Retired from work in government and nonprofit organizations, I've been traveling the world nonstop since 2016, writing and supporting humanitarian work. Life is good!
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SPOILER ALERT: This is a long post and kind of a grown up version of “What I Did This Summer.” So skip over the boring parts and I hope Laura or Bill or Meredith do not grade it.
All day long Jordanians say “you are welcome” when I haven’t said thank you. At first, I felt kind of bad about not saying thank you quickly enough until I realized that when Jordanians say “you are welcome” they mean you are welcome — welcome to be here and to whatever I am sharing with you.
First, I apologize for the title, which is actually relevant to my posting — because I am in Amman — and refers to one of my Mom’s favorite Rosemary Clooney songs. And then I was empowered when I remembered Gabe’s geographically inspired phrase, “yer babuena.”
For the next ten days, I am in Jordan, a nation of peace and refuge wedged in between a lot of Middle East belligerence and violence. At the end of my first day, I am relaxing with a fantastic Jordanian merlot, hoping to forget how stiff and sore I am from walking all day.
At the end of my last day in Paphos, I went horseback riding! My hack through the hills began and ended at Eagle Mountain Ranch, which is adjacent to a wildlife conservation area and a traditional Cypriot village about five miles above Paphos.
I am in the Cypriot seaside resort town of Paphos, a UNESCO World Heritage site because of its archaeological treasures. I am sharing an apartment near the water with a part time tenant who sneaks in from the veranda. She responds to “kitty” even though in Greek she is “γaτάκι” –pronounced “ghataki.”
People in my life have probably not assumed I was going to stop giving advice just because they are technically out of hearing range. And after six weeks, I am starting to feel the need for “sharing” because pretty much no one on the road is going to listen to my opinions, including the woman who gave me a manicure today and filed my nails so they looked like salamander toes.
This is not my hand after the manicure. This is actual salamander toes.
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All day long Jordanians say “you are welcome” when I haven’t said thank you. At first, I felt kind of bad about not saying thank you quickly enough until I realized that when Jordanians say “you are welcome” they mean you are welcome — welcome to be here and to whatever I am sharing with you.
Petra is amazing! Imagine a smaller Grand Canyon with incredible buildings, tombs and caves that were carved into the cliffs 2300 years ago.
First, I apologize for the title, which is actually relevant to my posting — because I am in Amman — and refers to one of my Mom’s favorite Rosemary Clooney songs. And then I was empowered when I remembered Gabe’s geographically inspired phrase, “yer babuena.”
For the next ten days, I am in Jordan, a nation of peace and refuge wedged in between a lot of Middle East belligerence and violence. At the end of my first day, I am relaxing with a fantastic Jordanian merlot, hoping to forget how stiff and sore I am from walking all day.
I am in the Cypriot seaside resort town of Paphos, a UNESCO World Heritage site because of its archaeological treasures. I am sharing an apartment near the water with a part time tenant who sneaks in from the veranda. She responds to “kitty” even though in Greek she is “γaτάκι” –pronounced “ghataki.”
