Month: November 2011

The Lost Jerash photos

I was finally able to pull all of my pictures out of “the cloud” and now I can share the other thing we did at Jerash. Not only were we able to explore the Roman ruins for ourselves, but we also had the opportunity to see a show that was about the Roman army, gladiators, and chariots.

Waiting for the show to start. I wasn’t sure how hokey or boring it would be, but we were all pleasantly surprised at how interesting and well done it was.

The narrator explained how the Roman army units functioned, battle strategies, and other interesting details while the guys on the ground demonstrated. They were so realistic that when they started marching and fighting Camille got scared and started crying. 
They trained 7 days a week so they were able to move in unison while in this formation.
Some old sandals
After the demonstration by the Roman “army,” they brought out the gladiators and explained that they would fight, but not always to the death. When one of the men lost it was up to the crowd to decide: thumbs up to let him live, thumbs sideways for him to die. Apparently, they didn’t like killing them too often because they were expensive to maintain and train. 
The last part of the show was a chariot “race” with two chariots and two teams of horses racing several laps around the arena. 
After the show concluded, they boys got to go down and see the horses up close
and go for a very short (but fast!) chariot ride. 

The rest of our time was spent exploring the ruins. These are some of my favorite photos from the newly found set. 
An Egyptian in Jordan . . .

They had bagpipers in the coliseum to show off the acoustics 

There was a circular depression in the center of the floor to mark where the speakers should stand. From that spot we could whisper and hear it projected back at us.

Caleb scootching down the stairs on his butt so he doesn’t fall . . .


Was this a house? A store? Imagining the possibilities . . .

Turkey Day!

While I was busy cooking, Camille managed to get into our storage closet and climb into her old baby seat. Such a turkey. 

Happy Harvest

I’m pretty sure this isn’t what the Pilgrims had in mind as a Thanksgiving harvest:

In the background is our first baby watermelon, growing on the lattice. 

The “problem” with composting is sometimes “volunteers” spring up from the remains that we’ve pit composted in the yard (dig a hole, toss in melon rinds, apple cores, etc). It makes for some pretty interesting mystery melons or squashes like this one. I guess we’ll find out if it’s edible in a few more weeks. You can avoid that problem by not composting seeds and/or having a true compost pile where everything is broken down completely before it is added to the garden, but this way is more exciting (and easier).

This is a small cantelope-type melon that looks just like the ones we buy in the grocery store here. That one definitely grew from the seeds and rinds that I tossed in that bed.

And cherry tomatoes are on their way.
It’s not pumpkins, corn, or acorn squash, but it’s our harvest!

Thankful

Things are blowing up again in Egypt and as much as I look back on our short time there as a “missed opportunity,” I am so thankful that I’m not looking ahead to this holiday weekend not sure if I’ll still be in country when Thanksgiving arrives. I’m not saying anyone is evacuating, but after going through it last time and being given such short notice, I’m sure there are rumors flying and bags are being packed, “just in case.”

In this alternate universe I’m enjoying Art and Barbara’s visit, shopping at the craft fair (and buying another pair of my favorite beaded sandals), and searching online for Alton Brown/Bobby Flay/Ina Garten’s best Thanksgiving side dishes as I’m narrowing down what to make for this weekend.

It feels a little Gwyneth Paltrow in Sliding Doors as I imagine what my friends are doing in Egypt and contrast it to what life looks like here in Oman. In this case, it’s a good thing I missed that train.

Jerash

The one other place we visited in Jordan was Jerash, a beautifully preserved Roman ruin that is about 45 minutes from Amman. I’m not usually a big fan of historical ruins or big piles of rocks that people flock to see, but Jerash was magical. It was my favorite place in Jordan, even coming in ahead of Petra. 

Part of the magic could have come from the storm clouds that were rolling in and out all day, scattering rain here and there. It made for some beautiful skies against the mostly deserted ruins.
(This photo is of Amman as we were heading out of town.)

Coming up on Jerash. I included this picture because of the air freshener hanging from the rear view mirror. Later in the week Caleb and Carter had such foot funk from wearing their barefoot shoes nonstop that I took the air freshener down and made them rub it all over their feet on the way to Petra. It helped a little bit.

I don’t have a ton to say about Jerash because Calvin was the one with the guidebook and was busy telling us that these supposedly Roman ruins were using the Greek god names for their temples so he wasn’t sure if the guidebook was right . . . meanwhile I didn’t care who built it or what it was called — I was just happy to be there, climbing around the ancient city. And it was an entire city — Jerash is huge. We spent several hours walking around and didn’t see it all.

my attempt at a group photo while walking

Some of the more detailed “bricks” they have found — flowers on top, pomegranates on the bottom.

another giant coliseum
with many steep steps

view from the top of the coliseum — it’s a long way down.

We broke down and bought the boys “fa-lutes” (as Carter calls them). Fantastic cheap comedy. They were made out of pieces of bamboo that were taped together with colored electrical tape.
Fa-luting along
Caleb thought they needed a statue of Liberty

Trying to solve the Greek v Roman puzzle

because of the scattered showers, the boys were finding bunches of huge millipedes — this one was longer than the length of my hand. 
In front of the temple of Diana, watching the storm clouds roll in and feeling the first drops fall. It was so much fun being there in the rain. 

Headed back to Amman and happy to be in a warm, dry car.

Instead of Christmas tree lots, people were visiting the sheep lots to pick out their Eid sheep for slaughter. We passed 3 or 4 different ones along the side of the road on our way back to the city.

I have more photos of Jerash, but they are in the air somewhere as I’m transferring things between my netbook and my MacBook. There’s one more fun thing we did at Jerash, but since I haven’t found those pictures yet, that will have to be another post.