for ladies that like to take and post pictures

amphitheater...bosra, syria

lebanon...bacchus temple

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I think I read that women there can easily be divorced without notice and can only take their personal things with them. That's why they buy so muc gold jewelry. And it's 23-24 K, folks!! Not 10k or 14k.

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That is probably in Saudi Arabia. I'm kind of afraid to go there. Syria and Lebanon, while extremely poor, were pretty progressive when it comes to women. The women were, for the most part, extremely well educated. (free college paid for by the government. many received advanced degrees in england) My female cousins are doctors, pharmacists, etc. And they all pretty much wear the pants in the family. lol.

Dubai is probably more modern than here. Since it has oil, very wealthy. I saw no poverty there.


re the gold: in dubai, i believe they sell 22K..and in Syria it was 21K or vice versa. I bought some gold bangles. love them...the way they cut their bangles they sparkle like diamonds.

the difference between the countries that have oil and those that do not is striking.

syria...no oil.


dubai. LOTS of oil.



hotel lobby in dubai. everything that is gold colored in this hotel IS real gold...and it's everywhere..., pillars, floors, bathroom fixtures, ceiling, railings, etc.



me at beach outside that hotel.(i scanned pic in its frame. it's sitting on my desk) also, the wind billowed my dress out. i just had to state that for the record. lol.

last pic...damascus.

I think it's still safe to travel to some parts of the Middle East. Syria would be out for sure, and I don't think a U.S. citizen could even get a visa into Syria now. I'd have no problem going to Jordan, Israel, United Arab Emirates, and Turkey.

I never ran into one bit of anti-Americanism the entire time I was there...and the Iraq war was already underway. In fact, quite the opposite. When people found out I was an American, they went out of their way to tell me they did not hate Americans...they just weren't crazy about the political situation. A lot of them watch Fox News, MSNBC, etc, so the people there are well aware of our perception that they do not like us. I found they were able to separate politics from the people. I was treated with nothing but kindness everywhere I visited. The hospitality was unreal.

Oh, regarding that hotel, Shirley. I spent the day there visiting my girlfriends who had a room, and I took the most luxurious shower I've ever had in my life there. My two girlfriends spent one night at the Burj. At that time it was over $1,000 for one night. Now, i think it's close to $2,000 a night. You get two butlers with each room. It's awesome, but way too rich for my blood.

Beth: Shade does definitely look attached to you and NO I did not recognize what was on the 'puter screen. What was it?

GSG: AMAZING pictures!!! You are definitely photographically talented.... how long was your trip... you must have had quite a bit of time... you covered a lot of territory.

I need a vacation.

Thanks for sharing the pics... what a lovely site.

Gsg, GREAT TRIP, and fantastic pictures,
thanks for sharing your visit in there.
Loved it.

worst poverty i've ever seen in my life was,
by far, the gypsies in Syria. God bless the USA.
Well ...
that can be far more complicated then one can imagine.
Gypsies spread through Europe along the time
coming from around that area;
still today in a lot of places in here
the diference from that picture taken in Syria
to a lot of places through Europe, may be no different.
It's not only about the poverty...
it's a lot a "cultural thing". For instance,
in here took years to convince some groups,
to live in normal houses,
even giving them a house for free (social support),
a lot of them do not want it still today.
It's just a very different life and way of living,
some complicated "life" concepts,
and can be a bit hard for us to understand.
Remember that they were/are nomad's, since always and ever
no country/countries attachments, no nationality,
and to them there's (was) no borders and things of the kind
let's say a "free people".
Quite a very interesting people
if one has the chance to get to know them,
obviously we just have to put aside all our ideas
of "way of living" in order to understand them.
To us may make no sense at all to spend a life
moving all the time and according to the seasons
and camp here and there ...
but to most it's their way of life
no matter if with a typical tend such as that on that pic.
or even a modern caravan with satellite TV antenna on the top.

Sorry, after catching up ... I can not remember
whom asked what about the castle/sunset pic...
Well that's not haunted, after so long and so much movement,
they probably gave up since in there, I doubt they have any rest
with the visitors coming in and out all the time.
hahahahahah ...
Pity that I do not have a good picture
of the outside of castle to share,
coz that is called the "cradle of Portugal"
in a town at North called Guimarães;
it was in that castle that Portugal was born and
the first king established himself
and was there and another building beside it,
that kings that came after and so, ruled through time
until around 2 centuries ago more or less.
A lot of history, but ...
to take pics in the inside it's not allowed,
quite interesting though coz one can see everything in detail
of how was life for real inside a castle around here.
Life inside of one of this castles and monuments
sometimes has very few to do with what we see in movies and so.

Hugs.

This is the road in front of our house AFTER clean up.

gsg..when you make your way to Israel, let me know!
YOur pictures are amazing.
One comment..I am going to guess that the pictures of the "gypsies" are either Beduins or like Beduins. We have Beduins here that live in shacks similar to that picture, throughout the desert. This is a part of their culture.

Maria..I love the castle photo. That is gorgeous!

I have had some great moments when I wished I had my camera with me...was driving and saw a fantastic sunset, was on the beach and there must have been a million seagulls together...I was kicking myself for not having my camera with me at all times!!!

If you are in my area...I'll find wonderful spots to take pictures!!!

Here's one last pic. It was hard to choose which to post.

Cheri, what a real mess! Ice is the worst.

One thing though. Have you ever looked at a tree with ice on it with the sun shining though it. It is so beautiful. Looks like glass.

Good time to stay in and snuggle with a blanket and just sit and stare into space. LOL Well, I suppose if you have enough light you could read.

Shirley

OMG!!! Cheri,
That's not cold ... THAT'S FREEZING!!!!!
And me here complaining about the cold!
Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr ...
Amazing how the ice can get on the tree branches,
reminds me of sugar things ... very beautiful,
pity that it makes so much damage ...
Through Europe, mainly north, things are all upsidedown too ...
Getting calm now after several days, but it's snowing in odd places,
even in here it snowed in several beaches through our coast...

Ravdeb;
"I have had some great moments when I wished I had my camera with me...
was driving and saw a fantastic sunset,
was on the beach and there must have been a million seagulls together...
I was kicking myself for not having my camera with me at all times!!!"

A fantastic sunset with a million seagulls together ...
... mmmmm ... Guess I'm seeing the picture ...
Don't bother kicking yourself over this,
I'm crossing the Mediterranean right now
and I'll be there in a minute to kick you myself!
Bwahahahahahahah ...

Hugs.

Marin,

If you already have your photos
somewhere on the web
just fallow the instructions in here.
Hope this tips help.
http://community.breastcancer.org/ubbthr...part=2&vc=1

If you still have them on your PC only,
some girls in here are using photobucket
http://photobucket.com/
to put their images/photoalbuns
and then they link them in here
as the tips above.

May sound complicated but as soon
as you manage the first you'll see it's very easy.

Hope it works for you,
warning - this can be addicting ...

Hugs.