-
Lone Tree, Sinai Desert, Egypt
We drove rather quickly through the Sinai. Much of the time, we ...
Modern Architecture in Rome: Rebuilding the City
I don’t mind saying that travel has a way of reminding me how little I know. In Rome a few weeks ago (December 2014), we signed up to take our third Context Travel tour. It’s the company with the tagline “Tours for the Culturally Curious.” (That reminds me, too, how much I wish I’d used […]
Travel Reflections with Corinne Vail
Corinne Vail was, for a couple years, a virtual friend. She became a regular commenter on Travel Past 50. We, in turn, discovered her travel blog and found it filled with humor and a twist: her American family of four currently lives in Germany. She and husband Jim have chosen to see the world from […]
Saint Catherine’s Monastery, Snow and Security in Egypt
Saint Catherine’s Monastery is located in the middle of the Sinai Desert in Egypt–not exactly where you’d expect to find a Greek Orthodox church. But Saint Catherine’s has been there a long time, since the 6th Century in fact, which, according to the World Heritage site bio we read, makes it the oldest continually operating […]
Essential Museums in Jerusalem
I don’t care how many people tell you you must visit both the Israel Museum and the Tower of David in Jerusalem. We’ll tell you again. The fact is, there’s more history in Jerusalem than a soul can absorb without help. Do yourself a favor and get a sense of the place and its history […]
Praying at the Western Wall, Jerusalem
On our first night in Jerusalem, Kris was ill, so I went out to explore the old city on my own. Jerusalem is an odd place, and probably the most tension filled city we’ve been in. The divide between the factions is palpable, and the friction among Jews, Christians, and Muslims is both symbolized, and […]
Ruins of the Roman Camp Viewed from Masada, Israel
Many have heard the story of the siege of Masada, when Jews who escaped the Roman destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD retreated three years later to the stronghold on top of a remote desert mountain. The 400 meter high plateau was well supplied, as its use as a retreat had been anticipated. Nevertheless, the […]
Jerash, Our Introduction to Roman Jordan
Even though I studied Latin and some Roman history in college, I never really considered the edges of the Roman Empire, such as Jordan. So, Jerash was an introduction. If you love Roman and Byzantine architecture–and who doesn’t?–this is a great place to visit. It’s one of the best preserved Roman cities you’ll run across […]
A Strange Visit to an Old Monastery
The Panagia tou Sinti Monastery is not on the list of the ten “Painted Churches” of the Troodos area that comprise the Unesco World Heritage site on Cyprus. Nevertheless, it makes for an interesting visit. It’s down in a valley that you can only reach by driving 5 kilometers on a rather dubious road. And, […]
The Outlook on Tourism in Jerusalem
People might look at you askew when you tell them your plans to travel to Israel and the Middle East. We received such a warm welcome in Jerusalem, however, that I magically recovered from pneumonia and got out to meet people and visit museums and landmarks. It’s a wonderful city and entirely functional for tourists. […]
The Mosaics of Ancient Paphos, Cyprus
The ancient city of Paphos, Cyprus, at the edge of the current city of Paphos, is called the city of mosaics. Not a bad thing to be known by. The ancient parts of the city are, collectively, a Unesco World Heritage site. They are spread over various parts of town, but for the most part, […]
Recent Comments