The bemused ramblings of me
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 […]
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 […]
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. […]
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 […]
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). […]
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 […]
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 […]
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?
Overlooking Duhok with a flower in the foreground (taken with my Canon 60mm f/2.8 macro)
Kurdistan
Sheep, shepherd
Typical Kurdish style
“Welcome to the collective!” Sadaam would go around destroying Kurdish villages and consolidating several villages into one new site (not building houses for them or anything). These are “collective”s.
The life of a nomad
Younger Kurdish ladies tend to dress […]
Kids love to come up to me and have their picture taken. Their expressions range from stiff woodenness (as illustrated) to “cool” model-type poses.
Hanging out in the hood. Exhibiting typical Middle Eastern hospitality, the oldest one on the left jumped up and offered me his seat. A few minutes later he ran to a little […]
