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Travel [message #9497]

Sat, 04 May 2013 00:07

Mark L
Messages: 834
Registered: October 2006
Location: Canada

Senior Member

Just get out there and do it.

Rick Steves a travel writer is in Israel right now. Just came from Egypt and is going to the west bank soon. I started travelling years ago and Rick was one of the big reasons why. He is very opinionated and not afraid to share his opinions either. He considers himself a Lutheran christian. Probably not in the way we think but where it concerns travel its close enough.

Here are two comments from his blog . . .

As a Christian, gazing out over the fabled Sea of Galilee and imagining Jesus walking on the water, I became more emotional than I had imagined I would be. Closing my eyes, I let the song of pilgrim groups singing in the distance, the sound of the little waves at my feet, and the breeze off the lake come together in a touching, personal moment.

For Israel, simply surviving is serious business. More and more Israeli Jews, along with people around the world who care about peace in the Middle East, think Israel would be wise to lighten up a bit. But when you travel there and hang out with the older generation, you appreciate why most of them take every threat to their nation extremely seriously and make their own rules for security without waiting for anyone else’s OK.

He is in Israel and is quite influential and I thought some of you may be interested in reading his comments.

http://blog.ricksteves.com/

In other news My bro and I and our respective spouses are flying to fabled Morocco tomorrow. Going to take the hippie trail to Marrekesh. I'm gong to make sure I get a pic of my wife up on a camel out in the Sahara. Then post it on Facebook. Smile

I know its a muslim country. There are even some radicals there. There was probably some in Turkey as well. Its a country I've wanted to go to for a long time.

Without trying to anger anyone in my opinion the whole muslim menace issue is vastly overblown. I do think there is a problem between Islam and the west. I also know some of then here in the west work against us. My experience has been though that most of them just want the same thing we want. A decent life and a future for their kids.

I would be happy to discuss this but it will have to wait a couple of weeks.

My resolution at New Years was not to procrastinate any more. Obviously I'm not doing too good a job as the pics from the Turkey trip aren't even up on the photo blog yet. When I get home I'm going to get serious about it and put up pics.

Fires will be kindled to testify that two and two make four. Swords will be drawn to prove that leaves are green in summer.”

G.K. Chesterton

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Re: Travel [message #9498 is a reply to message #9497]

Sat, 04 May 2013 00:31

william
Messages: 1451
Registered: January 2006

Senior Member
Administrator

Hi Mark,

We'll be looking to hear from you when you get back... don't cause any international incidents... okay? <grin>

Blessings,
William

I want to believe!

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Re: Travel [message #9499 is a reply to message #9498]

Sat, 04 May 2013 03:21

GWB
Messages: 708
Registered: March 2008
Location: Louisville, Ky area

Senior Member

Awesome!!! Love traveling. I have been able to visit many places on this earth.

My first trip over the great bridge (ocean) was in '74 before FA.

I love Rick's program. His comments make sense now. I was not sure if he was a believer or not.

Paleeezzzeee.....keep us posted! Smile

My next trip is to Israel. Everything else is boring in comparison.

Jesus is my all in all and Jerusalem is eternal. It is God's time clock. It is the center of the universe. It is headlines. It is a part of prophecy.

My mother taught me much about Israel and Jerusalem. She bucked the Baptist instilled in her. Wink

I did too. I found FA. With all of it's controversy and troubles, I still can't believe He chose me to be able to hear such an anointed Word.

Yep! My mom raised a rebel, just like her. I have been all the better for it since. Wink

Anyway, keep the pics coming! Smile

Shalom,

GWB

"Be still and know that I am God."

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Re: Travel [message #9508 is a reply to message #9499]

Fri, 24 May 2013 17:44

james
Messages: 2137
Registered: April 2008
Location: Birmingham, AL

Senior Member

Hey Mark!

You back yet from Morocco? I'm sure everyone would like to hear about the trip.

Especially those of us (me) who don't travel far from home... Smile

“But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us,”

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Re: Travel [message #9509 is a reply to message #9508]

Sat, 25 May 2013 14:08

Mark L
Messages: 834
Registered: October 2006
Location: Canada

Senior Member

Yup I'm home. got home last Sunday. Then plunged right into work and the jet lag hit me badly this time for some reason.

Also for the first time in many yrs of travel I actually got the scoots while I was there. My gramma used to call them the runs. As in run to the bathroom Smile

Speaking of bathrooms I had 3 inexperienced travellers with me and they all got an introduction to third world bathrooms. If you don't know what I'm talking about then let me just say that most of the world doesnt' sit down they squat and always always carry tissue in your pocket. Or didn't you know what that tap, bucket, and your left hand was for. Smile

Personally I find it easier to just carry tissue.

I'm going to get some pics up in the next week or two I have a pic of a (clean) bathroom stall for you innocents out there.

When we got to Marrakesh. Something happened just as I got to the city. I got a little sick in my stomach and the scoots as I said. That has never happened before. It was also spiritual. I have no idea how to describe it. There was just something there in that city. It was almost like there was a spiritual sickness there. No idea how to describe it. I didn't see it in the rest of the country just Marrakesh.

My bro and his wife think it was the trip of a lifetime. In a positive way they were stretched to the limits of their personalities. They and us as well enjoyed it hugely. Camels in the desert. Donkeys and carts everywhere. Many women in burkas. Third world vendors selling everything on the street and the side of the road. 3 lanes of traffic so that obviously means the cars should line up 7 wide. With bicycles and small mostly ancient motorcycles filling in the gaps.

Some absolutely beautiful architecture. The Muslim world is known for its mosaics and we saw some of the most beautiful.

For whatever it is worth I am very careful what I take pics of. I don't take pics of enemy temples or Gods. If I am on a tour with others and we visit ancient temples I walk around with the others but don't take pics and am careful where I put my hands and feet. For that matter where I look as well.

I did take pics of mosques in Morocco and Turkey. I see a difference between them and pagan temples. They are primarily places where people pray. I made sure the pics I took didn't have the verses from the Koran you sometimes see as well. To my mind they are just some beautiful architecture.

Also by the middle of the second week I was tired of tajines and Moroccan spice. I told our driver to "find us a Macdonalds" Which he did. Ah western food!!!! I understand some wouldn't call that food but at least it was familiar.

Another thing we all noticed was the friendliness of the people. On several occasions we were either (relatively) lost or needed help and people went way out of their way to help.

William I have made a mental note to pay more attention to your advice. We were coming up from the Sahara on our way to Marrakesh and stopped for a drink. There were 3 police there stopped as well transporting a couple of prisoners. So with an excellent knowledge of what is forbodden in 3thd world countries I took a surreptitious pic and got caught. They acted like police do everywhere in the world. Took me aside looked at my camera stern faces shaking fingers. They finally made me delete the pic. After I did they got very friendly and just laughed at me. Bit of a joke with the stupid tourist you understand. I was uncomfortable but never scared. Found out later the women were though. It occurred to me later I should have had the driver (who was standing right there the whole time) tell them to put me in handcuffs take out their people wackers and march me out in front of the women. Smile

All in all it was great trip. Other than Israel though I think that is it for me for the middle east. Too many other places I haven't been. If anyone is interested it is a very interesting country. In many ways it is closer to a bible culture than our own. My wife saw many things that reminded her of the bible. An old lady bent almost double begging in the public square in Essaouira. Blind and halt begging the streets. People going out of their way to help them. Narrow alleys where most of life and commerce takes place in the old city medinas. If you're interested in understanding the world Jesus lived in visit a middle eastern medina. My guide said that without donkeys and camels most of the economic life of the middle east would grind to a halt.

As I said it was a great trip. Very much enjoyed it. I would strongly encourage any of you who are worried about the muslim menace to visit a moderate muslim country like Turkey or Morocco. You will change your opinions entirely. If interested feel free to send me a PM and ask questions.

I'll have pics up in the next couple of weeks if anyone is interested

Fires will be kindled to testify that two and two make four. Swords will be drawn to prove that leaves are green in summer.”

G.K. Chesterton

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Re: Travel [message #9510 is a reply to message #9509]

Sat, 25 May 2013 15:44

william
Messages: 1451
Registered: January 2006

Senior Member
Administrator

Quote:

William I have made a mental note to pay more attention to your advice. We were coming up from the Sahara on our way to Marrakesh and stopped for a drink.

Now wait just a dog-gone minute... I've never advocated consuming toxic levels of alcohol and then taking pictures of women... that's just plain wrong! <grin>

Blessings,
William

I want to believe!

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