Monday, January 20, 2014

Our Latest Jaunt

I love traveling, especially when the plane ride is less than a couple of hours.  Hubby and I took advantage of our recent 3-day weekend by taking a quick trip to Jordan to see some of his family.  
Upon arriving, we checked into our hotel,
had lunch out with a friend ... 
then took our first road trip by car to Mufraq to visit a couple of aunts and an uncle.
I had visited here years ago, but as I looked around this time, I told my husband that I was beginning to think I was related to his aunt by more than just marriage.  She is quite the collector and has her own Aladdin's cave going on.  
Day 2 we took the bus to Irbid to see an aunt and uncle and cousins and lots of kids of cousins.  
The highlight of the day was chasing goats and sheep as their shepherd was taking them up and down the hill a couple of times.
Of course, there was lots of food involved.
Food with family.  Food at the hotel.
And with all the plane, car and bus rides, there was also lots of time for crochet.
It was a great trip filled with epiphanies for me.  Things are expensive in Jordan and salaries are low.  Populations in the areas we visited have doubled due to the Syrian conflict and that brings with it a host of problems.  But no matter the circumstances, everyone has a dream; everyone is just trying to take care of their family.

We arrived home Saturday afternoon and it was back to school yesterday with all the busyness that entails.  Some of you in the US are enjoying your own 3-day weekend in honor of Martin Luther King.
May your day be blessed, 

37 comments:

Maya Kuzman said...

I always enjoy following you to your travels through your beautiful photos!

Createology said...

Your love of travel makes your journey quite inspiring. You have such amazing memories that you are always making. Love seeing your photos. Your crochet is wonderful. Blissful Dear...

moonstruckcreations said...

What a coincidence, my inlaws are from Jordan too! I love the country so much, and cant wait to visit again. It is a longer trip from the UK so we only usually get to go once a year, but stay for 2 weeks.

Yes, there are many issues there, especially at the moment, but what I love is the family-focussed culture. I have driven through Mafraq on the way to Um Qais, have you ever been there?

Helenxx

Rostrose said...

Dearest Tammy,
what a large family - and everything I read here, sounds like three wonderful family-days with lots of good food, fine crochet work and new experiences!
Warm hugs and a happy new week,
Traude
✿ܓ✿ܓ✿ܓ✿ܓ✿ܓ✿ܓ

Shane Pollard said...

How wonderful to see this part of the world with such ancient history Tammy.

Delicious looking food which I have enlarged so I can re-create - I often do this and love all your recipes!

Love the children - those beautiful happy little faces make the world sing!

I'm surprised you could crochet on the plane - your medallions remind me of my mother's work.
I've got crochet on my post today too Tammy!

Hugs
Shane x

Lorrie said...

It's so true that anywhere in the world there are families who want the very best for children and grandchildren. If people would only focus on that instead of other stuff.
So glad you had a good weekend.

Terra said...

I visited Jordan years ago and rode a horse in to Petra. I also stood along a road in Amman waiting to see the king pass by, but he didn't show, darn! I love the cuisine of that part of the world, I am sure you feasted.

okcamp said...

Tammy,
How fortunate you are to be able to travel and experience the world.

Gotta love window seats....I also take photos of wings and beyond whenever I fly and the sky is clear.
Diane

Anonymous said...

Sam has a large family! I'm sure they were so happy you made the trip to visit with them. Some of us will never visit this part of the world, so you photos were extra appreciated! The foods look tasty and you sure were able to get a lot of crocheting done.
I'm laughing about 'the collector'....they are everywhere!!! And she has some unique items on her wall!
Thanks for letting us in on your trip (I like short airplane flights as well). You look FAB by the way.
Jan
xoxo

Betsy said...

Beautiful crochet! You are indeed lucky to be able to travel to so many beautiful places and your love for it shows. My Hubby used to travel all over Europe, the Middle East and South Africa for work. He always came home saying the same thing as you did. People are just trying to care for their families and deep down inside, we're all the same. If we could just realize that and learn to love each other, a myriad of problems would be solved. Oh yes, trying to do away with greed would help. :-) Good luck with that is what people tell me, but you can always hope.
Blessings my friend,
Betsy

Mistea said...

All of it looks amazing.
Thank you for sharing these pictures of your part of the world. Visiting family is always fun.
Good to see the hook getting a work out on holiday.
Enjoy the rest of your week.

Mereknits said...

I am so glad you were able to get away for a few days and enjoy family. Hope you have a wonderful week,
Meredith

Wanda said...

How fun to travel with you and visit your relatives home and food.

What a rich life to be able to live and travel in the part of the world. Seems so far away, and yet you bring it right to my door step (via the blog) Thanks!

Debby said...

Looks like a fun visit with all the family. So nice that you can do that. The food looks really good.

Catherine said...

How wonderful to visit family and see and do so many different things. All the food looks wonderful!
Wishing you a lovely week Tammy!
xo Catherine

Jennifer Hays said...

You visit such interesting places. My mother is Syrian and I grew up eating a lot of those foods in your photo. I don't have them often anymore but I always enjoyed them.

homemade@myplace said...

wonderful trip!!!!
xxxxxx Ale

Gracey is not my name.... said...

I love reading about your trips. Its a part of the world I'll probably never visit, so it is so interesting to see and read about it. I am learning more about Pakistan, as my sister is hosting an exchange student from there.

Diane said...

I'm glad you had a good trip, Tammy. I'd say you are right about the aunt. Her house is probably fascinating, too. Diane

Mariette VandenMunckhof-Vedder said...

Dearest Tammy,
Your food photo is something to envy your region for... would love to have access to that here locally.
Indeed, your aunt-in-law MUST be kin to you; either from a previous life or what?! Your interiors kind of match perfectly.
So glad you could get to visit all those relatives and especially during very touch economical times for them. It makes you appreciate even more what we all have ourselves. To me, that always was one of the biggest blessings of traveling; real traveling by visiting inside the homes and sharing a meal. It opens your eyes and makes us become so much more appreciative and it kicks you off completely from the 'want' addiction that so many are dealing with.
At your age, I too have done many a stitch of crochet (more than knitting) at an airport... But no longer as my eyes are not the same anymore.
Hugs,
Mariette

Susan said...

Well that sounded and looked like a fun trip, Tammy. Glad for your hubs to see his family members, too, along with his lovely American wife. Fun fun fun.

Yes, it was a great three day holiday. Tomorrow, back to the routine!

Take care, Tammy. Susan

Lori ann said...

what a wonderful trip, so nice you were able to catch up with family. your words are so true too tammy, people are the same in the most basic desires, the whole world over. have a great week ahead!

Lori ann said...

i forgot to say beautiful crochet!

Pam said...

You visit the most interesting places and chase sheep and goats. Glad you were able to visit family. Have a wonderful week.

Tanna said...

Your epiphanies highlight our universal dreams. Very wise.

Love the photos; I feel like I got to take a trip, too! =) blessings ~ tanna

kathyinozarks said...

Good morning Tammy, beautiful post-as always I love reading your blog-sounds like a perfect 3 day weekend-
Kathy

Pradeepa said...

You are lucky to get to visit so many places on Earth. Your crochet is lovely and the food looks delicious.

Sam I Am...... said...

Okay...who is that darling little boy in the coveralls out with the sheep? Too cute! What a lovely time it looked to be. I loved Sam's Aunt's house...that chair looked so comfortable too. Your crochet is gorgeous...is that thread you're using?
I posted that exact same picture and quote on Facebook yesterday....great minds think alike, I guess. LOL!
So glad you had a "get away".

Linda said...

Wonderful photos, Tammy! Looks like an interesting and fun time.

I like traveling by land, but I'm absolutely petrified of flying, something that I don't know that I'll ever overcome, so I try to avoid air travel at all measures.

Glad you enjoyed yourself,
Linda

September Violets said...

What a wonderful weekend with extended family! I would love to be able to go to such exotic locales with such a quick flight. Lovely photos ... and the food photos always look so delicious :) Cute photo of you crocheting on the rock wall. Wendy x

Dagmar said...

Hello Tammy,

These are some wonderful pictures of Jordan and I aecho your sentiments about people being able to just look after their families. That's all we really want to do is to make sure people that we love are in a safe place and can live their lives.
Xo
Dagmar

Quinn said...

Such warm family snapshots - how nice to be able to spend time with family and enjoy new sights, all at the same time. As always, your food photos made me hungry, so I'd better get busy in the kitchen. I'm slow getting started today...another stretch of below-zero weather has settled in.

Marwah Zeiad said...

Gorgeous photographs from a country I long to visit someday! Love your smile too! :)

Unknown said...

Hi Tammy, It was good to come visit again today. You have done much amazing travelling! Glad you share this in your blog posts so others can also enjoy your travels!

Beth said...

Hi Tammy, So great to see your many travels - thanks for sharing so others can enjoy them too!

Taci simmons said...

What a nice trip it looks like you had a fun time with your family.

Out And About Global said...

I spent a summer in Jordan during college excavating at Petra, I love Jordan and really hope I can take my family there while we are still in Europe. I too am a door lover, 6 of my favorites make a large display above my sofa.
www.outandaboutineurope.blogspot.com

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