Gobble? Gobble?

Today we're in Kusadasi on the western shore of Turkey.

We're approaching the shore to dock for the day, when a small tugboat-looking boat met us in the waters right off shore.  It was bright red, flying the flag of Turkey.  I think it's a "follow me" boat, as that is what we did.

There is an island patch of land sticking out in the water that is attached by a strip of a road.  On this island-like area, is a high wall with a lookout tower in the middle.  I'm sure there's a story there.

There are two communities, and the ship is between them.  Another small boat passes by.  It looks like a fishing boat.

The way the communities are built in the mountain, it looks like wherever you are, you have a view of the water.  The land is naturally formed like an amphitheater.  The water at stage level and the homes and businesses are like the seats arranged progressively higher as they're built in the mountain.

Again, it was an early day.  I recorded the above at about 7:00am.  It's about 5:30pm now, and I'm in the 24-hour cafe, and one of the places that I can get Internet service.

We headed to the town of Ephesus, that is referenced many places in the bible, not the least of which, in the Book of Ephesians.  We see the amphitheater where the Apostle Paul preached a sermon to the masses.

It is a beautiful area.  The mountain range is a lustrous green, and our guide showed us a system here where rain water is captured and used for the six months it doesn't rain, providing the irrigation needed to grow all of the fruits and vegetables that are so plentiful.  I love figs and bought some the size of your fists.  I've never seen any so big, and unlike the ones I'm used to, you eat them like an apple, peeling and all.  Delicious!

Until the year 2000, this was just a quaint village by the sea.  Since that time, the port was sold to Royal Carribean Cruise Line, and now they average two million visitors per year.  Cleverly, the town has built an outdoor mall that the ship passengers must pass through to get back on board.  We were dropped off about two blocks away from the dock.  So, there were many opportunities to shop or avoid shopping, along the way.  Also, if you chose not to go on an excursion, the mall brings the town to the ship.  Smart idea, for sure.

Side note - During this week of extraordinary experiences, I realize how grateful I am for the Internet.  It truly is my lifeline to the world.  Rationing my time on it has been the only down side about this trip.  I'm having so much fun, I want to tell you about it NOW and show you all of the pictures NOW.  But instead of griping, I choose to be thankful that I have it at all.  Just eight years go when Ben lived in Indonesia, our online experiences were very limited compared to nowadays.  Gmail video chat is awesome!  Gotta love those Google boys.  Even without the video, being able to call computer to computer is super, and it's free!  Consider getting a Gmail account, just for the chat features.

Seriously, I ought to a get paid for endorsements because when I like something, I want the world to know it.

Side note 2 - Turkey is a Muslim country, but you couldn't tell it by appearances, at all.  There wasn't a black rope or head scarf in sight anywhere.  There were eating establishments opened throughout, and it didn't look like it was just for non-Muslims.  The fasting period of Ramadan is still happening.  It is clear that the country is tolerant of other religions, based on its history alone.  According to our tour guide, it's the only Muslim country that is a member of NATO and is recognized for its peacekeeping activities.

Our last stop is Chania, Crete tomorrow, then we're at sea all day Saturday, and arrive in Rome at sunrise on Sunday.

Farewell for now.

It's Greek to Me!

We docked in Athens before dawn.  By 8:30 we were off on our panoramic tour of the city.

Pardon me for the comparisons, but since Cairo and Rome are still so fresh in my mind, my natural tendency is to compare them. Surprisingly, Athens is the most modern looking of the three.  It did not have the ruins on display like the others. Of course, there was the Parthenon, that sits on top of a mountain, overlooking the city.  And there was another set of columns standing nearby, but that was it.  We stopped at the base of it, but the view was obscured, and not the best.  In each city, I chose the tour that would give me the greatest exposure to the sights.  As a result though, our time was limited and so climbing to the top of the Parthenon was not to be this time.  Later as were driving along, we had a magnificent view of the Acropolis/Parthenon, but I missed the shot, fiddling with my camera.  I'll download one to show you.

The traffic was exceptionally light because most of the natives are on holiday during the month of August.  Even in these hard times over here, the folks still vacation, but just shorten them.

Another thing I notice is how clean Athens is, and so was Rome.  Most of Egypt was not.  I think that has to do with the lack of infrastructure.  It was clear  the roads had not been repaired in years, old garbage lined many of the roads, and many public building were in need of repair and/or upgrading.  Their is lots of hope resting on the shoulders of the new Egyptian president.  I hope that he can deliver.

Now about my accommodations -

The cruise ship is the Navigator of the Seas by Royal Caribbean.  It is a beauty.  This is my third time cruising, and each time with a different company.  This is the best one, for sure.  My room is very spacious, the staff is friendly and attentive and there are amenities galore.  The food is fabulous.   It is exceptionally clean, too.  Can't ask for much more than this.

I wrote everything before this, this afternoon when I returned from our excursion, now I'm back in the dining room with an incredible view of the Greek Isles as we make our way to Turkey tomorrow.  The view is absolutely spectacular.  Do the folks who live on these islands understand and appreciate how beautiful it is here?  I'm guessing not.  But that's true of most of us. No matter where we live, we rarely take the time to see the beauty that surrounds us.

There seems to be lots of families traveling together, but thankfully, I'm not seeing or hearing kids running around.  I was on the bus today with a darling baby who reminded me a lot of Zadie.  This little one had just learned to walk and she was enjoying her independence.  She didn't make a peep on the bus.  She was a real cutie.

For a hot minute, I was sitting next to a family with a couple of surly teenagers.  God, I don't miss having to deal with that.

I'm reading a lot, which is a favorite pastime of mine.  And you'll be happy to note my current choices are not trashy novels, although they are in the queue.  Speaking of trashy, I'm still struggling to get through Fifty Shades of Grey, but I'm determined to finish it.  I wish I could make myself care about these characters.

Side note - I love the Italian language.  Just add a vowel to every word, with an emphasis on that vowel, and you're good to go.  OK.  Maybe it's more to it than that, but it's a fun language to hear.

Side note 2 - There is live guitar music playing now.  Very soft.  Very soothing.

Side note 3 - There's a guy sitting at a table next to me that looks just like Malcolm Gladwell, just a younger version, crazy hair and all.

More soon.

Your blogging buddy

Sailing Observations & Random Thoughts

Yesterday at breakfast, a guy in Speedos graced us with his presence.  Thankfully, he had a shirt on.  The rest of him . . . the massively exposed part of him . . . was really, really hairy. Arms. Shoulders. Legs.

Yes.  It was as disgusting as you're imaging.

I'm in my usual spot in the dining room.  We're passing a huge mountain range that has risen up out of the water.  It is amazing!  At first blush it looked snow-covered, but it was just the way the sun was hitting it.  There's also a small boat in the distance.  Compared to what we're in, it's minuscule.

I have been sleeping like a baby.  Twelve hours for the last two nights.  And I took a long afternoon nap.  I never sleep this much, but it feels great.

Tonight is formal wear for dinner.  That is always funny to me.  It's like dressing up to go from your bedroom to your living room.  Seems a little silly to me, but if you like to play dress up, this is your cup of tea.

I was following a group of teenagers for a minute, as they were trying so hard to be cool.  But there was this other kid, also a teen, and looked like a jock, who was sitting in one of the big upholstered chairs reading a book.  He warmed my heart.  He was doing what he wanted to do, and he didn't care who saw him do it, oblivious to the world around him.

Tomorrow we're off and running early.  We'll be in Athens, Greece.

A note about the postings from this ship.

Usually, I spend lots of time mulling over them.  I know. They might seem thrown together, but they take great effort.  Anyway, I'm out of sync, and not proofing them as much as I would if I didn't have a time limit because of the crazy cost of the Internet on the ship.  Anyway, please excuse any and all mistakes.  I'll re-read them and make adjustments when I get home.

Sicily, Home of the Godfather

The excursion today took us to Mt. Edna, the active volcano in the area.  The craters it created and the widespread ash was fascinating to see.

Along the way, our guide pointed out the two towns nestled into the mountains, that were used by Francis Ford Coppola as the settings of the Godfather Trilogy.

The countryside reminded me a lot of Northern California.  There were acres and acres of orchards.  A wide variety of fruits and vegetables are grown here.  The volcanic ash seems to make great fertilizer.

Once we left the mountain, and we were headed down to the town of Taormina,  that would be our next stop, the roads became very narrow.  We were winding down the mountain and when we came to a curve, the driver blew the horn to alert oncoming traffic because you couldn't see around the end.

Side note - I just met one of the wait staff, a black girl, who is from Belarus.  Yes, Belarus!  Her Mom is from Belarus and father is from the Congo.

Side note 2 - The music on the PA System was just Earth, Wind, & Fire, then Luther Vandross.  I'm in heaven!

Back to the roads - Twice it was too narrow for two cars to pass, so the oncoming traffic backed up to let us by.

As we approached the city - it's more of a quaint town really - there were commercial and residential areas.  What was striking about them was that they were virtually on the street.  There didn't seem to be a concept of sidewalks.  Everything was just right there, we could almost touch it as we passed by.

The town of Taormina was extraordinary in it's beauty.  It is framed by the the ocean on one side, and filled with shops, and churches and more shops and more churches.  As you walk down the street, there are alleys that look like they have been decorated by professionals.  There are flowers, rocks, outdoor seating, and they are all just so . . . perfect!  Everything is also multiple leveled - some shops are street level, others higher.  Same with the churches.

Side note 3 - I heard a young Black girl who worked in one of the stores, who spoke fluent Italian.  Reminded me of Kobe Bryant, who spent his formative years here, and also speaks the language.

Side note 4 - At one of the courtyards, I noticed an empty hearse parked in front of the church.  It wasn't there when we arrived.  As we were leaving, it had moved and now carried a coffin, and was being driven slowly up the street towards us and the church, with the family walking slowly behind.  There were people already in the church, and they greeted the family with the double cheek kisses.  All of us stopped to watch.  Probably shouldn't have, but we were very respectful.

Side note - At this public, open area, there was a fountain, and from the fountain, there flowed a steady stream of the coldest, most satisfying water on the planet.

As I close, let me note that I'm writing this in the dining room again.  The view of the city of Messina, nestled in the mountain range, with the most beautiful blue water slashing against it's shores, is breathtaking.  Shortly we began to sail off, and now we're saying goodbye to Sicily, on our way to Greece.

Tomorrow we'll be at sea.

Momma Mia! Roma!

I'm sitting in the dining room, just finishing up with dinner on this, the first night of my Mediterranean Cruise.  I opted not to eat in the formal dining room at assigned tables, but I'm enjoying my meal in a more subdued setting, with an ocean view.  Very relaxing.

Side note - Marvin Gaye's Sexual Healing is piped in.

The day began with a bus tour of Rome.  Like with Egypt, the ancient ruins were spectacular!  We were here years ago, when Frankie was a baby.  Then I thought it looked old.  Again, comparing it to Egypt, I've had a change of heart.  The ruins here were in much better shape.  In fact, the whole city of Rome was much more prosperous, much more inviting, and was filled with tourists.  The Arab Spring has hurt Egypt tremendously, with a serious decline in tourism.

Side note 2 - I'm surprised at the number of Black folks from the US I've seen and met on this cruise.

Side note 3 - It is quite the contrast seeing all of the little cars.  Smart cars and Fiats rule the road here.  Gas is about $7.50 gallon, so that's probably why.

I took loads of pictures, but the Internet service is very expensive on the ship.  I'll post them when I get home.

More soon.

Birthdays

More than the New Year, I think birthdays are a time for reflection and goal setting.

I'm just a couple hours shy of my 56th birthday.  I'll begin it in the air as I'm headed to Rome for a cruise.

Last year at this time I had just begun the process of applying for this job, and of course, I had no idea how far this year would take me.

What a ride it has been!

I hope that my life is an example of how good life can be, just when we least expect it.

Whatever your dream.  Whatever your goal.  Whatever your heart's desire.  No matter how crazy.  No matter how against the grain it may be -

Go for it.

Follow your heart

and

Follow your dream.

It's never too late.

Remember, it's OK for old folks to have dreams, too.

Here's wishing that all your dreams come true.

I Love This Guy!

Malcolm Gladwell is a genius!

If you haven't read any of his books, grab one today.  They are Tipping Point, Blink, and Outliers.  He makes really complex phenomena easy to understand.  I should say, easy enough for me to understand.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLC1QGd41Cg&feature=em-subs_digest

Interesting Info

"Ask Ali," the columnist in the local paper, discusses wedding etiquette and the treatment of domestic help.  It's enlightening.

http://www.thenational.ae/lifestyle/ask-ali-wedding-invitations-and-working-conditions?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=Daily%2BNewsletter%2B03-08-2012

Terry

If my youngest brother were alive, he'd be 57 today.

He died five or six years ago, or is it seven?  Why can't I ever remember when?  Is it because I still struggle with the fact that he's gone?

I only recently erased his name from my contacts.  Did that signify I was erasing him from my heart and mind?

He and I were raised together.  My oldest brother Willie is 14 years older than me, and Forrest is 10 years older, but Terry was just a year older.  We couldn't have been more different.  I did well in school, while he struggled most years. I was the bookworm, where he would be outside playing or watching TV.  I don't ever remember doing anything together as kids, but we must have.

Funny the things you remember.

After high school, my Mom insisted that he go into the military, following in Willie's footsteps.  The four years that he was active duty was a blossoming/coming of age time for him.  He became the confident, outspoken one in the family.

While he was in the military, I was in college.  In my last year at FAMU (Florida A & M University), he had completed his tour of duty and entered college as a freshman. We lived together and it was the best of times and the worst of times.  We continued to argue like cats and dogs, but when we weren't verbally sparring, we had great times together.  I will never forget that it was he who introduced me to cauliflower. In his travels in the military, his culinary tastes had broaden, and he in turn broaden mine.

As time went on, I got married and so did he, in fact, a couple of times for him.  He settled into life continuing to work, but not being fulfilled.  He announced that he was quitting his job and going back to school, focusing on computer programming.  We thought he was nuts.  What we didn't know, and couldn't see, was that this was his niche.  This is where he excelled.  He worked at Microsoft for years, and when he died, he was working for Boeing.

His life is a testimony to living your dream.  He knew that his heart wasn't in the job he had, and he continued to search until he found that thing, that job that he was passionate about.  Remember, he struggled in school, but there is no doubt, he was the brightest of Momma's kids.

He found his niche.

I wish we hadn't spent so much time arguing - about what? - and spent more time just enjoying each other.  Thankfully, that happened the last decade or so that he was alive.  Better late than never, right?

Death happens.  Sometime we can see it coming, and other times, like with Terry, we can't.  It is these surprise deaths that rattle us, and shakes us to the core.

I erased his name from my contact list, but I can never erase him from my heart.

Happy birthday Terry.

Teaching Kids to Think

I watching yet another TED Talk (OK, stop with the eye rolling), that was riveting.  It was about a teacher who taught students about world conflict, and he created a game for them to solve the problems of the world.

What was fascinating is how the kids bought into it, and really were thoughtful in their assignment.  The video and article is linked below.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/26/world-peace-game_n_1169863.html?1324915273

As a teacher, I always wanted/needed/insisted upon, control of my classroom.  I wonder if I'd loosen the reins more, and given the kids more autonomy, would I have been a better teacher?  A more engaging, and more collaborative one?

I realize now, (am I too late?), that kids come to us with tremendous creativity, and with that creativity, they have the power, and if given the opportunity, the ability, to problem-solve.  We/I, in my/our, need to control, oftentimes strip them of that creativity.

As a public school teacher, I always marveled at the teaching and learning that my boys were experiencing at their private, Catholic high school.  What was it they were getting there, that wasn't happening in my class, or in my school, or in my district? After much thought and deliberation, I concluded that they were being taught how to think.  Stay with me.  They were not just expected to regurgitate information, they were taught how to analyze that info, tear it apart, synthesize it, and then draw a conclusion.

Why were those teachers, and that system of learning, not universally adopted?  I think, of course, I could be wrong, but I think it was because they were more focused on teaching the concepts of learning - how to learn - making that the focus, and not necessarily the content, although that was important, just not the most important aspect of the lesson.

There are many times that I wish I could go back, and redo/reteach those kids who passed through my classes.  I believe I have a much better idea of what teaching and learning can be/should be.  But I also realize we teach what we know, and you can't teach what you don't know.

Of course, hindsight is 20/20.

Oh, the burden, and the responsibility of teachers everywhere.

We have some much riding on our shoulders.  If the teacher who is featured in this video had started teaching today, instead of in 1978, would he have been given the freedom and latitude to do what he has done?  Isn't it interesting that we seemed to have produced smarter, more creative, and more gifted and talented students before the onset of this testing culture?  Why is that?  Is it because we were focused on the teaching and not the testing?

Do I have the answers to the educational state we find ourselves in?  Absolutely not.  But there are some folks who do.  The problem is that the folks who set policy, too often, have a total disconnect with what is happening in the classrooms.  And the monster they have created, keeps churning out a new set of standards to meet, when really what they should be doing is setting up standards on teaching kids to think and become independent learners.

That's my two cents.  What's yours?

Views From Afar

The attached article was published in our local paper today.  Whether you're for Romney or not, the reactions from his trip abroad have been sobering.

http://www.thenational.ae/news/world/romneys-ramblings-stir-up-rumblings?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=Daily%2BNewsletter%2B01-08-2012

Ramadan Observations

Ramadan began on July 20th and goes through August 20th.  Muslims are required to fast from before dawn to after sunset.  They can't eat or drink anything, including water.

I'm attaching a link from The National Newspaper for "Ask Ali" who publishes this wonderful column explaining cultural nuisances to non-Muslim ex-pats.  It's below.

http://www.thenational.ae/topic/magazine/ask-ali

This, of course, is my first experience being immersed in Islamic Culture, and there are some things I've noticed.

The work day is shortened by two hours for this month, and typically, businesses slow way down.  I was hired during Ramadan last year, which helps to explain why the process to get me here was so incredibly slow.

Ramadan is based on the Islamic Calendar, and it changes (moves back) about ten days each year.  Chances are next year, it will begin around July 10, the next year, around June 28, and so on.

Cairo seemed more lenient in the availability of food during the fasting period.  The hotel continued its 24-hour room service and I made sure that I ate my meals in my room, so as not to offend those who were fasting.  A huge buffet was prepared and served on the patio area around the pool at about 7:00pm for the breaking of the fast or Iftar.  A 10:00 each night a live band played until midnight, and on Friday night, their holy day/night, the music lasted until 2:00am.

I felt awful for my guide in Luxor where the temperatures were 130 degrees.  I was dying of thirst and had something to drink, at his insistence.  He cooled off by pouring water over his head, neck and arms. Ice melted instantly in that heat.

When I arrived at Dubai in mid-afternoon a few days later, I was hoping for an ice coffee from the Starbucks in the airport.  It was closed, along with many other places to eat.  There was another coffee shop opened, but it was completely enclosed with dark wooden screens, obscuring the view of those inside.  Their "open" sign was outside the screens.

I went to the mall today here in Al Ain, and again, all public eating places were closed.  I'm guessing they will open after 7:00pm, but I'm tucked in by that time, so I don't know for sure.

Another interesting thing -

Muslim folks use prayer beads that look a lot like rosaries that Catholic folks use. There are 99 different names for Allah in Islam, and I think they use the beads to keep count of how many they've said.  They may use them for other prayers too, but I'm not not sure.

People reading the Holy Quran are seen everywhere.

Side note - I had to get some medicine refilled today and saw a new doctor who is from Nigeria.  I mentioned that I was hot and he had someone to sneak in a couple of bottles of water.  I drank mine in his office because it is offensive to drink or eat in public during the fasting times.

The grocery stores remain open, so you can always get something to eat and take it home to indulge.

Side note 2 - I just discovered this fact:

Soaking in one’s own bathwater is un-Islamic, and revolts most Muslims.


This is probably why I've had to look high and low to find a drain stopper for the tub. 

Interesting, right?

It is also fascinating to me how some Muslims can espouse to hatred and killing, when so much of their lives are spent praying.  I'm sure they could say the same thing about us Christians, too.

Every day is a learning experience.  Even now, at my age, I marvel at how much I don't know.

Here's to learning and growing together.

Back Home

Thankfully, I'm back home, safe and sound.

The trip to Egypt was everything I hoped for and more.

Today has been one of those frustrating ones though - nothing huge - just enough to pluck nerves.

Remember in one of my really early postings, I mentioned (ranted and raved actually) that the cell phones work better here.  You buy a phone, then you buy a SIM Card for that phone, and you only pay for the time that you use.  In theory, this works great, but the practical application leaves a lot to be desired because of the way it's set up.

So, I take it back.  This system is not better than the ones we're used to in the US. Just different, and today that difference was aggravating.

Then I was checking my plans for later this week as I'm headed out for another trip, and I realized I had the dates wrong.  It's one of those red-eyes that leave on one day and arrive on the next. (Why do they do this?  Just to confuse folks?  Or is it just to confuse me?  Am I the only one who struggles with this?) Thank God, I discovered it prior to the weekend, or I would have been up a creek without a paddle.

I reminded myself all day to let it roll.  Not let the little irritating things get to me. Remember to choose to be positive.

Yeah.  Yeah.  Yeah.

I failed.

I remembered all that and still blew it.

As my dear friend Deb used to say, "Some days you eat the bear, and some days the bear eats you.

Today the bear won.

But (Inshall-Allah) tomorrow, he better look out.

Here's wishing you a great bear eating day, too.

Another Thought Provoking TED Talk

http://www.ted.com/talks/ken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity.html

Luxor and the Nile River

Yesterday began early with an hour-long plane ride south to Luxor to see some of the most magnificent structures yet.  It has been called the "world's greatest open air museum" and the name is fitting.

In Cairo, the pyramids were the burial grounds for the royalty.  In Luxor, tombs were hidden inside man made caves in the mountainside.  Sixty-three have been found, with the latest discovery as recent as 2008.   Pictures weren't allowed in or out of the mountain, but I found some online that are below.

Walkway to the Valley of the Kings

Entrance to one of the tombs

The video is of Ramses IV's tomb.

These sights were incredible.

We then went to Luxor Temple, where in contrast to the tombs, everything was outside and massive, with columns and structures reaching for the sky.  

Luxor Temple

The speck just right of center in the foreground is a person.
I wanted to show just how enormous these structures are.

The next temple is dedicated to a woman whose name I can't remember.  It was so hot here my iPhone camera flashed an overheated warning sign.  The temperature was 111, but it must have been at least 20 degrees hotter at the monuments.  It was blistering hot.  This was a case of going from the frying pan (Abu Dhabi) to the fire (Luxor).  Thankfully, Cairo is a much cooler 95 or so.

Too hot for words!  I walked up and came right back down.

The last place we visited sits on 62 acres in the heart of the city, across the street from the River Nile.  It contains 134 extraordinary columns and statues and monuments of Kings and other royal folks.

These are over 30 feet tall!

Not sure who these folk are.
I lost track of the names and I'm blaming it on the heat.

If it wasn't considered holy ground,
it would be a great place for playing hide and seek.

Along the way, we stopped at a family owned shop that had been in the carving business for over 250 years.  The things they made was incredible.

Man grinding stone

My day trip to Luxor was wonderful, but I was happy to get back to "cool" Cairo.

Today I ended the guided portion of my tour of Egypt, with the most relaxing hour-long ride on the River Nile.  It runs right through the heart of the city, and in fact, it runs through the heart of the country.

Riverboat captain - he's done this for 50+ years!

My  great guide Hany!

Me on the riverboat

Let me give an unsolicited endorsement for Ramses Tours.  They were fantastic from start to finish.  They were recommended by one of my teachers, who visited here earlier and thought they were awesome, and they were even better than that.   

Tomorrow I sleep in and pack and I'm back home in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.

As always, thanks for taking this ride with me.

Inshall'Allah

Saying "I Love You"

Why is that simple phrase so difficult for me to say?

Is it because I wasn't raised in a home where I heard it spoken?

It is a case of your feelings not counting unless they're verbalized?

Is it because it seems empty and shallow when repeated again and again?

Is it because it seems to have become a catch phrase that folks are expected to say?

Is it because the only time I heard my father utter those words, was days before he died?

Is it because I think love should be a verb, and not just a noun?

Is it because I believe the phrase is shallow unless it involves showing the person how you feel?

Ben and Frankie can probably count the times on one hand that they've heard me say that I love them.  Is there any doubt in their minds that I do?

Is it wrong of me to feel this way?

Is it cultural?  Generational?

Or is it just me . . . in need of some serious help?

Holy Day

Today we visited churches, mosques, and synagogues, so it was a spiritual journey of sorts.

First stop, The Citadel, a fort-like structure built on one of the highest hills overlooking the city.  It was built in 1176.  Within its walls is one of the oldest mosques.

Online picture that shows the magnitude of this compound.

Mosque inside The Citadel

Me walking along the colonnade of the mosque

Then we went to St. Virgin Mary's Coptic Orthodox Church, also known as The Hanging Church because it was built far above ground over a fortress.

It was built in the 3rd century!

This was followed by a visit to St. Sergius Church, where the Holy Family was believed to have been sheltered on their trip to Egypt.  It dates back to the 4th century.

Entrance to St. Sergius Church

Sign leading the way to the crypt

Finally, we visited the Ben Ezra Synagogue.  The stone box is believed to hold the rock that Moses knelt on when he received the Ten Commandments.

This box, in the foreground, is believed to hold Moses' rock.

Again, it was mesmerizing walking along paths, and being inside buildings and structures that were thousands of years old.

Neither my words nor photographs can do justice to these historical landmarks.  And like people everywhere, I'm not sure the local folks appreciate the magnitude of their treasures.

Ingenuity - Lost and Found?

Today was another day for lots of learning.

We headed off to the town of Memphis, which is on the outskirts of Cairo.  We passed acre after acre of farm land that was being tended to by people on donkeys. In fact, donkeys were prevalent throughout the day, as folks were transporting alfalfa to feed their cows and buffalos.  They were also plentiful as merchants were carrying their wares to sell - bread, fruits and vegetables, and other things not visible because they were covered and tied down with blankets.

We visited what looks like a graveyard for monuments.  Most of the items had been salvaged and they were visibly damaged.  It was an interesting tidbit to discover that all of the pieces had hieroglyphics engraved in them that identified the period they were created.

Graveyard for Monuments

Massive statue of King Ramses.
Note his beard hangs straight down.
This means the statue was created while he was alive.
If it was curled up at the end, it was created after death.

It was too big to get in just one shot.
Note the detail of the muscles and the hieroglyphics.

King Ramses' lower body showing damage to the legs.
This statue is in a building adjacent to what I called the graveyard for monuments.

Then we drove a little farther and saw another pyramid.  The area is more secluded, with desert all around.  This one was called the "red one" because it appears reddish from a distance.

I couldn't tell the difference in the color.
It didn't look red to me, from a distance or closeup.

The next two were the most interesting.

The Step Pyramid is being restored.  It is the first known pyramid and it was made by accident.  The king wanted his grave site to be seen from a distance as you were approaching.  So he ordered that five more layers be added to the top of his final (square/rectangular) resting place, resulting in a pyramid-shaped structure.  My pictures didn't come out, so I found some online to show you.

Step Pyramid - Believed to be the first pyramid created

Again, this is a photo from online.
It is a picture of the single remaining wall of the structure
that surrounds the Step Pyramid, above.

Once this one was finished, they tried to make another, without success.  This one is referred to at the Bent Pyramid.

Oops!  That's not quite right!

They learned from their mistake in design, and later created the most famous pyramids of Giza that were featured in the post yesterday.

Driving through the city and countryside, the remnants of hard times and poverty all around, I wonder about the incredible ingenuity of the past.

Is it still in the hearts and minds of the people?  Can ingenuity be stifled?  For thousands of years?  Why are their certain periods in history that seem more conducive to discovery and invention?  How do we extend those periods?  Should we try?  Is this just a part of the cycle of living - sowing and reaping - inventing and then enjoying the pleasures of the new technology?

The history here is mind-bloggling, but it's from centuries ago.  Can those creative "juices" that produced so much greatness, be recaptured?

In one of Malcolm Gladwell's books, I think it was in Blink, he talks about the mid-1950's when Bill Gates and Steve Jobs were born, and several others who were instrumental in the incredible gains made in all things related to computers.  Was that coincidence only or were these guys a part of something bigger?  A master plan of ingenuity, if you will.

Anyway, you know me.  I can go on and on with questions, but I have few answers.

What do you think?

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