Kol Am Israel Blog

Odds and Ends

Carol — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 00:13:35 +0000

HERE ARE A FEW MORE PICTURES THAT DIDN'T MAKE IT ONTO THE BLOG ON THE DAYS THEY WERE SHOT. THEY ARE IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER.

THIS IS A MODEL OF JERUSALEM, FORMERLY DISPLAYED AT THE HOLYLAND HOTEL, AND RECENTLY MOVED AND REASSEMBLED AT ITS CURRENT HOME, THE ISRAEL MUSEUM.

A DELICIOUS POMEGRANATE.

A BEAUTIFUL TREE.

THIS IS MY TAKE ON THE SUN OVER THE DEAD SEA!

AND THOSE WONDERFUL CLOUDS...

WE MADE A STOP AT THE PAPYRUS INSTITUTE IN CAIRO, WHERE WE WERE GIVEN A DEMO ON HOW PAPYRUS PAPER IS MADE.

COMMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE THROUGHOUT OUR JOURNEY THROUGH EGYPT, ABOUT THE FASHIONS THAT WERE WORN BY THE WOMEN. HERE YOU EVEN CAN SEE A WINDOW DISPLAY AT A STORE (IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO ONE OF THE SYNAGOGUES WE VISITED).

HOPEFULLY, IN THE WEEKS AHEAD, I WILL BE ABLE TO PUT TOGETHER A BOOK OF PHOTOS (ADDING ADDITIONAL ONES THAT DID NOT MAKE IT INTO THE BLOG.)

Original post blogged on b2evolution.

Finally: Karnak & Luxor Temple

Carol — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 01:38:03 +0000

HOME, BUT BLEARY-EYED! NEVERTHELESS, HERE ARE SOME PHOTOS FROM OUR VISIT TO THE KaRNAK TEMPLES. THE MAGNITUDE OF THE ENGINEERING ALONG WITH THE REALIZATION OF HOW LONG THESE STRUCTURES HAVE BEEN STANDING, AND THE PHAROAHS WHO WALKED WHERE OUR FOOTSTEPS FOLLOW, IS AMAZING. THERE IS INCREDIBLE DETAIL IN THE CARVINGS, AND THE HIEROGLYPHICS TELL MANY STORIES.

AND FOR FUN, SEE OUR CANINE FRIEND.

NEXT A VISIT TO LUXOR TEMPLE. THE TWO ARE ABOUT 3 KM. APART, AND CURRENTLY THERE ARE EXCAVATIONS WHICH WILL REVEAL WHAT LAY BETWEEN THE TWO, WHICH WERE ORIGINALLY CONNECTED.

PART OF THIS TEMPLE WAS EVENTUALLY USED AS A CATHOLIC CHURCH, AND THIS SHOWS HOW THE FRESCOES HAVE BEEN ADDED TO THE TEMPLE WALLS.

SOME ODDS AND ENDS WILL FOLLOW (BUT NOT TODAY), AND EVENTUALLY I WILL PUBLISH A BOOK CONTAINING THESE PLUS ADDITIONAL PHOTOS OF THE TRIP.

Original post blogged on b2evolution.

Last Post from Egypt -- but NOT Finished Yet!

Carol — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 18:28:38 +0000

Our last day (in Luxor) opened with this glorious sunrise.

Today's final adventures at the Karnak Temples and Luxor Temple, are yet to appear on this Photo Blog. And yes, we will be back home, but check in early next week to see the remaining photos. Early in the morning we head to the airport...

Original post blogged on b2evolution.

Forgot: Nile Cruise Pictures

Carol — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 14:55:22 +0000

JUST REALIZED THAT I HAD NOT INCLUDED THE NILE CRUISE PICTURES THAT I TOOK. SO HERE THEY ARE.

AND A FEW OF OUR GROUP.

BACK TO LUXOR LATER...

Original post blogged on b2evolution.

Luxor by Day

Carol — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 19:03:39 +0000

WE HAD HEARD THAT THE VALLEY OF THE KINGS AND VALLEY OF THE QUEENS WAS WORTH THE TRIP HERE, AND IT CERTAINLY WAS. IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE SUCH FEATS OF ENGINEERING, AS WELL AS THE WEALTH OF ARTISTIC PRODUCT THAT WAS CREATED FOR THESE VAST TOMBS. WHILE THE CONTENTS THEMSELVES WERE EITHER ROBBED OR PUT INTO MUSEUMS, THE HIEROGLYPHICS AND ART WORK THAT COVER THE WALLS AND CEILINGS IS INCREDIBLE. NO PHOTOS ARE ALLOWED INSIDE THE KINGS' TOMBS, SO I CAN ONLY SHOW YOU THE MOUNTAIN ITSELF. THAT MOUNTAIN HAS A PEAK LIKE A PYRAMID, SO INSTEAD OF BUILDING A PYRAMID, THEY CARVED THE TOMB INTO THE MOUNTAIN.

ON THE OTHER HAND, YOU CAN TAKE PICTURES WHEREVER YOU LIKE IN QUEEN HATSHEPSUT'S MORTUARY TEMPLE. SHE WAS PHAROAH FOR ABOUT 22 YEARS.

AND HERE ARE SOME LIVING PEOPLE.

AND THEIR ANIMALS

AND THEIR MODE OF TRANSPORTATION

AND FINALLY, A STOP AT A STONE CUTTER'S WORKSHOP/STORE, WHERE WE SAW HOW ALABASTER AND OTHER STONES WERE TURNED INTO JARS, VESSELS AND DECORATIVE OBJECTS.

TOMORROW, KARNAK BY DAY, AND THEN THE FLIGHT BACK TO CAIRO.

Original post blogged on b2evolution.

WELCOME TO LUXOR

Carol — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 16:19:29 +0000

WHAT A CONTRAST FROM CAIRO -- THIS CITY IS CALM, BEAUTIFULLY LANDSCAPED WITH FLOWERS AND PALM TREES AND SURROUNDED BY AGRICULTURAL FIELDS. AND THE HISTORY THAT CAN BE EXPERIENCED BY VISITING TO THE ARCHEOLOGICAL SITES IS HARD TO BELIEVE. FIRST SOME PHOTOS FROM THE SOUND AND LIGHT SHOW AT THE KARNAK TEMPLE COMPLEX.

SOME PROJECTIONS ONTO THE WALLS:

AND MORE EXQUISITE STATUES.

Original post blogged on b2evolution.

Our Last Day in Cairo

Carol — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 15:33:52 +0000

WE HAD TWO MEANINGFUL STOPS ON OUR LAST DAY. FIRST WE WENT TO THE BEN EZRA SYNAGOGUE. ACCORDING TO LOCAL TRADITION, IT IS LOCATED ON THE SITE WHERE BABY MOSES WAS FOUND. (SEE SECOND PICTURE.) THE LAND FOR THE SYNAGOGUE WAS PURCHASED IN 882 CE FOR 20,000 DINARS BY ABRAHAM IBN EZRA OF JERUSALEM.

"ACHMED", THE GENTLEMAN WITH THE RABBI, IS ONE OF 200 JEWS REMAINING IN CAIRO. HE HAS, FOR YEARS, SOLD RELIGIOUS ITEMS IN THE ENTRANCE ALLEY TO THE SYNAGOGUE, AND GREETED US WITH A HAPPY CHANUKAH.

NEXT WE WENT TO THE SHA'AR SHAMAN SYNAGOGUE, WHICH RECENTLY RE-OPENED AFTER SOME RENOVATIONS. IT IS HARD TO GET INTO AND IS HEAVILY GUARDED. WE EVEN HAD TO GIVE OUR PASSPORTS TO THE SECURITY GUARDS BEFORE ENTERING. THE CARETAKERS ONLY ALLOWED US TO TAKE ONE PHOTO (FOR MONEY), AND TRACKED US CAREFULLY TO BE SURE WE COMPLIED. HOWEVER, THEY DID ALLOW US TO OPEN THE TORAH, AND IT WAS VERY TOUCHING TO HAVE OUR RABBI READ FROM THE TORAH, AND FOR US TO SAY SEVERAL PRAYERS TOGETHER.

OUR LAST STOP BEFORE CONTINUING ON TO LUXOR WAS LUNCH AT THE SOUK. FIRST PICTURE IS OF SAMMI, OUR GUIDE, RELAXING WITH A WATER PIPE.

Original post blogged on b2evolution.

Sound Light Show - Cairo

Carol — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 05:26:23 +0000

JUST A LOOK BACK TO THE SOUND AND LIGHT SHOW OF THE PYRAMIDS.

TIME TO LEAVE FOR OUR NEXT ADVENTURE -- THE VALLEY OF THE KINGS AND THE VALLEY OF THE QUEENS!

Original post blogged on b2evolution.