Jordan, Israel and Greece Summaries

Jordan, Israel and Greece Summaries

Jordan:

Without a doubt, the highlight of Jordan was Petra, and I was very surprised and pleased to see that there was so much more to Petra than just the Treasury.  Jerash was a complete surprise, and Mount Nebo was inspiring, looking out over the Promised Land the way Moses would have seen it.  I doubt I will ever return to Jordan (though Petra could tempt me!); in any case, it was definitely worth seeing once.

Israel:

Tel Aviv was an interesting city to see, and it would have been more enjoyable had it been summer, when the true resort side would come through.  All of the ancient religious sites in Jerusalem were awesome, though unfortunately we could only see the Al Aqsa and the Dome of the Rock from a distance; being non-Muslims, we were forbidden to enter the Temple Mount (Haram al-Sharif, the Noble Sanctuary) and see the sites firsthand.  (I need to research this, as I thought I had read of people getting closer than we did, but as mentioned earlier part of the problem may have been that I was with a large and diverse group.)  The Church of the Holy Sepulcher and the Western Wall were the other highlights in Jerusalem.  Nazareth’s Church of Annunciation was striking, and the short ride on the Sea of Galilee was unique.  Finally, seeing Haifa was fascinating due to its proximity to Lebanon and Syria (not to mention the rocket attacks a few years ago), and driving through the Golan Heights and West Bank was incredible.  Not being a Jew, Masada did not have as much relevance to me as it would for others, and the Dead Sea itself wasn't all that interesting.  The unexpected highlight was the Jordan River where John baptized Jesus:  Seeing the exact line of demarcations between Jordan and Israel, with armed guards on both sides, with Christian baptisms going on all the while was quite a contrast.

Athens:  

The Acropolis and Parthenon were somewhat disappointing, given how deteriorated they were.  The New Parthenon Museum was a highlight in that it very much showcases the love the Greeks have for their antiquities.  The Ancient City of Agora with its Temple of Hephaestus was an unexpected gem, and the City Centers of Monostaraki and Omonia were lively.  For quaint and quiet fun, the shops, restaurants and bars along the south entrance to the Acropolis were very peaceful and enjoyable.

Next Trip:

I actually don’t have any trips planned at the moment, either for work or for holiday.  When I do next take time off, these are the current candidates:

• Spain/Portugal/Morocco as part of an escorted tour
• Turkey
• Iceland in the summer
• Russia

Less likely, but something I would consider :

• Cairo to Cape Town drive
• Antarctica (so I can check off that last continent!)