Fairies

Here is a cute site.


Give it a try.

You have to click on the title "Faries"

Antuco in Israel

Antuco made friends where ever he went. Here he is with the guard outside the Damascus Gate in Old Jerusalem (Muslim Sector).

These are Soldiers in Bethlehem. They are smiling because the young girls in our group had just taken pictures with them leaving them in a good mood.

This Tourist Police officer could barely keep from laughing at the idea of a monkey wanting his picture. I promised I wouldn't show his superiors.

I liked the costume of this guard. He was inside the Treasury at Petra. Good smile. The most diligent of guards was Gila, our guide. Tough as nails when it came to keeping track of her charges. Borne in the US, she emigrated to Israel as a very young woman and lived on a Kibbutz for a number of years. Now she is a certified guide and very up on her history of the region (both old and new Testament).

Our organizer and leader, Pastor John Delancey. Gentle person with a wealth of knowledge about the region. He has been there several times and is going back in March 08.

Last but certainly not least is our fabulous bus driver, Acrom. He could put that bus in spots I would only dream of getting my Subaru.

Jerry in Israel

Our trip to Israel was really delightful. I tried to get shots of Jerry enjoying himself. Bus rides were long and cramped. Here he is at the Siq - entrance to Petra. He really enjoyed this part of the trip. Can you see his smile?
The trip to Petra takes us through a long canyon called the Siq.

Once through the Siq Jerry found a bench to sit on and wait until I had finished exploring. That's him sitting on the right end of the bench against the canyon wall. (You could recognise him, right?)

Been there, Done that. Where's my T-shirt?
We had to get on a boat (part of the tour) at the Sea of Galilee. I really wanted to get a "Christmas Card" photo of us there. Don't think this one will do.Honest, folks, he really was enjoying himself.

We have determined that my dear husband is not a traveler. This trip was most difficult for him. The getting there and back is arduous. The climbing in and out of the buses for the numerous stops was trying. So I guess I'll be the world traveler of the family. Not a bad title. And Jerry will stay home and fret that I'm OK and be able to take care of the cats so they are not so lonely.

Pictures

Here I am at Arbel. This is the southern end of the fertile plain of Ginnosar. I believe this was the day after I sprained my ankle so did not go to the farthest lookout point with the group.

Then there was the camel ride in Petra. Notice the red hat. Picked that up in Jerusalem. It is a grand hat. My hair refused to behave the whole trip and my curling iron only worked when it wanted to and only for short periods of time. The camels seem to always have a second beast roped to them. Maybe a youngster learning the ropes. As I was positioning Antuco on my camel after the ride, the second camel became very curious. I told him(?) not to bite Antuco and he looked at me and started to snuffle my face. Really a very sweet camel, soft mussel. Neither one spit or grumbled at me as had been noticed at other camel stops. I had walked down the road way another mile or so past the treasury when I decided I had seen enough and hired the camel to bring me back up. Just as I arrived in the Treasury yard, a large group of tourists stood right in front of Jerry so he didn't get to see my triumphant entrance. That is Jerry, sitting on the end of the bench, with the vest and purple shirt on. I took this from the porch of the Treasury.

We're Home

What a trip. Lots to see in that little country. The bus took us all over Israel; from Tel Aviv to Caesarea to the Northern boarder with Syria down to Jerusalem, into Bethlehem (occupied territory - our guide couldn't go with us only our driver), then down to Egypt and up to Jordan and back into Israel. Check points at every boarder. Guards with guns everywhere (even in the hotels) - they really want to protect those tourist dollars.
Mishaps included: Day 5- dismounted the bus a bit too clumsily and twisting my left ankle. Opted out of the Jordan baptism the next day.
Day 8 - developed a case of food poisoning(?). Up all night with "those" symptoms. Really cleaned things out. Imodium works great. I stayed in the hotel recovering the next day. The tour director suggested I start taking the full spectrum antibiotics we brought so I did. Got the whole seven days into my system (in the allotted seven days) and on Day 16, high above the Atlantic Ocean I broke out in hives, all over my face, chest, back. Hives hurt. Hives itch. Got to the hotel and tried to get some sleep. To no avail. Had Jerry go out and purchase some Benadril. Two doses of that did not touch the hives. By 1:30 in the am I said enough, and we went to the urgent care five miles from the hotel for an epinephrine shot and a scrip for steroids. The doc said I should be fine in about three days.
Got lots of pictures of Antuco with various soldiers. I should have counted cats. (There are lots of them all over the area). When I get the pictures loaded onto the computer I'll post them.

Israel

I'm here. Getting very tired. Sprained my ankle but doing fine now. Taking loads of pictures. Will post more when I get home. (or later)

Happy Turkey Day

I have previously posted pictures of birds that come to our feeder. Sparrows, flickers, quail, hawks, magpies, and starlings have all helped themselves to a quick repast in our back yard. But today tops them all.

We had five hen turkeys (wild ones) make it into our back yard and spend some time foraging in the Virginia Creeper. Now, we have seen wild turkeys in the mountains north of here but this was a first for us. We live two miles from the center of town!

What a treat! Guess they felt safe because I ordered my Thanksgiving bird just today from Eggers.