Flicks

I finally got a new Flickr account, after completely messing up on my original account, forgetting the answer to every "secret question" they had to validate my account. I must have had an unfortunate spelling error or two.

Oh well, here is the new one... http://www.flickr.com/photos/waysaway/

I'll be adding pictures, so please come visit, and I look forward to your comments!

Over the Green Line

Herodian....

I heard about this place many moons ago and wanted to go, and so when I realized that one could drive there, and not have to worry about finding a tour guide, I jumped at the chance.

Not much is left above ground except for some huge walls and towers, but the intricate tunnels and cisterns are quite cool. Literally cool, when it is 90+F outside!!

Herodian is right near Bethlehem, where I have become quite famous amongst my friends as someone to knows the ins and outs of Rachel's Crossing (the border into that portion of the West Bank).

So of course we had to go there too, leaving our rental car behind, as it is not allowed in Bethlehem.

The border crossing is like a weird, dream-like version of a prison Disneyland ride:
You buy your "ticket" from a person in a small stand (really, just checking your passport), then zig zag your way in, out, and through, until you reach a long walkway out to a grove of trees and a parking lot, where a dozen taxis wait for the moment to convince you that you REALLLLLLY need them to take you around, and that they have this cousin who is a good tour guide, and no it would be a pleasure to ask him to take you to the Church of the Nativity, for free, as a friend, but oh, you've already been there, well then how about we visit the Mar Saba Monastery instead...?

Ok, NOW we're talking!! Somewhere I haven't BEEN yet!

So like any good 'Turr-istas' we went for it!!

Here is the Kidron River Valley. It runs through Jerusalem too, between the Old City and the Mt of Olives. Way out here, even though there is still a river, there is not much else.

The Monastery hides behind some old walls, and looks out onto the canyon. Dozens of caves dot the cliffs on the other side.

Shade is at a premium here!

Whew! An austere location, but also beautiful in its ruggedness. I think I prefer the idea of joining a nunnery in Germany.

Canine Catastrophies

By popular demand, I am back with a short on the day in the life of a dog. My dog.

No malice was intended, I am sure.

It's just that she was bored. Really, really bored.

She discovered how to pull open the wire drawers in the microwave stand and ate three raw potatoes, and half a loaf of bread. (It was even a brand new loaf I had bought the night before, in blissful expectation of toast - if I ever figured out how to wake up in time)

Anyway, the funniest part is that she somehow managed to get out whole slices, and she left the butt-end!!!

Then she found and gnawed on my headset to the computer, so I can't Skype until I find a replacement :(

THEN she found the remnants of the box of Kleenex (specially imported Kleenex) that I rescued from total annihilation a few days ago, and proceeded to shred both the contents and the container to ensure it would not EVER come back to life again. It looked like a confetti ticker-tape parade had happened in my bedroom.

And THEN, she peed in the house while I was entertaining dinner guests. I guess it's time I break out the newspaper and hit myself over the head.

The worst part is that last week she was a complete ANGEL!!!! Ha - she fooled me!!! She wants a sister, I think.