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Jerusalem, Israel to Cairo, Egypt

27Jun
Categories: Photos Comments: 3

Dead Sea

Gulf of Aqaba/Red Sea

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Tags: dead sea, desert, egypt, israel, middle east, negev, Photos, pictures, red sea, sinai
Israel - Ramallah, JD Concert

26Jun
Categories: Uncategorized Comments: 1

Damascus Gate

Alms

School.. or prison?

The ever-present UN

Ramallah’s finest coffee

Relaxing

A Palestinian refugee camp and Israeli settlement near Ramallah–the settlement is above, camp below

The late glorious leader

We visited the refugee camp

Yours truly in the Palestinian refugee camp

Ready for war

Stark contrast

Ramallah

The best schwarma place in Ramallah

The Orthodox in Jerusalem

There was a free outdoor concert right outside Jaffa Gate right by our hotel celebrating Jerusalem day. It was quite enjoyable. If you want the full size images, go here.

Tags: concert, hdr, jerusalem, jerusalem day, palestine, ramallah, refugee camp, west bank
Turkey vs. Germany and a free ice cream cone

26Jun
Categories: Sports Comments: 0

As we travel through Europe, we have felt the effects of the Euro 2008 football tournaments. When Turkey beat Croatia, hundreds of Turkish fans marched and drove around and around in the square in front of our hotel at 2:30 AM (it went into overtime, then a penalty shootout) blowing their horns, yelling at the top of their lungs, and waving Turkish flags.

I was walking with our Amish and Mennonite tour group through Zurich and we stopped in front of the statue of Ulrich Zwingli. I went to a stand and was wanting to buy a cone. A lady came along and said, “I am from Turkey! I will pay your cone.” I thought she was Muslim and liked the fact that our ladies were modestly dressed, had head coverings, and that many of the men had beards. However, later I realized that I was wearing a red shirt (entirely coincidentally) and she thought I was supporting Turkey!

That night we watched the game (Turkey vs. Germany, the semifinal) with a bunch of seminary students from the college we’re staying at. They were mostly cheering for Deutschland (being Swiss cousins) and our group was mostly cheering for Turkey (despite being of German descent). I certainly was cheering for Turkey, having just been to Turkey, having Turkish friends, and a free ice cream cone. I have German friends as well, so I was a bit torn, but the Turks being underdogs and the free ice cream clinched the deal.

It was an incredible game! It was tied 1-1 most of the game. At around the 12 min. remaining mark, DE scored a goal making it 1-2. The Turks went berserk and made tons of long passes down the field and lots of aggressive shots. Finally a Turk beat a German on the baseline (or whatever they call it in soccer) and made a high angle shot on the goal. The goalie had his hands all lined up and the ball was only inches away from his hands when another Turk slid in, barely tapping it, diverting it only several inches and into the goal. The Amish and Mennonites watching set up a huge cheer and the Swiss groaned. Finally with about 30 seconds left in regulation, the Germans passed it across the middle near the goal, the Turkish goalie tried to make a play on the pass (and overplayed), and a German headbutted the ball in, winning 2-3.

Tags: euro 2008, football, germany, soccer, turkey
Israel - Jerusalem

25Jun
Categories: Uncategorized Comments: 0

Old City Jerusalem

Golden Gate

Jerusalem panorama

Golden Gate

Dome of the Rock

Orthodox Jews

Tags: dome of the rock, golden gate, israel, jerusalem
Amman, Jordan to Jerusalem, Israel - Jerusalem Day Celebrations

24Jun
Categories: Photos Comments: 0

When we got to Jerusalem, we were plopped into the middle of jubilant “Jerusalem Day” celebrations. Delicately put, it is a celebration of the “reunification” of Jerusalem. Less delicately, it is when Israel was attacked in the Six Day War and they not only defended themselves, but also took Jerusalem, the West Bank, etc.

Dancing and singing Jews

A series of pictures in which a Muslim lady starts gamely dancing with the Jews and tries to grab an Israeli flag to wave; she is less than welcomed.

The incredible mass of people that crowd the Temple Mount and Western Wall area for JD celebrations

Mosque of Omar

Wrapped in the flag

Tags: amman, burkha, dome of the rock, hdr, israel, jerusalem, jerusalem day, jews, jordan, Photos, pictures, six day war, temple mount

Damascus, Syria to Amman, Jordan

23Jun
Categories: Photos Comments: 3

The bus trip from Damascus to Amman, Jordan created many out the bus window shots, shown here. I (at the time of this writing) am eagerly awaiting the arrival of my Canon 100-400 f/4.5-5.6L IS which will make for far better shots than my Sigma 18-200 f/3.5-5.6 IS. By the time you read this, I will, Insha’Allah, be in happy possession of this Canon lens.

The covered and uncovered walking arm in arm

Leading the flock

A dusty job

A path in the desert

Sheep shearing geometry

Tags: amman, burkha, damascus, desert, islam, jordan, middle east, muslim, nomads, Photos, pictures, shearing, sheep, shepherd, syria

Syria - Damascus - Streets

22Jun
Categories: Photos Comments: 0

The old and grand juxtaposed with the very old and very grand

Colorful car covers

A plaque referencing the Abana and Pharpar rivers that used to majestically run through Damascus; now’s it’s a muddy, trash-filled stream. Naaman famously proclaimed that he would rather wash (to receive healing) in the clean rivers of Damascus rather than the Jordan.

The House of Ananias

Paul/Saul being let down in a basket over the Damascus wall

From what I saw of the ancient technology of the Syrian military, it seemed unsuited to anything other than guerrilla warfare

Ditto

White wedding cars

White… car (these were right across the street from each other! I did not artificially juxtapose them.)

Green dome

Statue of ancient battle

Our favorite leader smiling happily and expressing confidence in the Syrian people

The streets of Damascus

The ever-present two ladies in the hotel across the street from our hotel; they gave me heart attacks several times when it at first appeared that they realized that I was shooting them.

Family

Our supper

White

Sunset over Mosque, solar panels, and Sony sign

Eating supper of rotisserie chicken on the roof of our hotel with the Umayyad mosque in the background

Yum!

Before we leave Syria, I would like to make a few comments. (Especially in light of my comments in an Iraq post.) I did not enjoy Northern Syria. The people were rude and pushy (to an extent not ever seen on our trip throughout the Middle East) and the land was neglected and trashy. One northern Syrian redeemed himself with typical Arabic hospitality: inviting us to his house for tea, though we had to decline because of getting to our bus on time. To be fair to the rest of Northern Syria, our experience was probably not typical–I have a good friend from Northern Syria who is absolutely charming. We simply passed through. Despite my negative impression (whether accurate or not) of northern Syria, I had an absolute blast in Damascus. That was one of the highlights of the trip.

Tags: bashar assad, damascus, hdr, islam, mercedes, middle east, muslim, Photos, pictures, syria

Syria - Damascus - Souk

21Jun
Categories: Photos Comments: 2

This is the Hamidiye Souk, the biggest market in the Old City of Damascus; this picture is during the middle of the day when it’s not very busy

Gazing wistfully

Sand art

Beautiful… things

Inexplicably taking a torch to a Persian rug; can someone explain to me the logic here?

Coffee!

Fancy vegetables

Hamidiye Souk

Hamidiye Souk at night when crowded

Hamidiye Souk at night

The Umayyad Mosque end of the souk; the arches date from Roman times

Tags: damascus, Hamidiye, hdr, middle east, Photos, pictures, souk, syria

Syria - Damascus - People of the Umayyad Mosque

20Jun
Categories: Photos Comments: 6

This post is simply shots of people at the Umayyad Mosque. It was a people photographer’s paradise. The huge open courtyard gave a long zoom lens place to work, the magnificent architecture gave plausible deniability (it was hard to ascertain whether I was shooting people or architecture; Muslims, especially ladies, don’t like to be shot). I spent hours–probably at least four or five–here.

An old lady hobbling across the courtyard of the Umayyad mosque

A huge group of Iranian pilgrims sheltering beneath the arches

Iranians

A cute old couple

A black flock of Iranians egressing

Many Iranians, wailing loudly over Hussein’s death

The sermon

The ~~preacher~~ imam

Kissing and touching the shrine of ~~Hussein’s,~~ John the Baptist’s (see correction in comments below) beheaded head

Listening to the sermon

A conference

The incongruous juxtaposition of the ancient and the super-modern

More green glass kissing–can’t be good hygiene

I had lots of fun shooting the little kids running happily across the courtyard

Retrieved by big sister, who kept shyly examining me when she thought I wasn’t looking

Wrestling

Fairy

Two couples

A ninja?

One and three

The shadows of the evening sun

Tags: burkha, damascus, hdr, islam, middle east, muslim, Photos, pictures, syria, umayyad mosque

Syria - Damascus - Architecture of the Umayyad Mosque

19Jun
Categories: Photos Comments: 0

The entrance to the Umayyad Mosque, which used to be a church

The place for immodestly dressed women to put on provided overcoats

The courtyard of the Umayyad Mosque

Entryway of the mosque

Golden bookshelves

An inscription in Greek on the outside wall of the Mosque that reads, “Your kingdom, oh Christ, is an everlasting kingdom.” Alhamdulillah!

The inside of the Umayyad Mosque

A shrine containing Hussein’s (not Saddam) head. Hussein was the grandson of Muhammad and a Shi’ite hero and there were tons of Iranians there mourning the anniversary of his beheading. They were wailing and weeping loudly.

Another view of the courtyard

An HDR of the interior

The outer wall

A daylight view of the Umayyad Mosque; that’s not dirt on my lens, it’s birds.

A night-time view of the mosque courtyard

The Umayyad foyer at night

This is one of my favorite night shots of the Umayyad

The outer wall of Umayyad

Tags: christ, damascus, hdr, islam, muslim, syria, umayyad mosque

Urfa, Turkey to Damascus, Syria

18Jun
Categories: Books & Movies, Photos Comments: 0

A unique vehicle

Flocks…

…and herds…

…and nomads.

Pink

When we crossed into Syria, we encountered many, many, many (thousands of people) lunch picnics along the road; it’s an incredibly popular thing to do.

A Syrian teacher who was teaching my companion Arabic

This shot is especially dedicated to my Kansas buds

The glorious leader’s photo is found everywhere. On the bus ride we passed a statue on a hill and I asked the two guys behind me who the statue was of. They thought for a bit and then said, “Like Bush, Rice.” I replied, “Basher Assad?” They brightened immediately (they had thought perhaps that I didn’t know who their president was) and nodded vigorously, pointing to the statue and saying, “Assad”. I asked them their opinion of Bush and Assad. Their English was highly limited, but they said, “Bush” and frowned ferociously and gave a big thumbs down. They said, “Assad” and grinned brightly and gave a thumbs up. Little English was needed.

The Umayyad Mosque in Damascus (from our hotel room)

An old building (mosque?) right behind our hotel

A couple taking a late night stroll

Daylight or night scene? HDR. (Shot from hotel roof)

Tags: bashar assad, bush, damascus, rice, syria, turkey, umayyad mosque, urfa

Turkey - Urfa - Streets & Souk

17Jun
Categories: Photos Comments: 1

A curious baker–who dropped his work and followed us down the street for a few minutes–posing

A bronze worker

Ditto

Ditto

Spice shop

One of Urfa’s many birds

Lonely

Friends

The souk. Notice the bright purple headgear on the lady. This is an Urfa fad followed by men and women, a most unusual thing for Muslim ladies and men to be wearing the same headgear!

Our elder Arab

The Turkish shopkeeper tried repeatedly and seemingly in vain to convey to my dear brother that this scarf was meant for ladies, not men. My dear brother persisted in being shown how it was worn because he wanted for his mom/sisters to be able to wear it properly. He tried to convey this to the shopkeeper to no avail, who remained amused at this silly American wearing ladies’ headgear.

Am I seeing double?

Bakery

This is an example of the other kind of pose

A church turned Mosque, a rather common thing

Tags: mosque, Photos, pictures, turkey, urfa

Turkey - Urfa - Mosque and Citadel

16Jun
Categories: Photos Comments: 1

The arches of the mosque, citadel, rose garden area.

Local legend has it that Abraham was born here in Urfa. This is not an improbable legend. Ur of the Chaldees is within 60 miles. Legend’s somewhat more improbable (to utilize sarcastic understatement) story is that the king of Urfa was angry with Abraham, so he prepared a large bonfire below the citadel. He launched Abraham from a catapult in the citadel on a trajectory toward the raging fire below. While Abraham was flying through the air, Allah changed the fire into water, the firewood into fish, and a rose garden appeared around the pool. Abraham fell harmlessly into the pool, Allah miraculously protecting his prophet. The pool, rose garden, and fish are there today to prove it.

The Great Mosque of Urfa

Birds on mosque

Steps ascending to the citadel

The Great Mosque

The courtyard of the Great Mosque

The Great Mosque in the setting sun

How many minarets can you count out across the city?

Dead man’s bones

Graveyard

Urfa from the Citadel steps

The two towers

Framed

Urfa from the citadel

Park area

Urfa framed

The backside of Urfa

The entrance to the tunnel that led from the citadel to the city

The tunnel

Beautiful avenue in the Mosque/Citadel park area

Rizvaniye Mosque

Rizvaniye Mosque

Tags: abraham, hdr, islam, mosque, muslim, Photos, pictures, turkey, urfa

Turkey - Urfa - Misc & Architecture

15Jun
Categories: Photos Comments: 2

Sipping tea

Gatekeepers of the mosque

Broom, tower

A typical city street in Urfa

A church in Turkey

Turkish church

Courtyard of church

A door along the street

The waiter at our traditional Turkish restaurant

Eating

A feast!

Serving the strongest, most fragrant (as in incense fragrant) coffee I have ever tasted

A Muslim with blond curls?

Tags: hdr, Photos, pictures, turkey, urfa

Turkey - Duhok, Iraq to Urfa, Turkey

14Jun
Categories: Photos Comments: 0

Every time I see this picture, it shpites (a PA Deutsch word that means “disappoints”) me that I did not keep my camera raised for a second longer. I could have captured the interesting dichotomy that has become so apparent in the Muslim world. A second after I took this picture, she threw her hood back, yanked her white thing down, threw open her robe, and revealed a tight top and jeans.

A nice little stream running through the wilderness near the Turkey-Iraq border

Armed vigilance

Painted fields

Beautiful dumpster, idyllic town

Three minarets

Pink pants and high heels

Getting from point A to point B

Maytag doesn’t profit

Harvest time in southern Turkey

An earneset discussion

Father and son

Colors

Abandoned house

More harvesting

Working in the fields

Leading the cows to drink

The harvest is plenteous

Sheep with a shepherd

More sheep, shepherd

Cross-denominational shepherd

The fields of southern Turkey are absurdly rocky, these three large rock piles plopped in the middle of this nicely cleaned field being illustrative

Out here in the hot, hot sun…

I’m not quie sure what the thing behind the tractor is doing besides giving the guy a nice ride, but it looks like horses was the designed mode of locomotion for that thing.

Reapers

Haystack

Family mini-van

Double blue

Typical housing arrangement for the nomadic sort

Women were some of the chief field laborers in Southern Turkey

…perhaps you’re dehyderated?

The gorgeous hotel we stayed at in Urfa, Turkey

Ditto.

Ditto.

Turkish food is amazing

More good food

Tags: burkha, harvest, islam, middle east, mosque, muslim, Photos, pictures, turkey, urfa