come to love the food of the Holy Land. This morning I had a very typical meal of Falafel, Laben, Pita with Zatar and cheese washed down of course wih excellent Arabic coffee. We are on the road now heading out of Ammon on our way to Mount Nebo. "Anchala" we will see the promised Land today.
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The king and queen of Jordan

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The Treasury at Petra

this is the first sight of Petra as it appears in the distance, a narrow slit of a view as the Syq opens up to a broad valley filled with the rock cut structures of the 2600 year old Nabataeans civilization.

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dan in front of royal tomb

Dan in front of the Royal Tombs

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royal tomb

Royal Tombs

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royal tombs...Petra

Royal tombs at Petra

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petra

Camels at Petra

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petra

Part of our group in the Syq (gorge) at Petra

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Sunrise in Amman...leaving shortly for a two hour drive through the Jordanian desert to Petra.

Patrick enjoying 5 star hotel food in Amman

Patrick enjoying 5 star hotel food in Amman
Jordan. The hotel caters to Western visitors and security is tight. I will post a photo out our window in the morning.
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5 home safe

The 5 travelers who did not stay with us for the
Jordan extension have arrived home safely.
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Hadrians Arch at Jerash

Jerash is considered to be one of three best Roman sites in the world.
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Jerash in Jordan

We crossed into the Hashemite kingdom of Jordan this morning. Jordan is beautiful! Our first stop is at the Roman city of Jerash. Jerash is one of the cities of the Decapolis or 10 cities mentioned in the Bible. This is a. Picture of the Cardo or main street of the city. Tomorrow we travel to the "Rose Red City" Petra.
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Tuesday in the Holy Land

We started our day by visiting the Yad Vashem holocaust museum...tough morning for our group of 25 as we saw vivid reminders of this dark piece of history. Later in the day we went to the Garden Tomb and saw one of two possible sites for the tomb of Christ. We celebrated the Lords Supper together in this lovely garden and had a time of prayer for our guide Hani who has become a dear friend. This is our last day wih him as we transfer to Jordan in the morning.
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