Halycon Days of Hummus

For Easter and the Royal Wedding weekend we attempted a double-header; an overland trip from Jordan into Egypt with Angus and Jamie.  We started in Amman and headed first to undertake some serious relaxation and detox in the Dead Sea.  Shaun wasted no time starting the floatation experience early, whereas I was keener to try out some of the local detoxing mud first,which is served up in big buckets on the seashore... 

The Dead Sea is on the Israeli/Jordanian border, with Israel tantalisingly close.  Just nearby are a number of important Biblical sites, one of which was Bethany-on-the-Jordan where Jesus is said to have been baptised by John the Baptist.  On site there are a number of small shrines built over the top of prior ruins and it is a very quiet and reflective place. 

I was expecting Petra to feel very touristy and crowded but having got up very early in the morning we were able to enjoy the walk through the siq towards the Treasury - the first main 'sight' of Petra - completely by ourselves.  It was an eerie feeling and Petra itself was amazing. 

Leaving Petra we headed further south for an overnight stop in the desert at Wadi Rum where Shaun very quickly got into the local flavour of things with the help of our local guide and driver.  I think this was possibly the largest head that had tried to wear the tea towel look successfully but with a bit of customisation an Arabian warrior was born.

M&S

Booking some down time in Prague

After a relatively slow start to the year trip-wise but a big start work-wise we headed off for a weekend break to Prague, home of a castle, a famous bridge and some famous beer. Happily, March is still off season in Prague so hotel prices were well down and we managed to strike it lucky with some spring weather to enjoy the city.

First stop was the famous Charles Bridge. We went back about 4 different times at different times of day - all beautiful.

We also made sure we visited Prague Castle and the famous Alfons Mucha stained glass window in St Vitus cathedral. The cathedral is beautiful (nice clean lined Gothic cathedral compared with my less favoured over the top (usually Catholic) Baroque versions) and also houses the remains of St Wenceslas (after the Christmas carol) who was bludgeoned to death by his brother. It seems it was not just the frost that was cru-el. I'll never sing it the same way again!

Some of Mucha's famous illustrations below (I have always loved these) ... and then his stained glass window - which weirdly reminded me a lot of hobbits and.. whatever Viggo Mortenson was.

Shaun was very keen to try some Czech food at a local beer hall and the plate that emerged was so huge it even prompted one (fairly large) passerby to comment "Now that's a big meal".  All in a day's work for a Kirby.

Ramping up the tourist angle on our last afternoon we joined a tour which took us on a tram ride out to a former Cold war bunker - parts of which seem to be used as an alternative club in the evenings but other parts of which are preserved as a museum complete with a wall of gas masks and other military stuff. Dressing up was positively encouraged and we took full advantage.

M