I have enjoyed a great many adventures of late. I visited Petra this weekend, which was breathtakingly spectacular. Below is a truly enormous building known as the Monastery, which the Nabateans carved out of a mountain side. It was a bit of a hike to get there, but it was totally worth it (Especially since as most of you know, I relish any chance to get away from the books and go hiking)
With adventure on the brain, I continue to fine tune my Spring Break travel plans. The regional security situation continues to evolve and situation remains very fluid. In some ways, revolutions and revolt have really found a way to mess with my travel plans. Last week, I had very much hoped to go to Damascus for a view days before touring Israel. Recent events have made me rethink my plans to visit Syria much as they have also prevented me from swinging by the pyramids.
I am not sure what news is being covered back home, as I was immensely disturb to see that Elizabeth Taylor's death took the front page away from much more important events around the world. However, I assume that some very mediocre reporting and simplified coverage - always with the lurking threat of "Islamisinsts" - has appeared in the Estados Unidos. So, let me briefly detail the situation:
- Syria (which borders Jordan to the North and shares strong cultural links) has a harsh authoritarian regime.
- As in other Arab states, some of the Syrian people have begun calling for reform, and like other authoritarian regimes in the region the Syrian government has responded with violence.
- As much as cable news shows may group disparate nations together, Jordan is not Syria, it is not Libya, nor Bahrain, nor Yemen.
- Jordan is Jordan
- Jordan is an absolute monarchy
- Some people wish it was a constitutional monarchy. This combined with tensions around Jordanian identity means that interesting political developments are happen here. If you have seen scary protest pictures from Jordan in the last few days it is safe to say that the captions attached were probably misleading. Jordan remains a very safe place to live. The craziest thing that could conceivably happen here is that the people be awarded the right to elect their Prime Minister. This remains unlikely in my opinion.
- In very stark contrast, Syria is currently a less safe place to live... So, I am not going to visit Syria next week instead I am going to Occupied Palestine/Israel.
Here is the current plan:
Friday: Amman to Bethlehem
Saturday: Bethlehem to Jerusalem
Sunday: Jerusalem
Monday: Jerusalem
Tuesday: Jerusalem to Tel Aviv
Wednesday: Meet up with my Friend Kathleen, travel to Tiberias, bike half way around the Sea of Galilee, attempt to walk on water, fail, then camp along the lake, love life.
Thursday: TBA
Friday: Head back to Amman
I am very excited!!! It shall be a wonderful adventure and allow me to check a whole bunch of amazing stuff off of my bucket list.
IN SUMMARY:
Oh hey, I am alive and safe! The biggest threats I face are exams... that and crossing streets. Traveling is really fun!
Love, Michael
this makes me so happy. glad you're having fun; knew you would. love and miss and think of you often, buddy.
ReplyDelete-brady