Random Central

CONGRATULATIONS to Sara Laverty for winning the Biblical Scholar Trivia Game!  Wahoo!! I am going to have so much fun shopping for you!  And great job to all of you who accurately used your concordance to find references to Sidon and Tyre.

I am going to let you know upfront that this post has no clear train of thought. I am a bit tired and perhaps a little disoriented; hopefully I don't go and wander off into the Turkish countryside where I will probably be forced into a lifestyle of nomadic shepherding.

Although, I bet I could find a husband that way.

Just kidding.

Sort of.

Anywho, here are a few random thoughts I have had since this trip commenced. They are in no particular order:

• Ambien is my best friend.
• I love Middle Eastern/Turkish food. Probably a little too much...
• I do not blend in very well. Apparently a ginormous camera around my neck is a dead give away. And that I am Irish.
• When I don't understand what someone is saying I respond to them in Spanish. That does not help. At all.
• I could use a nap.
• I could use a LONG nap.
• Lebanon is much more beautiful than I ever imagined. And the people are really friendly.
• I do not like turbulence on planes. This morning's flight was a bit touch and go. That's never a good phrase to use when flying. I almost sucker-punched the pilot but I am trying to avoid international incidences. I wouldn't want to show up in the news or have my parents come and get me out of a Turkish prison. I bet they don't serve Turkish delight in prison.
• I did not pack enough sweaters. It has been raining a lot lately and I could use another one or twelve.
• I am not sure what time zone I am in.
• I am not even sure I know what day it is.
• Who am I?
• Who are you?

Okay, I digress.

I also wanted to show you some very cool pictures of random things in Lebanon. Since I arrived in Turkey yesterday, I want to bring closure to all of you about the first country on my itinerary. I love closure. I need closure. I crave closure. And I don't want to leave you hanging. Besides, this country deserves a bit more attention.

Beirut from the top of a nearby mountain. Isn't it glorious?

Beirut zoomed in

This row of apartments is on the Green Line, which is an old "line" or street that runs through Beirut. It still separates the Christians from the Muslims and is across the street from where our Associates work.

The beach in Tyre

The Mediterranean

An orange tree...or more like a bush. They grow everywhere and are so delicious!

So, don't freak out, but that red sign says that on the other side of that barbed wire are an unknown amount of land mines. They were left by the Syrians during the civil war. Good thing that measly little wire is there to protect everyone. Thankfully I still have all of my digits.

Okay people. That's all I got for today. Now we can move onto Turkey.  Just wait until you get a glimpse of Istanbul. It is amazing. I must go back immediately. Anyone want to go with me??

Oh, and I just heard that the Saints won the Super Bowl. Apparently they don't care about that over here. They are obsessed with another kind of football...whatever that is.