tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48985346415611332472024-03-06T05:24:02.799+04:00Nicole in the U.A.E.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger75125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4898534641561133247.post-75245749079423611922014-09-11T10:43:00.000+04:002014-09-11T10:43:01.084+04:00A New AdventureFor those of you that have followed me along in the UAE, I'm off to an new adventure and a new blog. You can find me at; <a href="http://nicolefliesofftofrance.blogspot.ca/">http://nicolefliesofftofrance.blogspot.ca/</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4898534641561133247.post-44120934752397425462014-06-10T11:58:00.000+04:002014-06-10T11:58:51.730+04:00Leaving the UAESo, I'm currently getting ready to leave the country. I would love to stay in Al Ain but with a different job so I'll keep my eyes open for opportunities. <br />
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I have to say that leaving a country has never been so difficult as far as paperwork goes. My HR person has given me a list of things I have to do before departing and it's crazy. I have to get signatures from power and water, from my internet provider, from my bank and from every department in the college. I also have to get my apartment inspected twice which doesn't really make any sense to me but a lot of things here don't make sense to me. I have to get my visa canceled, which is odd as it naturally expires but this is another one of those things I don't understand. All this in addition to packing and selling all my worldly possessions...anyone need a microwave or an end table or a jeep? <br />
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It's been a great three years here and I've learned so much about the Middle East. I really have enjoyed the time with my students and learning about their lives. I got to travel around and see a lot of the UAE and other countries in the gulf. There are a few places I didn't get to visit. I wanted to go to Salalah in Oman, Syria, Libya and Beruit while in the region but it just wasn't possible due to the possible death of me if I went there. Beruit has calmed down <em>(read bombs only going off once and while)</em> and I might try to get there this fall.<br />
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I guess the thing that I'll miss most about living in Al Ain is the great group of friends that I've made. There are some fantastic and interesting people here and I'll miss seeing them all the time. This is the most brutal thing about living the expat life...saying goodbye to people you've spent countless wonderful hours with.<br />
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If I end up in France for the fall, I'll start a new blog and put the link here for those who want to follow me. <br />
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<em>Ma'ah Salamah Al Ain</em><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4898534641561133247.post-14750134471215190312014-04-30T14:40:00.001+04:002014-04-30T14:40:07.369+04:00Another beautiful day in the UAE<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIvx82EqvKdi93gfuiVE4WvTJFGzbdu43oChgn0IKL0Y-MwFeZHjis2pFd6xIhCXT9jX_PygKWYjsELydQAqiETDnkU7TMDTNjYa6QT2atKG8UrEczVlBUD0SyPDJ5_UFDTf7UpEkit1Q/s640/blogger-image-1267544638.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIvx82EqvKdi93gfuiVE4WvTJFGzbdu43oChgn0IKL0Y-MwFeZHjis2pFd6xIhCXT9jX_PygKWYjsELydQAqiETDnkU7TMDTNjYa6QT2atKG8UrEczVlBUD0SyPDJ5_UFDTf7UpEkit1Q/s640/blogger-image-1267544638.jpg"></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4898534641561133247.post-71581727084911062522014-04-26T11:51:00.001+04:002014-04-26T11:51:05.387+04:00The Burj<p>The Burj Khalifa is the tallest building in the world and it’s here in Dubai. It’s conveniently located next to the biggest shopping mall in the middle east. I haven’t taken the elevator up yet but I will before I go. If you want a great look at it, check this video out; </p> <div id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:a66050dd-1b8b-4447-af1e-6278b17c45f5" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" style="float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px"><div><object width="448" height="252"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/iD4qsWnjsNU?hl=en&hd=1"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/iD4qsWnjsNU?hl=en&hd=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="448" height="252"></embed></object></div></div> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4898534641561133247.post-18168096803858964272014-04-15T08:46:00.001+04:002014-04-15T08:46:38.920+04:00The Wild Drivers of the UAE<p>In most places of the world, the drivers have been tamed, locked behind traffic signals and penned between white lines but not here in the UAE. Here they run wild and free. Here is a simple guide that should allow you to identify the five most common varieties of wild driver for better enjoyment of this last open frontier.</p> <p><strong><u><font color="#ffffff">The Dozing Roadrunner</font></u></strong></p> <p>This wild driver can be best identified by it’s slow, meandering pace interspersed with tremendous burst of speed and agility. It can almost always be found three lanes from its intended turn. If you’re lucky, you might catch a glimpse of it as it dramatically swerves, without signaling, across the three lanes to make the turn. The best way to spot this charmer is to watch out for other drivers suddenly braking or sharply veering into other lanes. High traffic periods are the optimum time to view the Dozing Roadrunner.</p> <p><strong><u><font color="#ffffff">The Social Butterfly</font></u></strong></p> <p>There are actually two breeds of this driver. The first breed, the Common Social Butterfly, always travels in packs and can be seen with its head turned fully around to the back of the vehicle in order to better communicate with members of the pack. The best way to spot this driver is to keep your eyes peeled for its waving arms and wildly turning head. Other ways to identify this driver are by a low riding bumper (due to all the passengers) or by the slow-fast-slow-fast pace it moves at. It’s best to be cautious with this driver as they routinely stop, without warning, on the side of the road to forage for new pack members.</p> <p>The second breed, the Modern Social Butterfly, has been influenced by technology and will often decorate itself with small electronic devices. While common, this driver is almost impossible to identify until it suddenly slows to half its original speed and begins wandering across several lanes. It is suspected that this type of driver may suffer from hearing deficiencies as honking and shouting seem to have no effect on its behavior. It’s is not recommended that you attempt to remain in close proximately to this driver.</p> <p><strong><font color="#ffffff"><u>The Rampaging Bull</u></font></strong></p> <p>Of all the wild drivers of the UAE, this is perhaps the most dangerous and the most remarkable. Commonly found in large, white SUVs with blacked out windows, this driver travels at tremendous speeds and considers other drivers and intersections to be merely tests of its superior agility. You shouldn’t have any trouble locating a Rampaging Bull driver as the flashing high beams in your rearview mirror will help them stand out against the other other drivers. Friday evenings seem to be a prime time to spot these wonders but there have been reports of these drivers careening through round-a-bouts, decimating everything in their paths so close contact is not recommended, especially for pedestrians.</p> <p><u><strong><font color="#ffffff">The Slippery Eel</font></strong></u></p> <p>This fun loving driver has no identifying marks but is easily recognized by its inability to be behind others. It will go to amazing lengths to get-to-the-front. They have been observed driving over curbs, rapidly switching back and forth between several lanes, cutting through parking lots and driving along shoulders. I personality watched one of these shocking creatures wedge itself into the side of dump truck while trying to squeeze ahead. They are well armored against shame or abuse from other drivers and, with the exception of the Rampaging Bull, almost nothing can stop them. </p> <p><strong><u><font color="#ffffff">The Drifting Jellyfish</font></u></strong></p> <p>One of the most common drivers here in the UAE, the Drifting Jellyfish goes where the wind takes it. It is not concerned with silly painted lines, speed limits or obstacles on the road such as you. It is truly and magnificently free! This driver can often be found drifting along slowly in the fast lane but may also be seen straddling more than one lane at a time. The ridged head piece that prevents it from looking to the side or in mirrors may cause it to be startled easily by another driver getting too close. The best way to see a Drifting Jellyfish is to be in a hurry to get somewhere.</p> <p><strong><u><font color="#ffffff">The Hydra</font></u></strong></p> <p>The behavior of this driver may behave like any of the other other wild drivers in the UAE but it is uniquely characterized by the multiple heads and arms of its unseat-belted children sticking out the windows and sunroof. This driver believes that if one of the children’s heads is lost, another will grow in its place. If it is extremely hot and the windows are closed, another great way to spot this driver is to look for a baby on the dashboard. A truer example of natural selection can not be found anywhere else in the country. </p> <p>Due to growth of speed bumps and increased traffic cameras, the wild driver’s habitat has been reduced and some efforts have been made to domesticate them but, so far, they have been resilient and have kept their freedom. </p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4898534641561133247.post-70412168396596987362014-04-09T10:15:00.001+04:002014-04-09T10:15:07.928+04:00Malta<p><font size="3" face="Calibri">Just got back from a week long vacation in Malta. If you like relaxation, history and charm, I’d say Malta should go on your list. I really enjoyed myself. European style mixed with island life makes a great combination. If you don’t know where Malta is, it’s about 90Klms from Sicily and 200klms from Tunisia.</font></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:84E294D0-71C9-4bd0-A0FE-95764E0368D9:b85c565c-dfa9-4e15-8f09-b3c3ba3cd6d0" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><a href="http://www.bing.com/maps/default.aspx?v=2&cp=35.88905~13.62305&lvl=5&style=r&mkt=en-us&FORM=LLWR" id="map-7032e554-6ee2-4fd2-9ff5-61a02ea25414" alt="View map" title="View map"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-I8Xw8S6GNHM/U0TkiOLdi3I/AAAAAAAACp8/8VzUwnaDanU/map-3b76cb9c993c.jpg?imgmax=800" width="400" height="300" alt="Map picture"></a></div> <p><font size="3" face="Calibri">My absolute favorite thing about Malta was this;</font></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOpbNRTdq2Y8-JzKmys_O8Gxu48FTTOchC2bzD5IAVltzMHuKnyV4AiwIqWgS4hFKDnhpizinvkBvPpzV4XViChp4gTIwYq_wjE6evsjyJMlhTtP7K2Aj4Xl9BgS7mWdNBLsPvpakm7MY/s1600-h/Malta%252520164%25255B10%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Malta 164" border="0" alt="Malta 164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3waOpWsGpZBN3UtoGJ0hyQEJOqqus9cPIoJiqSIRehyphenhypheniOXP9K4y61Pkt-sLF5ya3UMj9qySmMzgMOkxsehBvcPdIXlHqTtUvLin-CxDzq-oFmpZl9VNlry86hak10UTSJcV80q8Zm7RA/?imgmax=800" width="405" height="304"></a></p> <p><font size="3" face="Calibri">For 6.50 I could take any bus on the two main islands anywhere for one whole week. The buses were convenient, all the drivers were nice and I got to see everything I wanted to see.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Calibri">My second favorite thing about Malta was that there was a gorgeous view around every corner.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-qZcSgOEx5eY/U0Tkk0plOYI/AAAAAAAACqU/1U2FiSLGCh4/s1600-h/Malta%252520004%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Malta 004" border="0" alt="Malta 004" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-6gDDlAh1EkM/U0TkmJGXxZI/AAAAAAAACqc/dA8qRFq9nJ8/Malta%252520004_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="355" height="473"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-hjjFYfvedDU/U0TkmwlNqJI/AAAAAAAACqk/3TnTl-qISSk/s1600-h/Malta%252520119%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Malta 119" border="0" alt="Malta 119" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-IC5myaFDzow/U0Tkn70IeAI/AAAAAAAACqs/dieLzoHNh5U/Malta%252520119_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="358" height="477"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-RU0yR11YaDk/U0Tko0RW84I/AAAAAAAACq0/dkZsCQzoT2M/s1600-h/Malta%252520177%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Malta 177" border="0" alt="Malta 177" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-i7eEyEbG7ow/U0Tkp-1bK5I/AAAAAAAACq8/MoARS8uEqa8/Malta%252520177_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="357" height="476"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-pLJ-lSASlFo/U0Tkqgko9yI/AAAAAAAACrE/cWnZjGBsIuw/s1600-h/Malta%252520024%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Malta 024" border="0" alt="Malta 024" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-iaNPEgnMRJ0/U0TkrQE95KI/AAAAAAAACrM/IK9r_1zQZ30/Malta%252520024_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="356" height="474"></a></p> <p><font size="3" face="Calibri">I’m a history buff and this place has the oldest known man-made structures ever found as well as an insanely varied amount of different ‘owners’ who all left their mark.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Calibri">Let’s start at about 6000 years ago when Neolithic people were building temples and hypogeums (catacombs) on the islands.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-rPs9KHFIGnI/U0TkspdqM0I/AAAAAAAACrU/NBVD-yJkBZs/s1600-h/Malta%252520008%25255B11%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Malta 008" border="0" alt="Malta 008" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-xHN0QIy_KwU/U0Tktk8E2UI/AAAAAAAACrc/lk_Qx-Sg8H0/Malta%252520008_thumb%25255B9%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="421" height="316"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-JZHQWglJfjg/U0Tku0VWC2I/AAAAAAAACrk/_pZmSjTrpd8/s1600-h/Malta%252520108%25255B10%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Malta 108" border="0" alt="Malta 108" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-xWa5UFtlDH8/U0Tkvmq7kYI/AAAAAAAACrs/mzGVeT6SFY4/Malta%252520108_thumb%25255B7%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="420" height="315"></a></p> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-epKlH4lxmQc/U0Tkwg-zkdI/AAAAAAAACr0/s0mKDGzN8eY/s1600-h/Malta%252520115%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Malta 115" border="0" alt="Malta 115" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-TBvIlwaqZ1Q/U0TkxY-pTgI/AAAAAAAACr8/k8tfiRyiAas/Malta%252520115_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="419" height="314"></a> <p><font size="3" face="Calibri">Think about it….we hadn’t invented written language yet and these people were building huge structures and moving giant blocks of stone around. These are older than Stonehenge by a 1000 years and older than the pyramids by 2000 years.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Calibri">They were also into the arts.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-w4EKDTZTGAY/U0TkySsuZAI/AAAAAAAACsE/1tmK0CrUa3A/s1600-h/Malta%252520007%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Malta 007" border="0" alt="Malta 007" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-x1ZLaq4Maz4/U0Tkze0OSCI/AAAAAAAACsM/oPBDSpc3pKk/Malta%252520007_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="360" height="480"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-zXXSl2yzp7I/U0Tk0QFfJTI/AAAAAAAACsU/UGFoB0f1NCI/s1600-h/Malta%252520021%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Malta 021" border="0" alt="Malta 021" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-GzIcP7ytvhQ/U0Tk1dIvZhI/AAAAAAAACsc/RWym99jx3VQ/Malta%252520021_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="416" height="312"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-xxHg4wBh75w/U0Tk2a1Lx9I/AAAAAAAACsk/ybqQWW-OO8Q/s1600-h/Malta%252520028%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Malta 028" border="0" alt="Malta 028" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-_m0eGl_BFLE/U0Tk3GSn8fI/AAAAAAAACss/5d9gz84AQ1M/Malta%252520028_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="416" height="312"></a></p> <p><font size="3" face="Calibri">And made some very sweet pieces like ‘The Sleeping Lady’ shown in the Museum of Anthropology which I heartily recommend. This was found in a hypogeum, along with about the remains of 7000 people, and is thought to represent an ancestor, a goddess or a representation of someone dying…let’s face it, they have no idea what it is but it’s very detailed and very lovely.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-8O4zlCjUZ58/U0Tk4FeyIhI/AAAAAAAACs0/oVaTFdvFOjI/s1600-h/Malta%252520031%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Malta 031" border="0" alt="Malta 031" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Iv6P-qdBHZU/U0Tk4y-4cJI/AAAAAAAACs8/Wt5708huGg4/Malta%252520031_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="417" height="313"></a></p> <p><font size="3" face="Calibri">Unfortunately, due to the lack of written language thing, we know nothing about these people or what happened to them. They disappeared about 4000 years ago.</font></p> <p><font face="Calibri"><font size="3">There is a period of time where settlers came over from what would become Sicily and then came the Phoenicians who sailed over from the east of the Mediterranean. The Romans were the next occupants and you can see their remains scattered around the islands like they are all over Europe. The islands were inhabited by Christians from Europe and Muslims from North Africa for about a thousand years but after that, things got</font><font size="4"> </font><font size="3">rough as the Christians and the Muslims of the Ottoman empire used Malta as a battle zone. In one particular battle, the Ottomans carried off 5000 Maltese captives as slaves.</font></font></p> <p><font face="Calibri"><font size="3">Finally the <font style="background-color: #000000"><strong>Knights of St. John</strong> ,</font><font style=""> who had been kicked out of Italy, made a deal with the Spanish that, for the price of one Maltese falcon per year, they could ‘rent’ Malta. Sadly, the falcons are extinct now but the knights left a lasting mark. </font></font></font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Calibri">They immediately began fortifying the islands against attacks and building the capital city, Valletta.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-gCCU8l6WgNA/U0Tk56nrlbI/AAAAAAAACtE/MTOFDcVRT-8/s1600-h/Malta%252520046%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Malta 046" border="0" alt="Malta 046" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-0LNOyR92k-I/U0Tk6gk-dcI/AAAAAAAACtM/WPuXoHU_06k/Malta%252520046_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="469" height="352"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-e9Ihyr6x_20/U0Tk7lgPBnI/AAAAAAAACtU/kqzVjC-oFuY/s1600-h/Malta%252520048%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Malta 048" border="0" alt="Malta 048" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-1B3_pR4usS4/U0Tk8SGXh0I/AAAAAAAACtc/COi4cU8DzMs/Malta%252520048_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="469" height="352"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-02tNtUy1_Gc/U0Tk9UvQrzI/AAAAAAAACtk/qr2YYFkkDms/s1600-h/Malta%252520054%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Malta 054" border="0" alt="Malta 054" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-rwolRjtEdXE/U0Tk-CUAYOI/AAAAAAAACts/1u7cBP569oI/Malta%252520054_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="335" height="447"></a></p> <p><font size="3" face="Calibri">I spent a great day walking around the fortifications and through underground tunnels all over Valletta. There are great museums, sidewalk cafes and churches and it’s a fantastic place. </font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Calibri">One of my favorite stops was a tour of a Knight’s house built in the 1500s. A knight had to be of the nobility and the house is still owned by a Baron who happens to be a knight.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-JczVNIb2GrI/U0Tk_I_kuZI/AAAAAAAACt0/2iZv5dLdat4/s1600-h/Malta%252520071%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Malta 071" border="0" alt="Malta 071" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-qd27L1rf-f4/U0Tk_706bPI/AAAAAAAACt8/ZHfi9ZAq6tI/Malta%252520071_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="328" height="436"></a></p> <p>The Baron and his wife were invited and attended Queen Elizabeth’s coronation.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-n5_Z4vdTb5w/U0TlAxaMtMI/AAAAAAAACuE/2jHrAYh7pnI/s1600-h/Malta%252520072%25255B11%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Malta 072" border="0" alt="Malta 072" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0W8NZG6weD5a8LusCQ2imQz2OBQZRGAsaS2MZm7EP4gSsQQYhXdTmE6FyU8DHsCWvYd6C4twOSHVk9SZzuhkOhOl_10F-5uySHLZyKyNeQA76fmbwbHSm2bHCACaiOKMstV1JUNnz8ow/?imgmax=800" width="452" height="339"></a></p> <p>Ono of their ancestors commissioned a painting of angels hiding their eyes from the bright lights created by electricity when electricity was first brought into the house.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-WRl-5uDp8ic/U0TlCtOwWiI/AAAAAAAACuU/zjYTci-qQbY/s1600-h/Malta%252520073%25255B14%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Malta 073" border="0" alt="Malta 073" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-vBoRb2CVF7o/U0TlDo5t7sI/AAAAAAAACuc/kfBbmIdxXwI/Malta%252520073_thumb%25255B22%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="208" height="417"></a></p> <p>And of course, there were Maltese crosses everywhere as the symbol of the Knights. This symbol is recreated on every tourist item you might want to buy and is a modern day symbol of Malta but it’s origin is a bit clouded. It’s related to the bible but no one can agree exactly what in the bible.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-FbGwNA7KBeI/U0TlEnWoFeI/AAAAAAAACuk/Wx7ayguuV6s/s1600-h/Malta%252520070%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Malta 070" border="0" alt="Malta 070" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-JmpHhqSBwEE/U0TlFZj4GnI/AAAAAAAACus/kv3TGsFdK0Y/Malta%252520070_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="214" height="269"></a></p> <p>I also took a ferry over to Gozo which is the second largest island of the three. This was a very picturesque place dotted with tiny hilltop villages dominated by huge churches. About 30,000 people live on the island and it seemed pretty sleepy.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-_Kz8rkdrVgk/U0TlGd-o3WI/AAAAAAAACu0/us4pAvpD6tE/s1600-h/Malta%252520102%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Malta 102" border="0" alt="Malta 102" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-kSEHzhGwsFo/U0TlHE_5CzI/AAAAAAAACu8/sI8KvT6LWzU/Malta%252520102_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="451" height="338"></a></p> <p>The ferry ride was great too as we passed by Comino, the third and smallest island.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ZAjsm9xCNnA/U0TlIdYV0PI/AAAAAAAACvE/HJyzGHbRpsU/s1600-h/Malta%252520081%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Malta 081" border="0" alt="Malta 081" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-TMtRodF_v_E/U0TlJVv8LzI/AAAAAAAACvM/mVptePQPJTQ/Malta%252520081_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="452" height="339"></a></p> <p>I also took a harbor cruise in Valletta so I got a close up look at the fortifications and modern day workings.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-r6XTbTOYNDw/U0TlKDPfr3I/AAAAAAAACvU/reH0PAeFwvc/s1600-h/Malta%252520148%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Malta 148" border="0" alt="Malta 148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU0I1xpTgeiZ_GfWHt6H0VcZO1MpeopB2nN4DOjih2laOer5evb3fhYobBSFhsPJBvlS9zuUazhDqhfqGe0gPx3qELTZlodArw0dqYg5vK2Q-m6uG2JSYad-q-rX7sjC3m6ceUVahqrsg/?imgmax=800" width="464" height="348"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ogPUoTaS9Ns/U0TlL8kkKOI/AAAAAAAACvk/_nBWgzjPh-s/s1600-h/Malta%252520143%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Malta 143" border="0" alt="Malta 143" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-qKflXrLPaO4/U0TlM9aOljI/AAAAAAAACvs/tsjxGm97XmM/Malta%252520143_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="400"></a></p> <p>They’re still building boats and their harbor is the holding place for the UN’s emergency stock of grain for Africa.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Sm_eZQFo1Y8/U0TlN4iMzSI/AAAAAAAACv0/Rd2ivQuDbBo/s1600-h/Malta%252520153%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Malta 153" border="0" alt="Malta 153" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-p8zxS9av1kE/U0TlO0GmI-I/AAAAAAAACv8/EJTFb_9dbNA/Malta%252520153_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="456" height="342"></a></p> <p>Obviously lots of rich folks around. The tour guide said that a lot of Europeans move their boats to Malta for the winter.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOwGH3CtQ46y6_20oHYDYNNjg02QnVfYdG6O6z8TFGg-tmpEi6fcpxrMMN4V79k2KLSI6bc9REDbGIpGNG03c7oO-rpmzlSRhotDH9Grg2_Gn07aGp5Nk_naDKuwQ3gRXHJiZgD7vy1yg/s1600-h/Malta%252520160%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Malta 160" border="0" alt="Malta 160" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-lZ7gNl1omjU/U0TlQoHJ1CI/AAAAAAAACwM/jioX_WecNTA/Malta%252520160_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="464" height="348"></a></p> <p>Wouldn’t mind living in one of those apartments.</p> <p>My last day, I hopped on a bus and went to the medieval, walled city of Mdina which was the historical capital. </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Z-gHfpaOVX8/U0TlR5YMQ_I/AAAAAAAACwU/cW3FLNlY4Q4/s1600-h/Malta%252520194%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Malta 194" border="0" alt="Malta 194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkrev6xzx1bjVInqQ5PH7RV1fte4bh_NZGXUCLgAeW6nvs-Qks_TQ8_akdYrvtJZCHA3c6l0ewoGIU-H0j6WMAL5qtVp1xnUzbodIYahuBx5_F18CY0l_8MpcVyp8EfLgpP6do0ClC3bU/?imgmax=800" width="449" height="337"></a></p> <p>As you can see, the weather was brilliant and I got off the bus for a meander around the fields. </p> <p>In the bible, there is a story of St. Peter getting shipwrecked in 60AD. He is supposed to have stayed just outside of Mdina in grotto (cave) so there’s a shrine now that you can visit and many pilgrims come to pray. </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-CVIaoqxn75g/U0TlTkAVvVI/AAAAAAAACwk/bniWB5XaI7A/s1600-h/Malta%252520178%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Malta 178" border="0" alt="Malta 178" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Vabmz2Tq_zU/U0TlUve2QII/AAAAAAAACws/sFsvoppkpcc/Malta%252520178_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="451" height="338"></a></p> <p>Near the shrine are the remains of catacombs that were used 2000 years ago.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-vJs4vPN4D6E/U0TlVWGqzEI/AAAAAAAACw0/xcO5qpvAoHY/s1600-h/Malta%252520184%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Malta 184" border="0" alt="Malta 184" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-MtNudEsj460/U0TlWasWBxI/AAAAAAAACw8/PgMO4SDuc9A/Malta%252520184_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="348" height="464"></a></p> <p>As well as WWll shelters. Each family would pay to have a small room dug out of the rock and they would hide there as the planes flew overhead. It was common to have paintings or carvings of saints for protection.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtandpj4Xsx_dZ4zYF0hf3PIP7zJllPeyeY-4XEZ3infrECmFa7YpkWgYy8kan8a9Kpv8qP8XcKTVkGuH7F6m5QOr3qycJusII3AG2Z6gP5jqVmkbzS7lmpdncFIcrM004IfsCSi3-wgk/s1600-h/Malta%252520056%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Malta 056" border="0" alt="Malta 056" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-K2qGxPTrXeA/U0TlYMpe0oI/AAAAAAAACxM/h62XSRAuemQ/Malta%252520056_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="337" height="450"></a></p> <p>The War Museum in Valletta was pretty informative and really showed how the Maltese suffered during WWll. They were a British colony situated just a 100Klms from Italy so they got bombed almost daily for years. When war broke out, they had exactly four planes on the island and not much else to defend themselves. The British eventually supplied more anti-aircraft guns and planes and the Italians learned to mess with the Maltese at their own risk but it wasn’t easy for the thousands without homes for years.</p> <p>Of Faith, Hope, Charity, and one reserve plane, Faith is the only surviving plane and she lost her wings in an explosion.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-PN-wy0shA-A/U0TlZD-bTzI/AAAAAAAACxU/5P7Eu0Zza6M/s1600-h/Malta%252520060%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Malta 060" border="0" alt="Malta 060" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-qMlhD8rrQ_4/U0TlaLcHtOI/AAAAAAAACxc/8cBbz-seJoQ/Malta%252520060_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="453" height="340"></a></p> <p>There were more things to do in Malta that I didn’t have a chance to do so I can see myself returning one day. I also met quite a few ex-pats that had retired there and were very pleased. Something to think about.</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4898534641561133247.post-36821734080146913962014-01-23T13:44:00.002+04:002014-01-23T13:44:14.702+04:00New YearsRushed home from the airport and quickly dashed out to the Hilton for a fun New Years with friends. The buffet was fantastic with lobster, lamb, arabic traditional food and western. The desert tables were to die for with a dark and white chocolate fountain and miniture 'everything'. <br />
Had great company with the backdrop of belly dancing and arabic singing. Wonderful evening!<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4898534641561133247.post-52210718880907950922014-01-02T15:46:00.001+04:002014-01-02T15:46:16.053+04:00Merry Christmas and Happy New Year (from the UAE and Iran)<p> </p> <p>Apparently there are rumours that I’ve suffered some catastrophic end as it’s been so long since I updated my blog. I’m still kicking but I’ve not had that many interesting things to write about this fall other than a lovely long weekend in Muscat to see dolphins and the opera. That was great and I can’t say enough good things about the Royal Opera House. All the chairs have little screens for the subtitles so I could effortlessly follow the Italian Marriage of Figaro,</p> <p>Winter has brought a few new developments. To start with, I put in my letter of resignation in December so this is my last year with HCT and possibly my last in the region if the job search doesn’t pan out. I’m not too worried at the moment but we’ll see if that holds when the time starts running out. It’s been a great experience but I’d like to see some of that, hopefully, greener grass on other pastures.</p> <p>Christmas started out with a bang with lost of parties and an dinner events. I even had a dress made (it’s cheap to do that here).</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-sBQE04jt9Zg/UsVPwo9QzbI/AAAAAAAACa0/EB3Ry7gbbLs/s1600-h/Iran%252520%2525286%252529%25255B10%25255D.jpg"><img title="Iran (6)" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Iran (6)" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-sDwRpqTbUaM/UsVPxq2T7gI/AAAAAAAACa8/ptmn8xXOZ94/Iran%252520%2525286%252529_thumb%25255B8%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="198" height="274"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-X3oy5FktSW0/UsVPyT26yZI/AAAAAAAACbE/p1jn5X43A_A/s1600-h/Iran%252520%2525285%252529%25255B13%25255D.jpg"><img title="Iran (5)" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="Iran (5)" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-792uTN6wzNM/UsVPzaCWYPI/AAAAAAAACbM/OmZayStIw_g/Iran%252520%2525285%252529_thumb%25255B10%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="336" height="252"></a></p> <p>Then I headed off to Iran for a two week trek with my friend Lynn. Lynn and I met in 2010 while traveling in Mexico, kept in contact on Facebook and eventually ended up living here in the UAE at the same time which worked out perfectly. </p> <p>Iran was a bit of a wild idea as I had never met anyone that had been there but there wasn’t really a reason not to go if you ignore the fact that the US says it’s part of the axis of evil…total hogwash!!!</p> <p>We started our trip in Shiraz where we were met at the airport by our guide/driver, Kuroosh. We spent two days there with a quick trip to Persepolis and then went to Yazd via Pasargad. After that we drove to Isfahan for Christmas. Kashan was our next stop and we finished in Tehran. It was about 1400klms through scrub, desert, mountains and even some snow.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ZoVnugZbvRo/UsVP0b3nc3I/AAAAAAAACbU/KL320uR7Y6s/s1600-h/a%25255B2%25255D.gif"><img title="a" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="a" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-w9siT8xG3hk/UsVP1NJQNkI/AAAAAAAACbc/izQXVZ3mpT4/a_thumb.gif?imgmax=800" width="292" height="274"></a> <p>I found Shiraz to be a bit run down but you could see how there was potential. Here is the Qur’an Gate which some of the cities had. It was a gate at the entrance to the city that held a Holy Qur’an to protect travelers and keep out evil. They’ve modernized this one and it seemed to be a place for couples to go walking.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Hr0n5PtJT_E/UsVP2Hj_VMI/AAAAAAAACbk/DgCgpNbSyOY/s1600-h/Iran%252520%25252818%252529%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="Iran (18)" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="Iran (18)" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-4lAj-M-wpVg/UsVP3IOFzBI/AAAAAAAACbs/gp-bWjDpD_I/Iran%252520%25252818%252529_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="365" height="274"></a></p> <p>We also visited a palace and garden from three dynasties ago (the Qajor Dynasty 1700’s)</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-VfpnDiVzsyc/UsVP35gaRmI/AAAAAAAACb0/pj2m4ql1L1E/s1600-h/Iran%252520%2525289%252529%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img title="Iran (9)" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Iran (9)" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-4Y3wFEhcxmw/UsVP5CiKMdI/AAAAAAAACb8/BPM5xf3O-W8/Iran%252520%2525289%252529_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="365" height="274"></a></p> <p>The palace-with-garden-combo has ancient roots in Iran. The Persians invented the garden as we know it about 2500 years ago. They considered good gardening an important skill and even had their gardening prowess mentioned on their tombs. The original word ‘paradiza’ was Persian for Garden which is the origin of the word ‘paradise’.</p> <p>We also visited the bazaar. This bazaar had some carpets and a lot of textiles and we saw lots of nomadic people (herders) shopping. The women wore sparkly velvet dresses which reminded me of gypsies….unfortunately, I couldn’t get a photo of the women.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-8QI7sKjfSbk/UsVP58ItUdI/AAAAAAAACcE/qiVspCPxqSA/s1600-h/Iran%252520%25252876%252529%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="Iran (76)" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Iran (76)" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-KxgNIzEo78k/UsVP6xK-XgI/AAAAAAAACcM/vb4FvBEKxUM/Iran%252520%25252876%252529_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="249" height="331"></a></p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-nxTr7bbVVFQ/UsVP70KiMBI/AAAAAAAACcU/wnI76Iv0SFw/s1600-h/Iran%252520%25252877%252529%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img title="Iran (77)" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Iran (77)" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-SYVkMtNC4Jc/UsVP82mmTKI/AAAAAAAACcc/qPgCtvsJ_f0/Iran%252520%25252877%252529_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="365" height="274"></a></p> <p>We had our first introduction to Iranian food in a traditional restaurant in the bazaar. Kuroosh, our guide, is mashing up my ‘dizzie’ which is chickpeas, tomato, meat and broth. Once it was mashed, I ate it with flatbread. It’s considered ‘comfort food’ and it was pretty good.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-0taKHlmYv4Q/UsVP9__wuWI/AAAAAAAACck/oNY61e-Iu4I/s1600-h/Iran%252520%25252878%252529%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img title="Iran (78)" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Iran (78)" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-xOC2rUHFjog/UsVP-yKOOaI/AAAAAAAACcs/socx3gNqL7k/Iran%252520%25252878%252529_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="206" height="274"></a></p> <p>This was probably my favourite restaurant and the most interesting food. I have to say that the food in Iran is fairly limited with Kebobs and rice being the mainstay. </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-CC0V4KOH1sE/UsVP_tgS5ZI/AAAAAAAACc0/X0Ocz_vAJnE/s1600-h/Iran%252520%25252879%252529%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="Iran (79)" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Iran (79)" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-aEKmRzbALvw/UsVQAgQxhfI/AAAAAAAACc8/uTynV-xd3mA/Iran%252520%25252879%252529_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="365" height="274"></a></p> <p>It was possible to get fresh and dried fruit which we did to supplement our diet. I also bought pomegranates at a roadside stand.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-xgRcB4OeU7g/UsVQBjlUYGI/AAAAAAAACdE/uDN6oj-B9ic/s1600-h/Iran%252520%252528281%252529%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="Iran (281)" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Iran (281)" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-fbes2jvSDWM/UsVQC8Si0RI/AAAAAAAACdM/P5Mk7lIjFgA/Iran%252520%252528281%252529_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="206" height="274"></a></p> <p>We paid a quick visit to the tomb of Hafez, the poet (1315-1390) and it turned out to be incredibly important to understanding Iran.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-rfHu-wsoleg/UsVQEH98L5I/AAAAAAAACdU/F-pv8qAQEjY/s1600-h/Iran%252520%25252816%252529%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="Iran (16)" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Iran (16)" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-k5QvWCvClqc/UsVQE6yo4pI/AAAAAAAACdc/-i2fkWjakg8/Iran%252520%25252816%252529_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="365" height="274"></a></p> <p>Everywhere we went, the walls were decorated with stories from their great poets and phrases from the poems are still used in common speech today which reminds me of Shakespeare in English. </p> <p>According to our guide, everyone has a copy of these books in their home and they read them. Apparently, the poets were all ‘Islamic mystics’ so the stories should be interpreted as lessons in conjunction with the Qur’an but I question that a bit.</p> <p>Here’s a couple of lines of Hafez’s poetry.</p> <p><strong>“The <br>Earth would die<br>If the sun stopped kissing her.” <br>― </strong><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/859027._"><strong>حافظ</strong></a><strong>, <i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/70581">The Gift</a> </i></strong></p> <p><strong>“The heart is a<br>The thousand-stringed instrument<br>That can only be tuned with<br>Love.” <br>― </strong><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/859027._"><strong>حافظ</strong></a><strong>, </strong><i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/70581"><strong>The Gift</strong></a> </i> <p>Now, for the highlight of the trip for me. Persepolis (Parsa in old Persian). Here’s a bit of quick history. About 2500 years ago, Cyrus the Great founded the Persian Empire by defeating all the surrounding lands from Egypt to the west, Greece to the north and Pakistan/India to the east and south. He was the first great Empire builder but his name has gotten lost in history, in part due to great press by Alexander’s Greek writers. </p> <p>Here is his simple tomb in Pasagard</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-qox9NNrE2tY/UsVQFmf2kgI/AAAAAAAACdk/X6209Y72S2w/s1600-h/Iran%252520%25252895%252529%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img title="Iran (95)" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Iran (95)" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-8soXUXeB5sQ/UsVQG2ThbCI/AAAAAAAACds/HraGXIc1QZA/Iran%252520%25252895%252529_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="365" height="274"></a></p> <p>Persepolis is one of the best preserved historical sites from those times. It was built by Darius the First and his son Xerxes the Great (from the movie ‘300’). It had a lot of the construction elements that we credit the Greeks and Romans for such as underground aqueducts. It was also the first time that any empire incorporated artistic elements from each of it’s nation states so that they would all feel included in the empire.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-NWkpg7YXpFc/UsVQH0OnFyI/AAAAAAAACd0/VdhCtDmWlnQ/s1600-h/Iran%252520%25252827%252529%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="Iran (27)" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Iran (27)" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/--EuftiydEBg/UsVQIt2BuJI/AAAAAAAACd8/iAh0Zj1pgE0/Iran%252520%25252827%252529_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="206" height="274"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-9Ts0jLLVkEE/UsVQJw_2ngI/AAAAAAAACeE/rLtXfSqz3QY/s1600-h/Iran%252520%25252832%252529%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="Iran (32)" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Iran (32)" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-7zJuBMjoUao/UsVQK8sQ0xI/AAAAAAAACeM/gbGNUhNAJ-s/Iran%252520%25252832%252529_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="206" height="274"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-FxlM7ffcewc/UsVQMcCDPBI/AAAAAAAACeU/fTVLXjxjRLM/s1600-h/Iran%252520%25252839%252529%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="Iran (39)" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Iran (39)" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-8-EvhTJKPiw/UsVQNk8Ag1I/AAAAAAAACec/BaVwBUstfMU/Iran%252520%25252839%252529_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="365" height="274"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-XJCSnAN7LBA/UsVQOZl5hWI/AAAAAAAACek/WhO4b94YVKM/s1600-h/Iran%252520%25252854%252529%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="Iran (54)" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Iran (54)" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-18kNOchvVJ8/UsVQPTSFJAI/AAAAAAAACes/vJWq9GIS67A/Iran%252520%25252854%252529_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="206" height="274"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-pRqz6Gtt1ro/UsVQQTyWVnI/AAAAAAAACe0/cWQiLI9uyhw/s1600-h/Iran%252520%25252855%252529%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="Iran (55)" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Iran (55)" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/--TqT7rOBKa0/UsVQRKaVLsI/AAAAAAAACe8/3Xk1MGtCZNE/Iran%252520%25252855%252529_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="365" height="274"></a></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIDlJYdg0XhvB3TfJiGnKSb5e0y2qQvy8JqKfu4sCzr5UCZlf6LXmtAvu6Io1PCrENC-jCYmVqtQUxHfvPLgnvrZzUsZhQbpLhw9QiBb0e3n3H58nMaMe3Tofl8p9LgxEJpL14r8gqTow/s1600-h/Iran%252520%25252866%252529%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="Iran (66)" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Iran (66)" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-SlTB7QUg7MU/UsVQTJZhvqI/AAAAAAAACfM/rMgfSoanSxU/Iran%252520%25252866%252529_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="206" height="274"></a></p> <p>Here’s a face that you’ll want to remember next time you’re mailing a letter or going through an international border.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-JGLxQ7nJMFU/UsVQT0_ww1I/AAAAAAAACfU/0jGxl55mMA0/s1600-h/Iran%252520%252528250%252529%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="Iran (250)" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Iran (250)" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf_omKMaNq2ZxOZNLqxaPs5Fe71t3pHesOc280SLPM9o7Y58icAQ8n0ZusSg6kQ10ZRzRWgdhuf3iJwKLibzhiYX9eE_Eq8KxrWwCu68w81pveDR1h4ZlB2Jmb2GqsTQ-SZjc_WXB7VMY/?imgmax=800" width="206" height="274"></a></p> <p>Darius the First invented the passport, the pony express mail service, the idea of administration and using an official government language. </p> <p>From the ancient past to a more modern Iran, we got on the road to Yazd, a desert city high in the mountains. We drove right up into the clouds</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-4ypqP7cJh8k/UsVQVTgRDSI/AAAAAAAACfk/f6eJs8_SMAg/s1600-h/Iran%252520%252528101%252529%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="Iran (101)" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Iran (101)" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-q1IsFoTxq8M/UsVQWRlNNAI/AAAAAAAACfs/_N1OKQaSyuY/Iran%252520%252528101%252529_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="365" height="274"></a></p> <p>and into the snow.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-bSLy-g0WKGg/UsVQXVHwbXI/AAAAAAAACf0/C7cVYNG5rko/s1600-h/Iran%252520%252528149%252529%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="Iran (149)" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Iran (149)" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-5rF54ZA4Cus/UsVQYXfgmLI/AAAAAAAACf8/Y1h1T9HZvmY/Iran%252520%252528149%252529_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="365" height="274"></a></p> <p>It was at this point we realized we might have a problem with our guide, Kuroosh. He couldn’t understand the concept of bathroom-break and even if they were all stinky pit toilets, we needed to visit one occasionally. It took us eight days to train him but we never saw him take a toilet break himself…freaky! </p> <p>It was also then that we figured out his driving was going to be a problem. He had to phone for directions to every hotel and most historical attractions and wasted hours driving around pretending that he wasn’t lost. On our second day in Yazd, he hit two parked cars and didn’t even consider stopping. The second car he hit while driving backwards, getting directions on the phone and shifting. This seemed to be normal behaviour and he laughed off our concerns, To be fair, the driving in Iran was horrendous but after being in a competent driver’s car in Tehran, both of us agreed that Kuroosh was exceptionally bad.</p> <p>I would suggest that anyone planning their trip, interview the guide and driver before heading off with them.</p> <p>Anyways…Yazd city was and still is the home of the Zoroastrian religion. They worshipped the sun and fire and we saw their symbol all over ancient and modern Iran. Even on the backs of buses.</p> <p>It turned out to be a holiday which our guide seemed surprised about so we couldn’t see their fire temple where the flame has been burning for over 1000 years.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-xIeHS2hEEoU/UsVQZUYfMSI/AAAAAAAACgE/k-E8SdOWvkE/s1600-h/Iran%252520%25252863%252529%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="Iran (63)" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Iran (63)" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-J40nkJbv82I/UsVQaKIvypI/AAAAAAAACgM/nSxYEOQJFZU/Iran%252520%25252863%252529_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="365" height="274"></a></p> <p>About the holidays, here’s a quick primer on Islam. Most of the Middle East follows Sunni Islam which states that Mohammad was the one and only Prophet of Allah but the Iranians are Shia Muslims who believe that there were twelve holy Prophets after Mohammad. In Iran, each of the twelve Prophets get two days holiday for their birthdays and two for their death days. That’s twenty-four holidays just for the Prophets. I’m considering converting.</p> <p>On one of these holidays, all the people gather at the mosques for prayer, eating and visiting. </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-dg9IZyPilD0/UsVQbHZlmjI/AAAAAAAACgU/wYPnHDzJexg/s1600-h/Iran%252520%252528140%252529%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="Iran (140)" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Iran (140)" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmAhcP0eutc90N3yEjirB_ZgCedobg3-K74sPZBXoVwyPsd1eCXLSqO98sa8Tq7WIc-AHGSiQVtOtnvprpubLH0VmWHIkM5knYt1J3Amnm6thz8wxhFJncYheDq0pEh1RdKHVjz2f2aJA/?imgmax=800" width="285" height="334"></a></p> <p>After pushing our way through the throngs of people, we went walking through the ‘old town’ dating back over a thousand years.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-JAvO6r-u5xA/UsVQc39ePbI/AAAAAAAACgk/UYqIIrdUEB0/s1600-h/Iran%252520%252528126%252529%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="Iran (126)" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Iran (126)" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-9bkHEiB5e9E/UsVQdvFKkvI/AAAAAAAACgs/iC_Ff3TTk0k/Iran%252520%252528126%252529_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="206" height="274"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Eo0q5KOhE78/UsVQenfPAuI/AAAAAAAACg0/ankgHycqZsE/s1600-h/Iran%252520%252528129%252529%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="Iran (129)" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Iran (129)" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-HkvjEzx6RvY/UsVQfYDZQUI/AAAAAAAACg8/M_1EnH4HFLM/Iran%252520%252528129%252529_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="206" height="274"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhs9Bxhi2Nu53J5Ziwy49TyosTJGwYZD4oX1x9TSsMOpE9_Ja-GOr6Nbp4jOvqfg01noXRFR7W9EbzSvVj0I5YsMjawzkEHeiGPRDR-6zWthz1NWrAiQjpAs6444QqLqiGf_vw-CBRigk/s1600-h/Iran%252520%252528136%252529%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="Iran (136)" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Iran (136)" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-P8eX8RbAiC4/UsVQhFZ6GBI/AAAAAAAAChM/5bc0LqM1EPM/Iran%252520%252528136%252529_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="206" height="274"></a></p> <p>We also got a great look at doors. I’m a bit crazed over doors to start with but these ones have an interesting history. There were two knockers on Iranian doors; a phallic shaped one for men and a round shaped one for women. They made different sounds so that the people inside the house would know if a woman or a man should answer the door as women weren’t supposed to answer the door to unrelated men. </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-e8Pp1c_ulAo/UsVQiP1YuHI/AAAAAAAAChU/dg0m8lqLMHA/s1600-h/Iran%252520%252528138%252529%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="Iran (138)" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Iran (138)" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-N9x3A8N9Lg8/UsVQi5MRoEI/AAAAAAAAChc/_cF8kz8euOo/Iran%252520%252528138%252529_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="206" height="274"></a></p> <p>We were booked into traditional hotels and this was our best example. The rooms are all around a courtyard which commonly has a restaurant.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiukiHRNussFhyphenhyphenAboPqKcmztbbNBU-IwS6yFqUAXV-_IW8IgtNJoWfpNltGDATAGWLHY-kMq5NXbx5dMK2PqAVu8hkoPXtcFhg43dHc-fV_WM4P5X3D6TjL5YZdMfILQtaRW2HmplCVnnE/s1600-h/Iran%252520%252528106%252529%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="Iran (106)" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Iran (106)" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-DnVmCVP3SJk/UsVQkl3lwVI/AAAAAAAAChs/lRaBd2jMpKI/Iran%252520%252528106%252529_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="365" height="274"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ifihXj-0fFumULpG2kNfvoCeuWdJ28a_GxW3wkEPU5Ux7XEl4fhSGG5TLoKzLHCQZuvAgIEjknYEiwe_6EJJi6opl3mo47PO53XD5tmJv2ykZ6p_PmBj-WKl7n6N-ViVWSsvR_n5u9I/s1600-h/Iran%252520%252528107%252529%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="Iran (107)" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Iran (107)" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-_X3UoCLyIPU/UsVQmpfhc1I/AAAAAAAACh8/u0C-Ca_AknI/Iran%252520%252528107%252529_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="365" height="274"></a></p> <p>Just a note for anyone planning their own trip to Iran. Ask for ‘one’ traditional hotel to get the feel and then go modern the rest of the way. We eventually had a little rebellion and got the agency to change this for us as the definition of traditional can sometimes interpreted as ‘decrepit’.</p> <p>Back on the road, this time to Isfahan…demanding our god given rights to bathroom breaks along the way.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Gqiygro9SUY/UsVQnXQUAaI/AAAAAAAACiE/CWoMX4bpdS8/s1600-h/Iran%252520%252528102%252529%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="Iran (102)" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Iran (102)" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-iPUUXEZQfAU/UsVQot7-TJI/AAAAAAAACiM/1Gm97Yvx4JU/Iran%252520%252528102%252529_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="365" height="274"></a></p> <p>Isfahan city is the tourist capital of the country and the people were amazingly friendly, wishing us Merry Christmas and asking where we were from. </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-VCEoV0sswM0/UsVQpuF5m3I/AAAAAAAACiU/oxoi17YUiVM/s1600-h/Iran%252520%252528152%252529%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="Iran (152)" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Iran (152)" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-HeTlDQk2xZA/UsVQqfFnOmI/AAAAAAAACic/nouL6kgyIX4/Iran%252520%252528152%252529_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="365" height="274"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-UVXkO64op8c/UsVQrQ2j3YI/AAAAAAAACik/yWy125CbZ3g/s1600-h/Iran%252520%252528153%252529%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="Iran (153)" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Iran (153)" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-kvYoJqU0POM/UsVQsg0fEpI/AAAAAAAACis/Ttln9SD4Fhw/Iran%252520%252528153%252529_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="206" height="274"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-8dEvCc6eYZ4/UsVQtqfWXdI/AAAAAAAACi0/P4seDN2_diM/s1600-h/Iran%252520%252528154%252529%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="Iran (154)" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Iran (154)" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-z1zFfEwVSE4/UsVQunkH2HI/AAAAAAAACi8/hzwoewYC-68/Iran%252520%252528154%252529_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="206" height="274"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-beUpNV1oCao/UsVQvpx4wSI/AAAAAAAACjE/JX088JCqAs8/s1600-h/Iran%252520%252528168%252529%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="Iran (168)" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Iran (168)" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-LN-VnlESGWI/UsVQwlsDWvI/AAAAAAAACjM/mplMM6YbfOc/Iran%252520%252528168%252529_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="365" height="274"></a></p> <p>We had the chance to visit the Armenian quarter of the city on Boxing Day and see their gorgeous church.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-SIyB6vd0HBU/UsVQx8LzzcI/AAAAAAAACjU/QYPUWmNGpEE/s1600-h/Iran%252520%252528169%252529%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="Iran (169)" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Iran (169)" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-k_fheCSm3FM/UsVQytITdBI/AAAAAAAACjc/WXhe_nh0Wvk/Iran%252520%252528169%252529_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="365" height="274"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-m3LrUkZlsYE/UsVQz3RttuI/AAAAAAAACjk/ix2g9kMkqso/s1600-h/Iran%252520%252528174%252529%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="Iran (174)" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Iran (174)" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-v8szRTEdTNo/UsVQ1MpSYLI/AAAAAAAACjs/XWiDrW6TqWM/Iran%252520%252528174%252529_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="365" height="274"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-fjC986Eaxdo/UsVQ2C2YArI/AAAAAAAACj0/PE6bsurmKMU/s1600-h/Iran%252520%252528175%252529%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="Iran (175)" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Iran (175)" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-M2WJzsnrIQo/UsVQ3jeK5vI/AAAAAAAACj8/I55x-XlnwQo/Iran%252520%252528175%252529_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="365" height="274"></a></p> <p>The Armenians are and were the merchants of Iran so they are wealthy but they didn’t come there of their own free will. They were forcibly moved to the city about five hundred years ago to increase trade in the region. Their museum had a lot of documents showing how the government protected them and prevented them from being harassed by the Muslims which, of course, leads one to believe that they were being harassed by the Muslims. </p> <p>Here I am under the 33 Arch Bridge…our guide parked and then lost his car on that stop. Luckly, Lynn and I remembered where it was. We also met the most interesting older man on the bridge who, in the way that some older people do, tried to tell us his life story. He had traveled for business before the sanctions but ended up working in an auto parts factory for his life’s work. A victim of the US’s interference in Iran’s affairs even though he never said a word about it or complained at all.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-gN3A5HlYczo/UsVQ4a4as7I/AAAAAAAACkE/3nycFDVJ3NU/s1600-h/Iran%252520%252528187%252529%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img title="Iran (187)" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Iran (187)" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-iNPO6e3HHQY/UsVQ5et2GuI/AAAAAAAACkM/_hldRnc_D-o/Iran%252520%252528187%252529_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="206" height="274"></a></p> <p> Off to Kashan with a quick stop at a mountain village where I bought the most delicious dried apple chips I’ve ever eaten. The people in Abenah village speak a different language and they worship the Sun Goddess, although, there were mosques in the village so that Sun Goddess thing might just be a bit of extra insurance.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Dg1Hcze-mXQ/UsVQ6YghCAI/AAAAAAAACkU/y8fqSs-5-kQ/s1600-h/Iran%252520%252528195%252529%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="Iran (195)" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Iran (195)" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-L9fRddLkEyo/UsVQ7Njg-RI/AAAAAAAACkc/-geGvF59uSE/Iran%252520%252528195%252529_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="365" height="274"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-jxGBay-ufaQ/UsVQ76hZqyI/AAAAAAAACkk/Q0pRjd3tZYk/s1600-h/Iran%252520%252528198%252529%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="Iran (198)" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Iran (198)" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-NG8SM3M6OxA/UsVQ8zIwQeI/AAAAAAAACks/ddFn36Qiavk/Iran%252520%252528198%252529_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="206" height="274"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Im2O_FoLu7A/UsVQ930C5EI/AAAAAAAACk0/PiC4RGuyVr8/s1600-h/Iran%252520%252528204%252529%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="Iran (204)" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Iran (204)" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-pGTzupTh4gU/UsVQ-sfeIlI/AAAAAAAACk8/fVzVsWns_KY/Iran%252520%252528204%252529_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="365" height="274"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-XF-1sRylCR4/UsVQ_sOK76I/AAAAAAAAClE/CJUvQsts-oU/s1600-h/Iran%252520%252528206%252529%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="Iran (206)" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Iran (206)" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-4KoRphuQa0w/UsVRAZfstCI/AAAAAAAAClM/K8V8LTfZXwo/Iran%252520%252528206%252529_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="365" height="274"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-vjRfNye09Og/UsVRBXI_NLI/AAAAAAAAClU/6LaRK10p05U/s1600-h/Iran%252520%252528208%252529%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="Iran (208)" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Iran (208)" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-7Gs6lJLISRM/UsVRCLX0SwI/AAAAAAAAClc/viBLDJIr2uY/Iran%252520%252528208%252529_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="206" height="274"></a></p> <p>It was also quite cold.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-nyQ6CsL5Scg/UsVRC2AaszI/AAAAAAAAClk/lMXRaQ_aItw/s1600-h/Iran%252520%252528211%252529%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="Iran (211)" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Iran (211)" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-o0uuNglXN1w/UsVRDry_gdI/AAAAAAAACls/uQO0tjy_Drk/Iran%252520%252528211%252529_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="365" height="274"></a></p> <p>There was one other exciting aspect to this drive. We noticed anti-aircraft guns on all the hills next to the roads and learned that the controversial Nuclear Enrichment Plant was nearby. Kuroosh said, “No photos and no stopping.”</p> <p>Kashan city had probably the best examples of all the gardens, palaces and traditional homes. </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-JGpnBiWBKAs/UsVREmnjR4I/AAAAAAAACl0/iUFIKcfyPSo/s1600-h/IMG_5205%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_5205" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_5205" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-84rEFuXWn4c/UsVRFdAxdEI/AAAAAAAACl8/sA0aeoLA4X4/IMG_5205_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="206" height="274"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-8l9AzL9kRIw/UsVRGTUHybI/AAAAAAAACmE/Eht2xMHesTQ/s1600-h/IMG_5208%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_5208" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_5208" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-1FKZTndEJFo/UsVRHBtrX4I/AAAAAAAACmM/PlM-_Wh2pC8/IMG_5208_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="365" height="274"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-RRcasNxwXbQ/UsVRIO2TLPI/AAAAAAAACmU/PW9FOOWDP_Q/s1600-h/IMG_5212%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_5212" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_5212" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-tVn_-W9IdJ4/UsVRJGIGMAI/AAAAAAAACmc/nF7OewNMUyE/IMG_5212_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="365" height="274"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-TV2IFHoH5-o/UsVRKEgWPsI/AAAAAAAACmk/WYpyVpOVIK4/s1600-h/IMG_5215%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_5215" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_5215" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-uNvDY8zX7jI/UsVRLCsBV5I/AAAAAAAACms/Sg1Xlb9TGE8/IMG_5215_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="365" height="274"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Tu6fC5zfuy4/UsVRMPfSfdI/AAAAAAAACm0/kXod1EXVCPU/s1600-h/Iran%252520%252528217%252529%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="Iran (217)" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Iran (217)" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-XDJxwuu2F-I/UsVRNiEfVzI/AAAAAAAACm8/T0N_2zKgXHs/Iran%252520%252528217%252529_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="365" height="274"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-IeEsLFNDjeU/UsVROSiYQbI/AAAAAAAACnE/jaZEw52ur2k/s1600-h/Iran%252520%252528219%252529%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="Iran (219)" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Iran (219)" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-JCMt45wHczc/UsVRPT1X_II/AAAAAAAACnM/f8wZEhU3Tog/Iran%252520%252528219%252529_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="206" height="274"></a></p> <p>The dome on top of this traditional house is actually a wind catcher. The holes in the masonry let the cool air in and then it’s drawn down and circulated throughout the house. </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Q6Oncqp9DOI/UsVRQJEWnEI/AAAAAAAACnU/B7cV7S_DBx8/s1600-h/Iran%252520%252528223%252529%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="Iran (223)" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Iran (223)" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-GpUIVfHo0XE/UsVRRIqRvXI/AAAAAAAACnc/YboBrvGLH80/Iran%252520%252528223%252529_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="365" height="274"></a></p> <p>Tehran was our final stop on the trip and after ninety minutes driving around in circles, Kuroosh found the hotel and left us. We weren’t terribly saddened by his departure but I do wonder if he ever found his way home.</p> <p>We stayed in their version of a four star hotel. I would say that the services were definitely four star but the rooms were more three star quality.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-rF4JY6OQCso/UsVRSPO_muI/AAAAAAAACnk/3K5aJ5eMu10/s1600-h/Iran%252520%252528235%252529%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font color="#b7b7b7"></font><img title="Iran (235)" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Iran (235)" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-sGZctGoPhZM/UsVRTQiA79I/AAAAAAAACns/r4KNOcYBPk4/Iran%252520%252528235%252529_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="365" height="274"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-keDoougPpt4/UsVRUCtJhcI/AAAAAAAACn0/0fwACpcfsYc/s1600-h/Iran%252520%252528236%252529%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="Iran (236)" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Iran (236)" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-X8JdgaK_CBw/UsVRVJzNUuI/AAAAAAAACn8/tnZp6qTTQpI/Iran%252520%252528236%252529_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="365" height="274"></a></p> <p>Here is their version of a bible in the hotel, a prayer rug and a stone for resting your forehead.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-pBv7Jx7afKs/UsVRWXa2SSI/AAAAAAAACoE/XhXCdRocbxo/s1600-h/Iran%252520%252528238%252529%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="Iran (238)" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Iran (238)" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-lTVAIHZIMB4/UsVRXmBzEYI/AAAAAAAACoM/WGU4KBK8cCU/Iran%252520%252528238%252529_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="365" height="274"></a></p> <p>Tehran was crowded and hectic with crazy traffic and bad air but it was also incredibly interesting and fun.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV_IZCxIbwQue00ccd_5fxmHO4l4N-6wcKpybAEn47FvzlEd1_BUSyEvGVvuF1c7fb8RNXX6dLaP9Scv-em5eqNP0gJBgn2ayMUR1gRczqKGgwA1yPKYED3p4bax5E1Q-16Yg1ZUVfwn4/s1600-h/Iran%252520%2525281%252529%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="Iran (1)" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Iran (1)" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-RxIxRUMxDUg/UsVRaNI8_II/AAAAAAAACoc/k_GEXnf9sc8/Iran%252520%2525281%252529_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="206" height="274"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-4x1yul6ezl4/UsVRa3Bl1sI/AAAAAAAACok/nCrfaE0PlLI/s1600-h/Iran%252520%252528240%252529%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="Iran (240)" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Iran (240)" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-xs5JCLSYQsU/UsVRcI6x0EI/AAAAAAAACos/pWkU4skuoG4/Iran%252520%252528240%252529_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="365" height="274"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxoa5uZU6Ly8aTyNugLtTaJdhF_gSMjZR2Ffjf_Jx3FAQSG_3ciJIFNWC86IKALmRs7a9mFy5ZH8xV9Cg08XR2ecCavd703hsWVUSCU_gO9Wbh6cJC3lEUWNGCOLmCJcjojWcfI3UuEHk/s1600-h/Iran%252520%252528272%252529%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="Iran (272)" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Iran (272)" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-yCFDxhOK8BQ/UsVRdyuYl4I/AAAAAAAACo8/b60rXEN12UQ/Iran%252520%252528272%252529_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="206" height="274"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Kf6xgCERGYg/UsVRenRUzlI/AAAAAAAACpE/iDG0fgg1E9I/s1600-h/Iran%252520%252528279%252529%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="Iran (279)" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Iran (279)" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-IbCs2KSkQe8/UsVRflpbt0I/AAAAAAAACpM/Xxu8s2bNpl0/Iran%252520%252528279%252529_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="206" height="274"></a></p> <p>We saw money changers on the street (and used them when another holiday closed the banks)</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-g1KfhdhPo6E/UsVRgu4sNtI/AAAAAAAACpU/USQPzrty8gk/s1600-h/Iran%252520%252528263%252529%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="Iran (263)" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Iran (263)" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-_kFs2o1zKIA/UsVRhbr49FI/AAAAAAAACpc/pbg37lPs0X0/Iran%252520%252528263%252529_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="206" height="274"></a></p> <p>We spent our two days visiting museums and shopping in the bazaar. We both bought jewellery which was fun and I feel like we got great deals. We also learned about the recent history of Iran so I feel like I have a better grasp of what actually happened there in the 70’s and what’s happening now. Our city guide, Hamad was exactly what I expected an Iranian to be; thoughtful, intellectual and savvy.</p> <p>My lasting impressions of Iran are of a country robbed of it’s potential. The rich history and unique culture are worth visiting alone but I think visiting and then spreading the word that Iranians aren’t crazed Jihadists is just as valuable.</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4898534641561133247.post-27423774243121807522013-09-15T11:40:00.000+04:002013-09-15T11:41:00.844+04:00The UAEHey,<br />
So I'm back home after a great summer. I spent a week in Luxumbourg and then the rest in Canada with family. Had a good time in both places but it's nice to be back in my own bed.<br />
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While I was home, I tried to talk some family members into coming for a visit. Here is a great tourism video about the Emirates if you have 25 minutes to watch. My city is a 9:00 minutes.<br />
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<a href="http://youtu.be/F585Gtp2c0E">http://youtu.be/F585Gtp2c0E</a><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4898534641561133247.post-60672175516895181572013-05-23T10:48:00.001+04:002013-05-23T10:48:31.060+04:00A little culture<p>This week at the college we’ve been having some different cultural events. To start with, we hosted an art exhibit for local artists including expats and students at the college as well as other people in the region. </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-zsLz9FPOzaI/UZ27lOGWF2I/AAAAAAAACUg/Ka31rxY6z1M/s1600-h/photo3%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="photo3" border="0" alt="photo3" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-twhrby1kiXQ/UZ27mFKZILI/AAAAAAAACUo/yaJWc1H6vPo/photo3_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="357" height="268"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-7leOXnFfMvg/UZ27np1KQSI/AAAAAAAACUw/YPm19-5R714/s1600-h/photo2%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="photo2" border="0" alt="photo2" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-9Hx34uyMCW0/UZ27pFdRZ1I/AAAAAAAACU4/dlhmvNDNjHQ/photo2_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="360" height="271"></a></p> <p>I was particularly impressed with some of the photography. </p> <p>There was also music all week including; <a href="http://www.thenational.ae/news/uae-news/meet-the-first-all-emirati-all-girl-rock-band">our college rock band</a></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-8_oqdc84J18/UZ27rH0zIvI/AAAAAAAACVA/TTKx_HFigiI/s1600-h/photo%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="photo" border="0" alt="photo" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-xCHRMoN1LAc/UZ27sf56xPI/AAAAAAAACVI/PGOmKR8_IFU/photo_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="355" height="271"></a></p> <p>We also had a visit from one of the only Emirati veterinarians (trained in the US and working here in Al Ain at our zoo). He has given a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEm4luPMt-I">talk on TED.com</a> and addressed issues with animals and education.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-KxisgGKfJWA/UZ27t2OSiUI/AAAAAAAACVQ/XJ0nLqjuxP0/s1600-h/image%25255B4%25255D.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="image" border="0" alt="image" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-6uAkkojLsUY/UZ27vLrwr0I/AAAAAAAACVY/qrGX9piCYDc/image_thumb%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="355" height="223"></a></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4898534641561133247.post-90346938011182552942013-04-21T11:03:00.001+04:002013-04-21T11:03:07.395+04:00Flamingos and Flamenco<p>Went up to Dubai again last weekend to see a Flamenco show. We stopped at the bird refuge along side the highway and got a glimpse of the flamingos.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Xgvh6IHnaPM/UXOOcZX1bLI/AAAAAAAACR0/WZJdIuEsco8/s1600-h/Flaminco%252520003%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Flaminco 003" border="0" alt="Flaminco 003" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ZcNrFfcBiuQ/UXOOdU2pptI/AAAAAAAACR8/tWqMoTSUKHU/Flaminco%252520003_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="368" height="277"></a></p> <p>Unfortunately the refuge was closed so I want to go back when it’s open for a closer look….it’s right on the highway so very easy to get to on the way into Dubai.</p> <p>Then we hit Seville’s for our dinner and show.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-8I4RM4EwUBc/UXOOeEik07I/AAAAAAAACSE/271Mh7VjlWw/s1600-h/Flaminco%252520004%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Flaminco 004" border="0" alt="Flaminco 004" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-YkffLY_I-Pw/UXOOfUTg62I/AAAAAAAACSM/Zx6jcwqTF-E/Flaminco%252520004_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="376" height="283"></a></p> <p>The food was not very good the but the flamenco dancers were great.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-yvTJ74Z9sas/UXOOgaDGQQI/AAAAAAAACSU/TuBsrJMUNo8/s1600-h/Flaminco%252520022%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Flaminco 022" border="0" alt="Flaminco 022" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-L3cseGnVkmQ/UXOOhjA0s3I/AAAAAAAACSc/9mk0ZppAywM/Flaminco%252520022_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="261" height="347"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-PWjbkjzTx_8/UXOOinTsuRI/AAAAAAAACSk/69D6ljlDxy8/Flaminco%252520018%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Flaminco 018" border="0" alt="Flaminco 018" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-C2lXm0KFlH8/UXOPKXjkKwI/AAAAAAAACSs/penjKBDT2Bg/Flaminco%252520018_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="265" height="352"></a></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4898534641561133247.post-30220740744169005702013-04-18T12:21:00.001+04:002013-04-18T12:21:19.833+04:00Praha<p><em><font size="2">“The streets of Prague were a fantasia scarcely touched by the twenty-first century—or the twentieth or nineteenth, for that matter. It was a city of alchemists and dreamers, its medieval cobbles once trod by golems, mystics, invading armies. Tall houses glowed goldenrod and carmine and eggshell blue, embellished with Rococo plasterwork and capped in roofs of uniform red. Baroque cupolas were the soft green of antique copper, and Gothic steeples stood ready to impale fallen angels. The wind carried the memory of magic, revolution, violins, and the cobbled lanes meandered like creeks. Thugs wore Mozart wigs and pushed chamber music on street corners, and marionettes hung in windows, making the whole city seem like a theater with unseen puppeteers crouched behind velvet.”</font></em> <br>― <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/324620.Laini_Taylor">Laini Taylor</a>, <i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/13355552">Daughter of Smoke & Bone</a></i></p> <p>This is the kind of quote that pushed me towards Prague and some of this quote actually felt true as I floated down those meandering cobblestone streets, past costumed musicians and pastel rainbows of buildings.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-zxC7MkyaNuw/UW-nYftahsI/AAAAAAAACL0/z4iVpe0JI3k/s1600-h/Phraha%252520029%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Phraha 029" border="0" alt="Phraha 029" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Xv6SvCr38wM/UW-nZntHvqI/AAAAAAAACL8/3JkgGw_M5Lk/Phraha%252520029_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="259" height="344"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Pc7zjf1A1aM/UW-nbZHkt6I/AAAAAAAACME/NEfak9V5oPw/s1600-h/Phraha%252520034%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Phraha 034" border="0" alt="Phraha 034" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-vS-DEW7SAhM/UW-ncUxAQ6I/AAAAAAAACMM/vF1Kp-w_WFw/Phraha%252520034_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="362" height="272"></a></p> <p>There’s a certain quality of the fairytale both in the fantastic and the gruesome stories of Prague. Here’s a picture of the ornate and almost overwhelming St. James Church which has an actual human arm hanging over the front door.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-7-njKJLh2QE/UW-ndTiuOnI/AAAAAAAACMU/pKHXqzG6zGc/s1600-h/Phraha%252520020%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Phraha 020" border="0" alt="Phraha 020" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-WntjcaN5bh8/UW-nevShRFI/AAAAAAAACMc/O2-gNfsD4h8/Phraha%252520020_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="266" height="353"></a></p> <p>The legend is that a thief broken into the church and tried to steal a gold medallion from around the neck of a statue of St. Anne.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-u4tm2FJnT2A/UW-nfWvRoTI/AAAAAAAACMk/B5NE4R5glWo/Phraha%252520017%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Phraha 017" border="0" alt="Phraha 017" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-w7SlXDfbXA4/UW-oJVnTXsI/AAAAAAAACMs/gLM57hqOkcI/Phraha%252520017_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="261" height="347"></a></p> <p>The statue came to life and grabbed his arm before he could get away and froze in place with the thief’s arm trapped. When the priests arrived in the morning they decided to cut his arm off rather than damage the statue. After quite a bit of screaming and bleeding, the arm was almost detached when the statue came back to life and released him. To ward off any other thieves, the priests hung the arm over the door and there it still hangs.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgypug-4TibQXkuuqxfXu34Si7AfZhvvqoi-okE16VJgZKfSM_JFIJOvR8gaw3nLRZJkasUbXQf2SkG7WYLqEoMFcPRbfBxvN5zOxGfgSlpJKlelxiP1GP037ZojbjBg-MA_sZm8ARe8-c/s1600-h/Phraha%252520%252520192%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Phraha 192" border="0" alt="Phraha 192" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Hsll-fL6jNs/UW-oYD79aII/AAAAAAAACM8/6lnropyI1_0/Phraha%252520%252520192_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="269" height="316"></a></p> <p>Apparently, the thief returned later, impoverished and crippled. He was given a job by the priests and spent his life working in the same building as his arm.</p> <p>Of course, that doesn’t beat the gothic cathedral of St. Vitus which was begun in the thirteenth century by King Charles the IV to house the arm of St. Vitus. </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-kufgb_sHQUI/UW-oZNyIvLI/AAAAAAAACNE/rgEUvWEb3Mw/Phraha%252520060%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Phraha 060" border="0" alt="Phraha 060" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-vyHiU7Y2yqA/UW-pFAsZb2I/AAAAAAAACNM/LMPsRmPR8a0/Phraha%252520060_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="260" height="346"></a></p> <p>The elaborate carvings on the door the church make it pretty obvious that the builders had no idea which arm it was because they feature both the right and left arms. There is a good chance that the arm never made it to the cathedral but, never fear, there is a body part within. </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-9q8INa3KZJ4/UW-pGzbad1I/AAAAAAAACNU/kW4vWAHX8po/s1600-h/Phraha%252520062%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Phraha 062" border="0" alt="Phraha 062" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/--ffvZRSUv-A/UW-pIGz3xTI/AAAAAAAACNc/X7rO24w_eLw/Phraha%252520062_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="381" height="287"></a></p> <p>At the alter is a large silver tomb that holds the tongue of St. John of Nepomuk. Before John was a saint, he was the head priest at the cathedral in the fourteenth century. One of his duties was to hear the confession of the king and queen which turned out to be bad luck for Johnny. The king became convinced that the queen was having an affair so he insisted that John tell him what she was confessing. John refused to betray the confessional and was tortured. The King eventually had his tongue cut out and his body thrown off a bridge. There has been some speculation that John was the man that the queen was having the affair with that’s definitely not the official story. Luckily for all of us, they saved the tongue <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" alt="Smile" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-wEzKf7ri7G4/UW-pIp6TENI/AAAAAAAACNk/yojbE_uGDd4/wlEmoticon-smile%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800">.</p> <p>It gets better! About sixty kilometers outside of Prague is the medieval town of Koutna Houra which was the minting capital of Bohemia for four hundred years. During the crusades, one of the local priests brought back some soil from the holy land and spread it around the local church in Koutna Houra which made it <em><strong>the</strong></em> place to get buried. All the rich and famous wanted to be laid to rest in this 'almost’ holy place. This continued for about three hundred years, through the black plague and through wars and revolutions. So, a lot of burials. </p> <p>Jump forward to the seventeenth century when the Hapsburgs are ruling Bohemia and new Catholic churches are being built to replace the Protestant ones that the locals preferred. What do to with all the remains of all these burials???? Hmmmm…I know, lets build a church out of them.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ph8mXDS_l90/UW-pJwhKWLI/AAAAAAAACNs/2jvfjbQO8fQ/Phraha%252520162%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Phraha 162" border="0" alt="Phraha 162" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-zbtxjvciN78/UW-p0n6Ek9I/AAAAAAAACN0/eghQmujfFrQ/Phraha%252520162_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="258" height="342"></a></p> <p>We’ll make chandeliers and pillars from their bones.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ulgwsM7BAYY/UW-p2UkWn7I/AAAAAAAACN8/rN7P5_uyp-0/s1600-h/Phraha%252520167%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Phraha 167" border="0" alt="Phraha 167" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-sqAvvfNsVgs/UW-p3nwV-_I/AAAAAAAACOE/763huhw93-8/Phraha%252520167_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="255" height="338"></a></p> <p>And hang festive skull streamers from the ceiling.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-1iR1qXhjxpQ/UW-p4QNRkeI/AAAAAAAACOM/8OtIADy8lRw/Phraha%252520165%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Phraha 165" border="0" alt="Phraha 165" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-_6ephoLJlmU/UW-qkalgsjI/AAAAAAAACOU/PitMdazZXP4/Phraha%252520165_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="252" height="334"></a></p> <p>This place puts the ‘grim’ in Grimm’s fairytales.</p> <p>On the other hand….</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-jopwSoiFXwg/UW-qlMjD4rI/AAAAAAAACOc/MKrsAQBpB48/s1600-h/Phraha%252520152%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Phraha 152" border="0" alt="Phraha 152" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-jNpSS8UhJzE/UW-qmZmD-wI/AAAAAAAACOk/LUducuIuliU/Phraha%252520152_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="377" height="284"></a></p> <p>Karlstien Castle, forty kilometers outside of Prague, has perched atop this mountain for seven hundred years. It’s a bit bare bones inside but the walk through the little town while looking up at it was lovely.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-CXE-cWH-r18/UW-qnnswFTI/AAAAAAAACOs/zXcZ_GQ4lTg/Phraha%252520144%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Phraha 144" border="0" alt="Phraha 144" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-oQzh-I6wURE/UW-rTJH_4hI/AAAAAAAACO0/HNweD618qPc/Phraha%252520144_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="259" height="344"></a></p> <p>The magical astronomical clock in Prague town square was built in the thirteenth century and was a wonder of the world for it’s time.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-eARuWA66H3s/UW-rUfzZFaI/AAAAAAAACO8/n1BfK2kMrCE/s1600-h/Phraha%252520001%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Phraha 001" border="0" alt="Phraha 001" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-djsrfKULD3k/UW-rVKh4ktI/AAAAAAAACPE/vwBwEPEvrQo/Phraha%252520001_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="247" height="328"></a></p> <p>These three characters, representing different sins, all shake in fear at death when the clock strikes on the hour. Music plays, the apostles come out of the clock and a golden rooster crows. Very exciting!</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-7wN2y3oowTM/UW-rV4rZv5I/AAAAAAAACPM/I8cAE-pvQ9o/s1600-h/Phraha%252520002%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Phraha 002" border="0" alt="Phraha 002" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE3z3XfePBk9QZIg3OKaJR9DNeruGAlcTReGvaliGPY5tmyBi4U_wVOLGtbv9UG7u9eNIbbrNw9XDL2MkRF6mpyW-tIfhY21J4NoFoe-twDUp-nykpeEAlia4owMpdxjJ5i4OBnpXGhP4/?imgmax=800" width="223" height="297"></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Yf7KbhgpQkc/UW-rX6JeeYI/AAAAAAAACPc/hLLr3HXmiZ0/s1600-h/Phraha%252520003%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Phraha 003" border="0" alt="Phraha 003" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-OXHL-y8Ljz0/UW-rY5gd64I/AAAAAAAACPk/OqOG7HOwqGc/Phraha%252520003_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="304" height="229"></a></p> <p>For those looking for a more sophisticated show, there is the fabulous art-nouveau Municipal Hall which was where the end of communism was announced twenty-five years ago as well as being Prague’s seat of power for hundreds of years and is now a museum, concert hall and a collection of fantastic cafes.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-k4Uf4lJteUI/UW-raoXx6qI/AAAAAAAACPs/tNof6zGQ2pc/Phraha%252520089%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Phraha 089" border="0" alt="Phraha 089" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-_BTkT-uePME/UW-sCf5u-II/AAAAAAAACP0/PEqnniZwye4/Phraha%252520089_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="363" height="273"></a></p> <p>I listened to the Prague Royal Orchestra play Mozart and Vivaldi in the Smetana Concert hall inside.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvTMy3WQjGK7WNQC6ngQshTRVgKpzzShRTYZPzDqWzqig9Ki1sPqSIjRRPL2bw2L26TSPFP0TEk0tsj6uKjHxZTBbBWFuQXtiq81Edcd0K_2n236xwU-5OFQCLwYHWh_FgJ5ZZ0P0Dehk/s1600-h/Phraha%252520119%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Phraha 119" border="0" alt="Phraha 119" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-WuKVJ-1QP2k/UW-sER_pP8I/AAAAAAAACQE/5hx-5TAV270/Phraha%252520119_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="360" height="271"></a></p> <p>I fell in love with Alphons Mucha in the Museum.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-IFMDV9ZuYGA/UW-sFqIZXOI/AAAAAAAACQM/AVumcncIuiw/s1600-h/mucha%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="mucha" border="0" alt="mucha" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-obN7HN0y5d0/UW-sGkTtlfI/AAAAAAAACQU/n__gu5wAtIQ/mucha_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="372" height="271"></a></p> <p>Once past the Municipal hall and in the Old Town, the buildings are beautifully preserved with tourist shops and restaurants tucked inside them. The town square was filled with food stalls and shops for the Easter festival.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-kHpJlXM4U-o/UW-sHor9bZI/AAAAAAAACQc/O0ZKLeQjio4/s1600-h/Phraha%252520028%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Phraha 028" border="0" alt="Phraha 028" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-y9NaMMgZteA/UW-sIyd6kOI/AAAAAAAACQk/YG926gAItlc/Phraha%252520028_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="372" height="280"></a></p> <p>This is their version of a waffle cake. Delicious!</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ELQ968xn5xE/UW-sKYk4sAI/AAAAAAAACQs/JcikEFmTL0U/s1600-h/Phraha%252520180%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Phraha 180" border="0" alt="Phraha 180" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-I06A_eI1sP8/UW-sLQX9u6I/AAAAAAAACQ0/I1HMCjOuEo4/Phraha%252520180_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="369" height="277"></a></p> <p>After checking out the square, it’s a short meander to the famous Charles bridge (where they threw the ill-fated John from). As previous bridges kept getting washed away by floods, King Charles IV wanted to make sure his bridge would stand forever and consulted astrologers, clerics and mystics and they provided him with an auspicious date and time to begin the construction ….it’s still standing seven hundred years later so I guess they picked the right day.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5cEVQToboBBxrbA1WAIOvQ9tMntM779b93pIt4SS2f05OatlzQZyYQ7ymOKgLK2jP8fnQaIIiusOYEtOhOO3hIcfGtayE4MTO0ESNcw5zWXAV3vAx07uD_3y4tIjW-LJbxGfPUENz57E/s1600-h/Phraha%252520033%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Phraha 033" border="0" alt="Phraha 033" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-bNnOkCQCK2A/UW-sNRqDx6I/AAAAAAAACRE/ZU80gTgdGX8/Phraha%252520033_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="364" height="273"></a></p> <p>There were a lot of good restaurants and pubs. I really liked the restaurant at the Municipal Hall which was where one scene of Triple X was filmed and at a pub, later during the week, I tried a traditional pork knuckle with sauerkraut and one of many fantastic Czech beers .</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-fb5k9qKcVRw/UW-sOwfnspI/AAAAAAAACRM/6xNTgUtmXPo/s1600-h/Phraha%252520155%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Phraha 155" border="0" alt="Phraha 155" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-mundstqHXhU/UW-sQEarP_I/AAAAAAAACRU/2RpBaMH6vSo/Phraha%252520155_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="355" height="267"></a></p> <p>It was freezing in Prague so I’m relatively happy to be home again and I spent the last day of my vacation baking my friend Mary’s birthday cake.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ObxSF1pUDhU/UW-sR9JWZLI/AAAAAAAACRc/mqlYa3LZZV8/s1600-h/Phraha%252520190%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Phraha 190" border="0" alt="Phraha 190" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-PlX3ks4oH3I/UW-s_XF7F2I/AAAAAAAACRk/wTZw218f_j0/Phraha%252520190_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="356" height="268"></a></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4898534641561133247.post-46565145107425885312013-03-26T16:02:00.000+04:002013-03-26T16:02:13.781+04:00Joshua Bell in Abu DhabiHad a great day up in Abu Dhabi with a group of friends. We got dressed up and went out for French food at Le Beaujolias in the Mecure hotel. I would recommend this place to anyone. The food was fantastic, the decor adorable and the desert came on big plates...my chocolate mouse came in a cereal bowl and was tres manifique. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just look at the sizes of these deserts!</td></tr>
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Then we went off to the Emirates Palace which is amazing and I have mention in a previous post.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDHBR3PwVfgvU80bxBKi4t7fcbC7tEhYQlI6MzhAWpyT8vfVmInimA-kJnJQaS4vtlgWHxzfeHNFnsOZqAOR5zeOOw91SQB_U50yqx_L8f1YjT1GtawJppxYGsZteO5z_z4Z-ra0uswZc/s1600/abfilmfestival+009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDHBR3PwVfgvU80bxBKi4t7fcbC7tEhYQlI6MzhAWpyT8vfVmInimA-kJnJQaS4vtlgWHxzfeHNFnsOZqAOR5zeOOw91SQB_U50yqx_L8f1YjT1GtawJppxYGsZteO5z_z4Z-ra0uswZc/s400/abfilmfestival+009.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was taken during the day on a previous visit..we went at night this time and<br />
it was lit up beautifully.</td></tr>
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We bought tickets to see <a href="http://www.joshuabell.com/" target="_blank">Joshua Bell</a> and the Czech Philharmonic this winter and I've been looking forward to it for a while. <br />
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The show was fantastic and we got to stroll around the grounds during intermission.<br />
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A great day and I've got one week of classes to go before a two week break and my trip to Prague.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4898534641561133247.post-76414876883308592312013-03-20T11:48:00.000+04:002013-03-20T11:48:02.140+04:00TESOL Arabia weekendHad a great weekend in Dubai with friends from work. We went up for the TESOL conference and job fair but also for the socializing, eating and shopping. <br />
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The first night we ate at the hotel restuarant....excellent food and we got a great discount because one of our group got locked in a malfunctioning bathroom. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sharon, Liz, me and Stacy</td></tr>
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The next day I attended a few speakers at the conference. It was pretty much a waste of time as the prsesenters were unprofessionable and hopelessly outdated in their topics. I heard the same thing from other attendees all day. Apparently this is normal for this TESOL Arabia because of the pressure put upon teachers to present regardless of whether they have time or interest. I did get a good grammar book at the book fair so it wasn't a complete waste of time and we ate at the revolving restaurant at the top of the hotel while enjoying the views of Dubai. <br />
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Another reason I attended was to see how the job fair works for next year when I'm looking for a job. It's very bizzare. The institutions that are hiring put up their job postings and applicants hand their 'paper' resumes to a collection desk. Then applicants wait to see if institutes want to interview them and what time their interviews are. There is no communication between the institue and applicant while this is being done so you just have to wait and be available the whole weekend. I'm not looking forward to doing it next year but I guess it will be a learning experience.<br />
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On our last night, we went to a sheesha bar on the Dubai Creek and relaxed outdoors with the lights of the city twinkling accross the water. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rick, me, Jackie, Stacy, Tanya (Sharon is taking the photo)</td></tr>
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Here is me with the sheesha pipes...you can smoke all kinds of flavored tobacco like apple, mint, strawberry and peach.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4898534641561133247.post-67561616516651795872013-03-11T15:01:00.002+04:002013-03-11T15:01:49.108+04:00Dubai Literary FestivalWent up to Dubai last weekend with Patreshia and met Rick for a day at the Dubai Literary Festival. It was being held at the Intercontinental Hotel right on the marina...beautiful boardwalk lined with restaurants and, I can't believe I'm going to say this, it was a little chilly with a breeze off the ocean. <br />
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My first author of the day was <a href="http://www.alandeanfoster.com/version2.0/frameset.htm" target="_blank">Alan Dean Foster</a> who is an extremely talented and prolific writer of sci-fi. He also writes novelizations of sci-fi movies like Star Wars, Star Trek, Aliens and many more. It was wonderful getting to listen to his views on good vs bad sci-fi. I was impressed enough to download a couple more kindle versions of his books this week.<br />
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Then, Rick and I went to listen to Dan Rather talk about his new book. He was just stopping by Dubai on his way to Afganistan to do another story..at the age of 81. Crazy!!! His book was mostly about how CBS booted him out over his coverage of the Bush campaign. He demonstrates how huge corporations are buying up news outlets and forcing them to censor themselves for the 'good of the corporation'. Nothing new in my opinion but I guess it was interesting to hear it right from the horse's mouth. <br />
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Rick and I enjoyed a nice lunch outside at M&S and chatted about the fate of the world...didn't solve much but the company was nice.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4898534641561133247.post-5743613371773994652013-02-10T11:01:00.001+04:002013-02-10T11:01:21.474+04:00Jebel Shams<p>I have been a bit lazy about exploring the countryside in the last few months so I thought I would fix that by going off on a weekend excursion with Al Ain Weekenders this past weekend. My friend Patreshia and I loaded up the jeep and joined the convoy over the border and into Oman bright and early Friday morning. </p> <p>The first day was relaxing and fun. Our first stop was to see some bronze age tombs. While we were up on the hill exploring them, the Friday Sermon was being broadcast out into the valley so it was quite surreal.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-LVCceeOnOm0/URdFDm113JI/AAAAAAAACG8/NdzOBw4gMM0/s1600-h/JebelShams%252520003%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="JebelShams 003" border="0" alt="JebelShams 003" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-qzrN4ziymkY/URdFII0EHnI/AAAAAAAACHE/C_gku1W1uPU/JebelShams%252520003_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="490" height="368"></a></p> <p>Then we had lunch in an oasis and explored an abandoned village. A lot of villages were abandoned when oil was discovered and people moved to the coast….this is the same in the UAE too.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-wLEs36e0uso/URdFLOCgV1I/AAAAAAAACHM/yF16sDZPIpQ/s1600-h/JebelShams%252520018%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="JebelShams 018" border="0" alt="JebelShams 018" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-9rpYz9mxyQo/URdFO5dsktI/AAAAAAAACHY/VJZh-iBlCkQ/JebelShams%252520018_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="325" height="434"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ionftdJn5Us/URdFQtrlhDI/AAAAAAAACHg/uCNZwPMIjgg/s1600-h/JebelShams%252520024%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="JebelShams 024" border="0" alt="JebelShams 024" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-JMtSDVacV9Y/URdFSfpGZkI/AAAAAAAACHo/ZORF_5DY2lg/JebelShams%252520024_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="466" height="349"></a></p> <p>After lunch we 4X4ed along a dried riverbed up to a dam and then hiked up to some pools where we relaxed for a bit. My jeep handled the off-road driving really well.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-gFG_PFiY-Kk/URdFUQfl54I/AAAAAAAACHw/c4fawYq_E8A/s1600-h/JebelShams%252520045%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="JebelShams 045" border="0" alt="JebelShams 045" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-WWG32BBZDRA/URdFWBTR2VI/AAAAAAAACH4/jEecAYUGklk/JebelShams%252520045_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="465" height="349"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-2tzovG4nxsA/URdFYhRKcsI/AAAAAAAACIA/G03x38yrolo/s1600-h/JebelShams%252520046%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="JebelShams 046" border="0" alt="JebelShams 046" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-0B8B2FvWWL8/URdFZzdubKI/AAAAAAAACII/yPsiU6M16qQ/JebelShams%252520046_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="465" height="349"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-TkGHXkj-Tjk/URdFcTSVitI/AAAAAAAACIQ/U0o8fPoU0bA/s1600-h/JebelShams%252520051%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="JebelShams 051" border="0" alt="JebelShams 051" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-UkK5EbEHmXk/URdFdwbK24I/AAAAAAAACIY/rtXeTNPUx3o/JebelShams%252520051_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="465" height="349"></a></p> <p>We spent the night in Bahla which is supposed to be the center of witchcraft in the region. It’s odd because Islam forbids that sort of thing but they all believe in the ghosts and assorted stories anyways. </p> <p>The next morning we headed up the insane mountain road to the top of Jebel Shams. This has got to be the most ridiculous road ever built. One 180 hairpin turn after another at a 45 degree incline. Then the pavement ended and we continued the same craziness on slippery gravel. My jeep’s temperature got almost into the red but we made it. Poor Patreshia was clinging to the door all the way up and we could smell the brakes burning on the way down.</p> <p>This should have clued me in to what I was in for on the hike but I foolishly held on to the idea that this was going to be a pleasantly flat stroll along the canyon ridge as it had been described to me. It wasn’t.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-VIsA_iZC6ik/URdFgKoxHnI/AAAAAAAACIg/C1tJ79qfv7E/s1600-h/JebelShams%252520061%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="JebelShams 061" border="0" alt="JebelShams 061" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-QvC-QD2R5rk/URdFhnCw8qI/AAAAAAAACIo/YIIRcL0ksuc/JebelShams%252520061_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="473" height="355"></a></p> <p>There was a lot of scrambling up and down rocks which I have no pictures of because I was too busy scrambling up and down the rocks but it was a beautiful view when you could lift up your head and take a look.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-uG_S6d3QNNM/URdFjSuQ58I/AAAAAAAACIw/PHK_VIkxiys/s1600-h/JebelShams%252520063%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="JebelShams 063" border="0" alt="JebelShams 063" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ESw1T-P6JiY/URdFkzFMLvI/AAAAAAAACI4/w4-6Qn6WTX0/JebelShams%252520063_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="473" height="355"></a></p> <p>The path was a bit treacherous at points.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Zd6n0ONXQng/URdFmlKeDNI/AAAAAAAACJA/ZQD9ZNKe-fg/s1600-h/JebelShams%252520077%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="JebelShams 077" border="0" alt="JebelShams 077" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-K7b8S2h3_tk/URdFoBeBx1I/AAAAAAAACJI/vsvEzA1qJww/JebelShams%252520077_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="475" height="356"></a></p> <p>At the head of the canyon there is an abandoned rock village that was occupied by rebels who were hiding out from the previous government. They grew all their food on man-made terraces. Once the current Sultan killed his father and ended his reign 34 years ago, the people moved to the top of the mountain but they’ve been separated from the rest of the country for long enough that there is significant inbreeding evident. </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-bhy1RVf5dYk/URdFq3qxJ_I/AAAAAAAACJQ/gSicv7RIVLs/s1600-h/JebelShams%252520075%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="JebelShams 075" border="0" alt="JebelShams 075" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-SyHqwIdTG-o/URdFv9eqqXI/AAAAAAAACJY/ia-XKszpDRs/JebelShams%252520075_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="318" height="424"></a></p> <p>It was a good weekend but I was sure glad to see my shower and bed at the end of it. I think that I may have inadvertently smuggled half of Oman back into the UAE on my tires and in my hair.</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4898534641561133247.post-83699046570940031902013-02-03T14:57:00.000+04:002013-02-03T14:57:02.497+04:00Rainy daysIt's been a great weekend with several hours of steady rain...I know this sounds crazy but just seeing clouds is an exciting thing around here. Anyways, the dust is washed off everything...except my jeep which seems to be a magnet for the stuff.<br />
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Last weekend I was invited to another Murder Myster Dinner at my friends' Sharon and Serge. This one was in 1930's Nappa Valley at a winery. I played Tiny Bubbles (hence the polka-dotted costume) and my husband (played by Serge) was Ralph Rottengrape. I wasn't the killer but I was a bit of a black widow...I don't hold out much hope for Ralph's longevity.<br />
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They had an interesting dinner with roast duck and Morocan Tanjine.<br />
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My neighbors and I also had a bbq to take advantage of the mild weather. It was actually cool enough that we had to put on sweaters later.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4898534641561133247.post-28860724883579297282013-01-23T09:11:00.003+04:002013-01-23T09:11:55.639+04:00FoggyThe fact that it gets foggy here is something that never would have occured to me before arriving. This morning, the fog was so thick that I couldn't tell the colour of the cars accross the intersections. Amazingly, everyone was driving calmly and there were no accidents. Apparently, there is a patch on the highway up to Dubai that gets particularly foggy and there are multiple fatal accidents there every winter. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4898534641561133247.post-4315301467632785902013-01-21T11:52:00.001+04:002013-01-21T11:52:27.724+04:00Camel Racing<p> </p> <p>The next three weeks are exam and PD weeks so I don’t have to be at college at the crack of dawn. This finally gave me the motivation to get up before dawn for the camel races just outside of town. They race very early so that the men can go to early morning Mosque services…also to keep the camels out of the direct heat of the day.</p> <p>The race got canceled….apparently this happens rather frequently for all sorts of reasons. We did get to see all the camels and their robot riders as they trained.</p> <p>Bringing the camels out to the track.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-we8UkqqExpU/UPzzQd0M6VI/AAAAAAAACEI/O6C33YsF5Fw/s1600-h/korea2012%252520112%25255B23%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="korea2012 112" border="0" alt="korea2012 112" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-frJoi1sEgew/UPzzShaxNwI/AAAAAAAACEQ/_bLEEXpr7qY/korea2012%252520112_thumb%25255B21%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="304"></a></p> <p>It was actually cold.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-67pHaoNUggA/UPzzVqCCRiI/AAAAAAAACEY/Eaoobj8vlGM/s1600-h/korea2012%252520110%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="korea2012 110" border="0" alt="korea2012 110" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Twa-ZnkQ9-Q/UPzzXiV7VfI/AAAAAAAACEg/o-1UbSl4z5U/korea2012%252520110_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="304"></a></p> <p>These tiny robots have replaced the 4 and 5 year olds that were brought in from India and Pakistan in the past. </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-_xSWAJcoj_0/UPzzZAKRQ0I/AAAAAAAACEo/mkdxc_Dnrjo/s1600-h/korea2012%252520117%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="korea2012 117" border="0" alt="korea2012 117" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Rg8bupP6A4M/UPzza1r1DHI/AAAAAAAACEw/bNGYSVXpvSw/korea2012%252520117_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="304"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-BDaSqjLBpMw/UPzzdRTa_PI/AAAAAAAACE4/SltwlhiRrwo/s1600-h/korea2012%252520121%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="korea2012 121" border="0" alt="korea2012 121" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-w8VP6pM5v0M/UPzzfIBKEdI/AAAAAAAACFA/SgIOCBQPFuM/korea2012%252520121_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="304"></a></p> <p>The trainers riding the bigger camels and the smaller racers are usually tied to their mothers.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-7FjxDrbx6ls/UPzziBSLddI/AAAAAAAACFI/kKKheN2Ry9o/s1600-h/korea2012%252520123%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="korea2012 123" border="0" alt="korea2012 123" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-8N221WzeMIk/UPzzj73yxSI/AAAAAAAACFQ/uAqeSxSuiLA/korea2012%252520123_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="304"></a></p> <p>Later that day, I drove up to Dubai and went to the Global Village with my friend Patreshia. This is a giant event held every winter with pavilions from various countries, rides, cultural shows, restaurants and shopping. Unfortunately, many of the pavilions were filled to the rafters with plastic, made-in-china crap. The South Korean pavilion didn’t have one Korean product in it. The Indian one was filled with textiles which was interesting but they were all made in Pakistan..very odd. My favorite was the Iraqi pavilion because they had gone a totally different way from other places and filled theirs with Iraqi artists’ paintings. Most seemed between $100 to $200…very reasonable and something for every style. </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-O0vgtjd1M5g/UPzzlaeLMUI/AAAAAAAACFY/G5WwGAT5h1I/s1600-h/korea2012%252520157%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="korea2012 157" border="0" alt="korea2012 157" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-SpTTl6heafU/UPzznSO-F0I/AAAAAAAACFg/oGjBufJZn94/korea2012%252520157_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="304"></a></p> <p>I’ve posted this picture of an African dancer because it really pointed out to me how different this place is. I was watching the show and then noticed that amongst the hundreds of viewers, I was the only woman. These male dancers had their shirts off so the local women couldn’t be anywhere near.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-wbSnZoVCnIY/UPzzqhadozI/AAAAAAAACFo/a_ex3RswUIg/s1600-h/korea2012%252520152%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="korea2012 152" border="0" alt="korea2012 152" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-OwHh6y9we8c/UPzzsgkounI/AAAAAAAACFw/GoCAZJWRdGI/korea2012%252520152_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="304"></a></p> <p>We’re taking our students to this place next week which is going to be an experience…many of them will have never been somewhere without family supervision. I think I’ll make sure that they see this African show</p> <p> <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" alt="Smile" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-w22v2FvU4Go/UPzzuHaac4I/AAAAAAAACF0/zROnzz1qJ7o/wlEmoticon-smile%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800"></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4898534641561133247.post-6452858100958164062013-01-21T11:28:00.001+04:002013-01-21T11:28:40.641+04:00Korean Christmas<p> </p> <p>The college gave us a couple weeks for the winter break and after my jam-packed Jordan/Egypt trip last winter, I decided to spend Christmas doing something relaxing and more ‘family’ oriented. So, I joined my Korean ‘family’ for a week. I’ve spent the last decade of Christmases on and off with my friends Kimberley and Chai and missed the last two years while off traveling so I was excited to see them. Also, they have a cute little addition to their family who I was anxious to meet up with again.</p> <p>The first night they decided to torture the poor desert dweller by going on a family outing to a Christmas village, at night, in –13 degree weather.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-k2p40FU4_BM/UPztfw0NbaI/AAAAAAAACBw/0692MDHnKh0/s1600-h/korea2012%252520027%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="korea2012 027" border="0" alt="korea2012 027" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkvXK2B8uQ6GGN9tDkyQJ40yJYQA86ChsctH8duAFsqClnMYtu5arb0QSuwLKMLFMplaBz4DjbD2Nxr0AiOYwmt6ZbJ9Pg8joE6G4fnUF4QfLwDsTsydAXxXRpd0vEbol7ncvf3LQSMOA/?imgmax=800" width="644" height="484"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-TOFfGEltX2w/UPztk_jvhCI/AAAAAAAACCA/RhiHA-3wlno/s1600-h/korea2012%252520016%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="korea2012 016" border="0" alt="korea2012 016" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-BZ1zq-0Fegs/UPztnECmeXI/AAAAAAAACCI/MI7sUJsW8Ng/korea2012%252520016_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="484"></a></p> <p>The lights were pretty and there were statues of Santa and his crew all over the place…whipping the kids up into a frenzy. This is Kimberley and Kai with one of the many Santas. We ended our night with hot chocolate and a sleepy drive back into the city.</p> <p>Then it was Christmas fun for the rest of the week. Christmas Eve dinner with friends</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Mi4jHQcRDUCGdCxWcntPlljX-68E_GQM-EwLryYtDqCzZeNi23qRBrvC0CJjnvISNK3cP5pMuYkCvAtZsa6WvbU5qtpy9JJ8BfD-LHeM1zURUpZnyShELce63RqC7SIfLMwoz_SbCTI/s1600-h/korea2012%252520040%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="korea2012 040" border="0" alt="korea2012 040" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-1WwYelv1UqE/UPztsRpI2-I/AAAAAAAACCY/9Mz9z7f7FFA/korea2012%252520040_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="484"></a></p> <p>Kim’s spicy chilli with cheese and sour cream..yummm</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-SNNxJtpiDsA/UPztu61BLNI/AAAAAAAACCg/dw42u357dQ0/s1600-h/korea2012%252520039%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="korea2012 039" border="0" alt="korea2012 039" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkJaO7FLZTkQCFGuiQIRzzds4m5uai5zvibIfduUhSdGVohgYLxOzeUtwSKgJzGpN87l37g3R_Zp1DjTGTk-ayoNAp8sCID0HhtLhqDh771pbCU1R2gUeFBcIKqX5LAsOz8A5zGAhGtCM/?imgmax=800" width="644" height="484"></a></p> <p>Helping out Santa with a few construction jobs at 3am.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-NdYD0LC4_Eo/UPzt0LLmeJI/AAAAAAAACCw/4vaZJOcyry4/s1600-h/korea2012%252520042%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="korea2012 042" border="0" alt="korea2012 042" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-1F28Y3WZM58/UPzt2p7iLMI/AAAAAAAACC4/I3_dzh7pnBc/korea2012%252520042_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="484"></a></p> <p>Then came Christmas morning and all the toys.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-dcdUb8Xust4/UPzt31osuyI/AAAAAAAACC8/Xm4xp2ccMzk/s1600-h/korea2012%252520068%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="korea2012 068" border="0" alt="korea2012 068" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-7j-H6LMfv8k/UPzt6pdOMhI/AAAAAAAACDI/Cbed6D3aTH0/korea2012%252520068_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="484"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-c-C3uiaf44A/UPzt8CzCx3I/AAAAAAAACDQ/ZWW_wTl7YYY/s1600-h/korea2012%252520050%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="korea2012 050" border="0" alt="korea2012 050" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-SkLH_gBg9m8/UPzt-dzhFwI/AAAAAAAACDY/nkwCkuhj43A/korea2012%252520050_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="484"></a></p> <p>Kai with his best friend Inez….who knew mechanic fish were so interesting?</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-NAgI6fME0F4/UPzuBQX5x_I/AAAAAAAACDg/DXNLEC27sxU/s1600-h/korea2012%252520097%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="korea2012 097" border="0" alt="korea2012 097" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-TlXysX9SUsA/UPzuC2jQGmI/AAAAAAAACDk/3hxhsQIrZE4/korea2012%252520097_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="484"></a></p> <p>It was a great visit but I wish I had planned for a longer visit. </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-OGXLLZE_Fqo/UPzuGeYa4SI/AAAAAAAACDw/FhovXAwAIu8/s1600-h/korea2012%252520100%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="korea2012 100" border="0" alt="korea2012 100" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-eBMihvI58Zg/UPzuJJg-f7I/AAAAAAAACD4/lKDUKXutkLo/korea2012%252520100_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="484"></a></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4898534641561133247.post-42057098739894093322012-12-19T10:46:00.001+04:002012-12-19T10:46:25.992+04:00The Grand MosqueI had to go up to Abu Dhabi yesterday for an education conference so I took a little side trip to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in the city. It's been on my mind since I arrived because it's such an impressive sight as you drive into Abu Dhabi. It's the largest mosque in the country and the eighth largest in the world. It's so big that 40,000 worshippers can squeeze in on the big holidays.<br />
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It has four tall minarets and 82 domes. The minarets are really tall at 85 meters and they are in each of the four corners of the complex.<br />
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Apparently, the design is a mixture of Arab and Moorish design as the minarets are Arab and the doors and arches are Moorish.<br />
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The materials used for this were all imported and are finely crafted. Each of the 96 columns surrounding the main courtyard is covered with white marble and inlaid with mother of pearl flower designs.<br />
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The entire complex is surrounded by pools.</div>
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The floor of the courtyard is also inlaid with marble.<br />
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Inside is even more amazing. You have to take off your shoes and women must cover their hair, arms and legs. I was prepared for this so I had my head scarf in my bag but you can borrow an abaya and Shayla there too. The first entry hall has huge marble flowers placed all along the walls and around the ornate windows.<br />
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As you walk into the main prayer hall (for men to pray) you're walking on the largest handmade carpet in the world and hovering above you are seven huge chandeliers from Germany that incorporate millions of Swarovski crystals.<br />
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Every inch of the inside is scrolled, carved or painted upon.<br />
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On one wall there are flowers with the 99 names or attributes of Allah and on several walls there were the prayer times and names.<br />
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There are five different prayers in each day and they're all at different times (there are differences between different sects of Islam on the prayers). The first is Fajr and it's supposed to be said at 10 or 15 minutes before sunrise. The last is Isha and it's after sunset. In the UAE you can hear the called to prayer from every mosque and it's actually sung by the the Imam at that mosque. Luckily, the one by my house is a good singer but I have heard some that are a little off-tune or have a bad sound system.<br />
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Interesting things I learned about the prayer while visiting the Grand Mosque; every person must be clean and in a clean place to pray. This means that they all wash their hands, feet, mouth, nose and hair (just wetting the ends of the hair is okay) before praying. This is called wadhu in Arabic and if there isn't any water, you can use sand/dirt. The women's washing area was gorgeous.<br />
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Children under 7 don't pray and women can't pray when they're menstruating or just after giving birth. Women also pray in a different area than men in this mosque but in some mosques, the women pray at the back with the children between them and the men. Also, if you miss a prayer, you can make it up later.<br />
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A beautiful tribute to art and culture and, in a country where everyone has food, education and homes, I didn't mind the money spent on such a magnificent extravagance.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4898534641561133247.post-37235060050185077042012-12-05T09:03:00.001+04:002012-12-05T09:03:49.965+04:00Spring breakI'm very excited because I've just booked tickets for Prague for the spring break in April. I know it's early but doing it so early saved me a ton of money. On the advice of friends who had been before, I'm staying in the historic 'old town' which seems to walking distance from everything....I'm going to do my happy vacation dance now.<br />
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<img height="297" src="webkit-fake-url://0B7CD443-7F8B-4F5B-8E8D-F6922C4EE2CC/imagejpeg" width="400" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4898534641561133247.post-65088853251269342542012-11-28T09:42:00.000+04:002012-11-28T09:42:08.299+04:00National Day 2012Well it's UAE's 41st national day this coming week and the festivities have begun. It's not as extravagant as last year but we do have a four day weekend to celebrate which is pretty nice. <br />
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Al Ain has been getting itself all prettied up. This is Al Ain Fort which is now a museum. These forts were actually used as recently as the 1950s when Saudi Arabia was making big land grabs in the region and Sheikh Sayed (the father of the UAE) held him off with a combination of troops, who were station at these types of forts, and negotiations. At one point, the Saudis offered Sheikh Sayed $42 million dollars for one small area but were turned down. <br />
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As an interesting sidenote to the conflict with the Saudis, there are still undefined borders here and things seem to shift in the sand. Some friends of mine were camping the dunes last long weekend and were told to move by the UAE border patrol as the Saudis had spotted them and wanted them further back from the border. My friends have no idea how they were spotted so there may be some technology in use.<br />
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As well as copious amounts of lights and banners, there have also been fireworks and will be more around town before the week is out. These ones went on for at least five minutes and had lots of the national colours of red and green.<br />
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Our college had it's own celebrations yesterday. They started out with music and dancing done by an all male group. <br />
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My students were involved in representing two of the seven Emirates in a booth. They prepared food, tea, gifts, face painting and this great edible map of the UAE.<br />
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Which was enjoyed by everyone...especially the kids.<br />
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I dressed up again for the occasion which my students thought was hilarious and they spent a lot of time taking photos of me and with me. I can't show any of the photos with my students here because that's not allowed (as I've mention in previous blog posts).<br />
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My friend Gerry also had a birthday this week so we all went out for a really good Indian dinner.<br />
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I hope she got her wish.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4898534641561133247.post-80781886433596717872012-11-19T14:58:00.000+04:002012-11-19T14:58:49.266+04:00The Blue SouqThis past weekend I went on a couple of road trips because it was a long weekend celebrating the Hijri or Muslim New Year. It's actually the time when Mohammed emmigrated from Mecca to Medina and marks the beginning of the new year. It's 1424 now!<br />
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I took my aging jeep up to Dubai and went for Tim Horton's and a bit of a shopping trip. What I really wanted to know was whether the jeep could handle the 120 to 140 speed limit. It was no problem with the six cyllinders. <br />
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I also went to Sharjiah which is another Emirate in these United Arab Emirates....for a quick geography lesson; there are seven Emriates. The biggest is Abu Dhabi (the yellow one), which is where I live. They also have most of the money these days as Dubai has over extended itself with wild building projects.<br />
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Sharjiah is next to Dubai but it's a bit of an odd place. It's become a commuting suburb for Dubai's workers but it's getting alot of it's funding from Saudi Arabia so it's very conservative. No alcohol, no women's images in shops and other weird things like that. <br />
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Anyways, I went to the Blue Souq (market) which is famous as an importer for Persian merchandise. <br />
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I bought some beautiful Turkish bowls, a scarf, a traditional housedress and a stuffed camel for a Christmas gift. There were tons of antique shops and rug stores but I have no idea what's real and what's fake so I avoided those places.<br />
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After shopping, we went over to the extravagant Wafi shopping mall for lunch. The whole thing is designed around an Egyptian theme. <br />
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A very nice day driving through three of the seven emirates.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4898534641561133247.post-60179736331831420312012-11-19T14:29:00.000+04:002012-11-19T14:29:02.486+04:00More Birthday funI got a lovely surprise when I showed up for my friend Sharon's birthday (We celebrated our birthdays together in Nepal last year) and the birthday party was for both of us. It was a great time organized by her lovely husband Serge.<br />
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Lots of people came and they have a great party house with huge rooms.<br />
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I got a ton of great gifts from everyone and now I have flowers and candles all over my apartment. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0