TROY!!! - Check off one for the bucket list

Today I went to Troy.

Yes, I did the touristy Trojan Horse thing.

No, I am not ashamed at all. 

:)

Water channels!

The famous walls of Troy.

A pose-worthy piece of fallen ceiling. 

Overlooking the location where Schliemann "supposedly" found his treasure trove of goods. 

Hiking through the edges of the site.

There were a lot of sea-shells here.

What remains of the large theater.

The prayer bubble was in full force here.

The large snake we were warned about didn't make an appearance.

I thank God for that, quite literally.

Bruce, or his backside anyway.

;)

Bruce lounging and smoking...

...notice the no smoking sign.

After we left Troy we went to Assos and found a hotel

This is the view from our table at lunch.

Unbelievable right?

This is what I had for lunch.

Also quite unbelievable.

So, very, very, very good day.

Hope for many more to come!

♥ ♥ ♥

On to conquer Troy.

This will be short and sweet because yesterday was mostly driving.

Yesterday we left Istanbul 

(which was sad because I LOVED Istanbul)

and headed for Troy

(after a small detour to the north to see a very famous and beautiful mosque).

We crossed the Sea of Marmara (I think) on a ferry in order to cut a few hours of driving time off our trip.

The ferry from Italy to Sicily last year was a bit bumpy.

This ferry cut through the water like a hot knife on butter.

I loved thinking about the ships throughout history that would have crossed this water.

(usually to fight come to think of it)

It was absolutely lovely and I had a "Tilley" experience imagining myself on a Greek ship, gliding across to spend 10 years fighting the Trojans.

Although, they would have been a little farther south than we were...

...and they would not have been wearing chacos.

Oh well.

We spent the night in a village off of Troy, had dinner with a view of the ocean, and are going to Troy in the morning.

There will be pics.

♥ ♥ ♥

A little of Istanbul and a little of Constantinople

Well we arrived in Turkey!

We've spent the last 2 days in Istanbul and I have had an absolute blast!

Here goes.

Day 1:

First things first - I saw my first Egyptian obelisk!

We went to the Blue Mosque.

and the Byzantine Cisterns.

(these were my favorite)

Day 2:

Started with an absolutely delightful breakfast on the roof terrace watching the ships in the bay.

Then we went to the wonderful Haggia Sophia.

This is the view from Haggia Sophia towards the Blue Mosque.

Next we went to the Archaeological Museum and I saw the Alexander sarcophagus!

Just in case you were wondering it is not Alexander the Great's sarcophagus but it is called the Alexander sarcophagus.

One of my favorite pieces in the museum was a sarcophagus covered by mourning women.

It was so beautiful.

Next we went to the Tokapi Ottoman Palace, 

saw the ground (beautiful), 

the Harem (a depressing gilded cage), 

and had a delightful lunch overlooking the sea.

All in all an absolutely wonderful day.

Tomorrow we are driving around and eventually taking a ferry towards Troy.

Yep, Troy.

Yay!!!

♥ ♥ ♥

Petra - Round 4

This was officially my 4th time in Jordan and my 3rd time at Petra.

I remember leaving Jordan after my field school in 2008 and thinking that I would probably never see this beautiful place again.

False.

Thank you Heavenly Father.

Coming to Petra felt like coming home.  

I loved every minute of it.

I also got to go up to the Monastery for the 2nd time.

Yep, it is still humongous.  

This picture with me next to it is not really accurate, I am very far forward and Holly was close to the ground when she took it.  

In reality, the bottom of the door entrance would be higher than my shoulders.

Bruce took a donkey up and gave us a parting solute before our hike of around 769 steps.

I think it was 769...

I might have missed a few when I was trying to breathe.

;)

Yesterday Holly, Cyndy and I went on a road trip to Dana with Sheikh Ali and Abd S. (it is S. because I can't spell his name)

Abd S. knows every plant in the desert it seems.  

This bush is used to make a tasty tea apparently

It sure smelled amazing.

I have some of that bush in that fist of mine there.

It was a really windy and hazy day but the temperature was really nice.

This is Sheikh Ali posing nobly with Abd S. walking off in the background.

You wouldn't think it to look at this picture, but this is one of the funniest people I've ever met.

I was laughing the entire time I was around him.

Ali tied my kaffia around my head and since Holly didn't have a kaffia he stole Abd S.'s and wrapped it on Holly.

He initially stole Holly's scarf but he said that he couldn't wear it in the picture because he was to manly.

:)

Here he is trying to give it back to Holly.

Here is our little group.

Isn't Abd S. hardcore with his cane and dagger?

He hit me in the bum several times with that cane.

Old men...the same everywhere.

;)

Later we had dinner at Abd S.'s house.  

His son brought their camel back from Petra and it was chomping down on the olive tree.

His daughter Fatima gave me my first handwoven Bedouin rug.

Finally, in my last night in Petra there was a gecko on my ceiling.

I will not lie to you, I just about wet my pants.

Although that changed when I found out 2 things:

First, they are harmless....thank goodness.

Second, they are apparently a sign of good luck...sweet!

Also they eat bugs...I think that is good luck.

I named him Gus, 

and waved goodbye to him as I left my room this morning for Amman.

We are leaving for the airport at 3am...yikes...and will be in Istanbul tomorrow!

I'll try to update, we'll see how it goes.

Ma salama!

Off to Petra

For our last full day in Amman we did a few new things.

1.  We went to Madaba.

If you don't know, Madaba is also known as the city of the mosaics.

It was all so beautiful and I absolutely loved it.

This is the ancient Roman road that is still extant in this little place.

It was my first time in Madaba.

2. We saw the Dead Sea

This was my first time seeing the Dead Sea.

It is a long and dramatic story about how we 'accidentally' saw it and I won't tell it here.

If you desperately want to know wait till I come back and ask me about it.

It is worth the ask.

;)

3. I went to McDonald's for the first time in a foreign country - in this case Jordan.

If you know me you know it is a big deal for me to go to McDonald's at all - I dislike it greatly.

Tonight was fun though.

Good company, familiar food, and even 'All the Single Ladies' by Beyonce was on the overhead speaker.

Good times and my tummy is only a little upset.

;)

Tomorrow we are off to Petra!!!

Pics will come...eventually.

Night!

Northern Jordan

This morning we left Amman to head into northern Jordan to see some sites.

It was a beautiful day to do so.

Here are photos because after 12 hours, I am to pooped to type. ;)

Enjoy!

The view from Qal'at Al-Rabad

Hanging out with the catapult balls.

This next section is Pella.

You may not notice that this sign says: Attention: Deep Holes, but I sure did. 

Bruce working it Vogue style.

The pillars at Pella.

Me kicking over the pillars at Pella.

And finally Jerash.

Only 1 picture here folks.

Have a good day!

I know I sure did!