Time to head home...

Sunset on the Mediterranean Sea

Sunset on the Mediterranean Sea

Sunset on the Mediterranean Sea

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Killarney National Park and Ring of Kerry (including 2500 year old ancient ring fort)

Posted by Dan, Deb, and Olivia at 2:00 PM

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Farewell, Tantur

Liv in our Tantur apartment...

... sporting Bedouin pants and Jerusalem sandles

Liv at the "Shrine of the Book," exhibit of the Dead Sea Scrolls

Liv on the beach in Tel Aviv

Sunset on the Mediterranean Sea

Picnic with friends on the way to Old Jaffa (in background)

A good gig if you can get it

Didn't the medieval theologians object to selling time?

Wall detail, Old Jaffa

A Door in Old Jaffa

Not shown: other charming doors

Liv Under an Arch in Old Jaffa

Liv and Beverly in Old Jaffa

Tel Aviv skyline from Old Jaffa

Deb, Liv, and our friends Beverly and Dennis

Deb in Old Jaffa's Port

Tel Aviv skyline behind her

Good Friday, Old City

Running Crosses from Holy Sepulchre Courtyard back out to Via Dolorosa

Good Friday, Old City, Christian Quarter, Greek Malkite Service

Jesus' Casket, decorated in flowers, leaves church

Good Friday, Greek Malkite (Catholic) Procession

Jesus' casket, decorated in flowers, carried through the streets

Palm Sunday

Descending into the courtyard of the church in Bethpage

Entry into the "Church of Palm Sunday" in Bethpage

Not shown: mounting stone inside church where Jesus (perhaps) got on donkey

You look familiar... Did I see you here last year?

Key Question for Palm Sunday: Is This the Guy We're Supposed to Follow?

Or Should We Be Following This Guy?

Seeking the art (science?) of distinguishing clerics of some importance: it would help if one of them just got on the donkey

Palm Sunday Procession Down the Mount of Olives

The Old City in Sight

Deb by the Red Sea, just outside Egypt

Castle in the Red Sea

Saudi Arabia in distance

Bedouin camp along highway

Bedouin roadside salesman

Above the Valley of Gazelles

Central Sinai, near Mount Sinai

Central Sinai, near Mount Sinai

Rock formation, Central Sinai

St. Catherine's Monastery

Liv on a Camel!

Passing a teahouse on the trail up Mount Sinai

One of our Bedouin guides (on left) in a teahouse

Dan at a tea house on the Mount Sinai trail

Father Dave Korth (Omaha) to my right

"Put your camel to bed..."

Mount Sinai, Upper Camel Park, 4 in the morning

Bedouin shops on plateau below summit

Deb among pilgrims, waiting for sunrise

Deb descending Mount Sinai

Translation of Hebrew on hat: "Goldstar Beer" (really)

Sign

Idolatry Overlook

Deb and Liv on the way down Mount Sinai

Coming off the mountain

St. Catherine's Monastery in the background

Morning at St. Catherine's Monastery

View from the courtyard outside our bedroom

Morning at St. Catherine's Monastery

View from main courtyard

Morning at St. Catherine's Monastery

View from courtyard outside our bedroom door

Timna Valley, Dan and Liv in an arch

Our group from Tantur...

... apparently looking for water? treasure? leadership?

Goddess Hathor? Miss Timna Valley 2011?

Where's the group?

Olivia (dead center, left of tree) practicing "desert spirituality" in the Timna Valley

Solomon's Arches

Timna Park

Central Negev, Makhtesh Ramon Crater

the largest natural geological crater in the world

Liv above the Makhtesh Ramon Crater

Urban Ibex in the town of Mizpe Ramon

Liv with Father Jim Kirby (from Des Moines, Iowa!)

Avdat ruins, Negev Highlands

Above the Wadi Zin

En Avedat National Park

Olivia with friends Beverly Samson and Lisa Lowe

En Avedat National Park

Back to the Future

Enjoying the 21st Century at the upscale, outdoor Mamilla mall in Jerusalem

Nothing Old In This Shot

Debra enjoying a modern glass of wine

In an Old City shop

Deb and Liv deploy bargaining skills

Liv walking the Old City

Rugs for sale, Old City

Minaret in East Jerusalem

as seen from Old City ramparts

Deb and Liv atop the ramparts of the Old City

Church of Mary's Dormition (Jerusalem)

As seen from the Old City ramparts

Mosaic floor detail, St. Gerassimos church

The legend is that St. G healed a lion by the Jordan River, and the lion became his first acolyte and best friend

Inner courtyard, St. Gerassimos

Entrance to St. Gerassimos Monastery

Founded in 455 A.D., near Jordan River

Sand tornado

Judean Desert in morning light

We started out early on a hike through Wadi Qelt down to Jericho

Olivia in front...

... leading our group into the desert

Desert Cross (one of many along the trail)

Our friend Carol, a Sister of Mercy from Australia

Deb and Liv on the hike

Above the Wadi Qelt

Moving down into the Wadi (gorge)

During winter and spring rains, the gorge fills and empties down into the Dead Sea area

Our group on the trail

The Wadi Qelt

Trail runs along the line above the monastic hermit caves and dwellings below

Getting toward the end of Wadi Qelt

Jericho in the distance

Bedouin children with baby goats

Liv makes a friend

Not shown: Olivia asking Bedouin kids: "Is there any extra room in your tent?"

Camels!

Crossing our path on the outskirts of Jericho

Olivia greets camels

Monastery of Temptation (from cable car, hard to see but up in cliff, center left)

Traditional site of Jesus' 40 days in the desert

Bell tower of Monastery of Temptation

Liv on balcony of Monastery of Temptation

Asceticism has its merits, but so does the ice cream shop where the cable car let us off

Monastic dwellings built into the rock

The River Jordan

(such as it is today after upstream diversions by Jordan and Israel)

Traditional site of John's baptism of Jesus

Olivia considering baptism

Testing the waters of faith

Liv receiving post-baptismal care

Deb and Liv at Western Wall

Western Wall

Dan, Al Aqsa mosque behind

Liv in front of Jerusalem archeological site

Deb in the old city, on the Via Dolorosa

Atop the old city

Dan on roof of Sisters of Sion

Liv enjoying the scene

Deb exhausted by holiness

Spice shop in the old city

Spice Tower

Entrance to church of the Holy Sepulchre

Traditional site of Jesus' crucifixion, burial and resurrection

Interior detail, Holy Sepulchre

Floor mosaic inside Holy Sepulchre

Interior, Holy Sepulchre

Devotional area to St. Helen

Interior, Holy Sepulchre church

Pilgrims venerating annointing stone for Jesus' body

Old City, Deb in front of Fall River pilgrimage site

Original St. Anne's church

Impulse purchase of new home in Israel

Not shown: How charming it looked on the website

Liv entering the "door of humility"

Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem

Dan having pentecostal experience atop Masada

Judean Desert and Dead Sea from top of Masada

Olivia on bus in Jordan Valley

Olivia at Dead Sea

Dead Sea swimming area

Judean Desert near Ein Gedi

Dan at Qumran

Deb and Liv at Qumran

Dead Sea Scroll cave

Deb in Brussels' Central Square

Mussels in Brussels

The famous little fountain, Mannequin Pis

Our favorite bar, just off the square

Note "Delerium Tremens" pink elephant symbol

Deb delighted by both beer and glass

Liv transfixed by chocolate shop

Not shown: Deb and Dan transfixed by chocolate shop

On the Charles Bridge

Prague Castle and St. Vitus cathedral in background

Liv getting some good luck on Charles Bridge

The Astronomical Clock

Inside Prague's Municipal House for a late afternoon beverage

A little old world elegance

Stained glass window by Czech artist Alfons Mucha

Interior, St. Vitus Cathedral

Spanish synagogue in Jewish Quarter

Olivia in the Kafka Cafe

"I just feel sort of sad and guilty"

Olivia revives in outdoor market

Hofburg Palace

St. Stephen's Cathedral, interior

At the opera in Vienna

Not shown: small screen with English subtitles for opera novices like us

Deb enjoying the classic Sacher Tort

Not shown: Demel torts

Viennese Torts at Demel

Not shown: Sacher torts

Deb, Liv, and Mozart

Hofburg Palace Grounds, Vienna

Salzburg Castle

From Mozartplatz

Deb in Salzburg

Deb and Dan in Salzburg gardens

Not shown: Von Trapp children, dressed in curtains, hanging from trees in background

St. Peter's Cemetary

Shine flashlight slowly, from left to right, and see if you can find the Von Trapps!

Mozart's birthplace

Not shown: Mozart's breach birth, when his hand came out first and started playing the piano

Salzburg Cathedral, Liv and Dan humbled

Not shown: Its nave was the best nave of all the naves

Liv enjoying Innsbruck's scenery

An Austrian dinner in Innsbruck

Local Austrian wedding custom

They make a canoopy with the hoops for the bride and groom to walk under

Deb and Liv on San Marco square

St. Mark's Basilica in background

Liv with pigeons on San Marco square

Olivia on Rialto Bridge

Deb on Rialto Bridge

Wine on the Grand Canal

Rialto Bridge in background

Venetian Masks

The Ponte Vecchio bridge

Deb on the Ponte Vecchio

Deb and Liv enjoying lunch streetside

Nice touch: shelves for wine and drinks while you stand

A minor photo tribute to the Renaissance

Loking up from the Palazzo Vecchio courtyard

Liv thinking angelic thoughts in Palazzo Vecchio

She'll learn the real truth about the Medicis later

She's looking at me...

... but is she really thinking about me?

Olivia on top of the Duomo

Pantheon, interior

Trevi Fountain at night

Ponte Sisto bridge leading to Trastevere neighborhood

Deb in Villa Borghese gardens

Dan in Colosseum

Not shown: offering to Roman gods on behalf of Green Bay Packers

Liv in front of Arch of Titus

Colosseum in background

Spanish steps

Deb and Liv, lower right

Trevi Fountain

Dan and Liv tossing coins

Castel Sant' Angelo

Pope

Fountain in St. Peter's Square

Ma'm, that'll be yer typical Vatican hallway

Nuns on the run in the rain

Religious commitment is hard

We're not like those fair weather nuns

Dan attempts to fulfill lifelong ambition

Why aren't they responding to me?

Gaudi's Sagrada Familia from afar

Gaudi's Sagrada Familia, Exterior

Nativity Facade

Closer detail, Nativity Facade

Deb and Liv inside Sagrada Familia

Interior, Sagrada Familia

Interior, Sagrada Familia

Liv at Gaudi's Parc Guell

Chameleon Fountain

fruit juices in the market

Dan's artistic take on the Columbus statue

Some other artist's take on the Columbus statue

Nice try, Picasso

On the bridge to the Aquarium

Tapas Bar Irati

Debra on the Placa de Catalunya...

... looking beautifully Barcelonian

Deb and Liv in front of King's College

Boats and Scullers on the River Cam

Deb and Liv outside their favorite Cambridge spot for tea...

... and scones and clotted cream and jam and carrot cake...

Dan outside of the Woolf Institute

Does this picture need explanation?

Not shown: hot chocolate in a shot glass, consistency of pudding

And again with the no explanation

We came to like "pasties," pockets of dough filled with stuff

Not shown: dispute over which pasty shop is best, nearly ripping family apart

First night in Ireland

A pub in Cork

Old thatched roof homes in Irish village

Olivia approaching Blarney Castle

Deb kissing Blarney stone

Liv Kissing Blarney Stone

I did it for all you guys at home!

Liv's first oyster.... gross!!

Eaten at the Fishy Fishy Cafe in Kinsale

The (Lesser) Cliffs of Moher

The Cliffs of Moher at sunset

Not shown: our burned out rods and cones

Irish Lass

Liv on a beach on the Dingle Peninsula

Looking for Fungi the dolphin

Our B & B in Kenmare

Not shown: Pear, blue cheese, and bacon croque monsieur

Rainbow on Ring of Kerry

Not shown: um, Leprechaun with a pot of gold

Ancient church on Dingle Peninsula

Liv and Deb are stunned to find ancient monk still living in ancient church

Sunset in the Burren, southwest of Galway

Ancient Monastic Ruins

Dublin Castle

Molly Malone, in Dublin's fair city...

OK, so we did the Guinness tour

(sadly, could not fit in Jameson's tour)

Our reflections atop the 'Gravity Bar' of the Guinness Factory

Last night in Ireland

A pub in Dublin

Bologna

Bologna!

Bologna Street Scene

Under the Porticos

Deb inside San Pietro Basilica

Not shown: Olivia finds photography and religion helpful for putting her mother into perspective

The Neptune Fountain

Liv and Deb leave England and rediscover sunshine

Neptune

Neptune!

Not shown: Dan's mild surprise to find this picture on the camera

On the piazza having coffee

Not shown: the dark side of an 11 year old's 2 macchiato a day habit

Todd Waller turns Olivia's life around with an "intervention"...

... helps Olivia to step down from macchiato to gelato

Liv roaming the markets

Shops close after lunch...

...befuddling American tourists

Cheese Annunciation...

"do not be afraid, for you are with cheese..."

Liv in Piazza Maggiore in the snow

Dan aspires to high art

Deb and Liv aspiring to high art...

Fagin's Clever Songs...

... corrupt moral theologian

Edinburgh Castle at night

Olivia warming up

View of Edinburgh...

...from castle cannon

If I leave my post for a hot chocolate...

... am I betraying my (admittedly murky) Scottish heritage?

Entering Holyrood Palace

Liv and Deb

The Augustinian Abbey

Forsythe's Tea Shop

Unseen: Deb, Dan and Olivia jointly consider possibility of Olivia remaining as an apprentice

Mystical Scottish Dog Approaches Olivia

And they become friends

Atop Arthur's Seat

Firth of Forth in background

The British Museum

The Rosetta Stone

Translation: And like, I said, whatever, and then she said, like, whatever...

Deb and Liv in Ely

(not shown-- internal confidence that cannon not loaded)

Ely Cathedral

Ely Cathedral, west tower

Ely Cathedral, interior

In an ecumenical gesture...

... Dan dons Puritan hat

The Roman Baths

We felt history!

Olivia at the Aqua Glass Theater

Bath Abbey

(Not really an Abbey, but we'll take it)

Dan at the Fashion Museum

St. Paul's Cathedral

Feed the birds... tuppence a bag

Liv with the Beefeater

They don't smile for pictures

Horsing around in the Tower of London

Going back in time

Liv and Mum on the Eye

Parliament in background

The Royal Residence

The King and Queen slumming it at Buckingham Palace

Big Ben

Big Ben

Punting on the River Cam...

Punting on the River Cam...

... through the backs of the colleges

The good old-fashioned telephone booths

The good old-fashioned telephone booths

Saint John's College, library

Saint John's College, library

Labels

London trips (1)
The London Eye (1)

Our local pub

Our local pub

The Salisbury Arms

King's College in Cambridge

King's College in Cambridge

The outdoor market in Cambridge

The outdoor market in Cambridge

Deb shopping for vegetables

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