Album 7
(9 December 1996 to 13 February 1997)
Turkey isn't the Middle East, really. The Turks are, first, not Arabs and
second,
have many connections with Europe and Christianity
(being the capital of
Orthodox Christianity and the Byzantine Empire).
So - things changed when I
crossed in to Syria, but not always in expected ways ;-)
There was a confusing contrast between Strongman Assad and Leading man Liam:
But then things settled down: the souq in Damascus,
the mosque (one of the most beautiful in the Mid-East)
- with the requisite blind beggars.
In the desert were the Roman ruins of Palmyra.
Next was Lebanon, an under-understood country.
To me, it is the closest to
neighboring (deadly enemy) Israel in culture, history, etc.
There are the famous Cedres,
the remnants of war
and a friendly people:
I also had Christmas there. It wasn't a big feast for outsiders,
so I shared a falafel with Masaki, from Japan.
And next was Jordan, famous for Petra, the lost City of Color
and Israel, famous as the home of the 3 big monotheistic religions:
Christianity
The Holy Sepulcher (Jesus' tomb)
Judaism
Wailing Wall (interrupted by cell-phone call)
and Islam
The Dome of the Rock.
Of course, there are still parties to be had
(photo by Kelly Baird)
Andre, the "Messiah" and his girlfriend
and carnal sins.
(photo by Kelly Baird)
(that ass is Brazilian for those of you who track these things)
There was the Tomb of the Patriarch (ie, King David, named after me)
and the always-lovely sheep-tongues in the market
(yuck!)
So - that's it (again) and next is Egypt
(Just 19 to go!)
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