Time Traveling

     
               When I came to the Middle East many people in my life had concerns about my safety. I even second guessed myself a time or two. The times are turbulent in this region and have been for thousands of years. The people who inhabit the land are tribal by nature, and in Jordan to this day you still have the tribe you are associated with on your driver’s license. This is just part of the time travel you will experience in Israel and Jordan.

My first recommendation is to find other great time travelers to join you in this journey, because without them you might freak out. I have been lucky enough to have the best ones with me on this trip. We have staved off Armageddon (Megiddo), and plunged into the Dead Sea living to tell about it with our eyes burning. As we Climbed Masada and Herodian to glimpse through palace fortresses constructed by Herod the builder we realized the power of Rome. When we started digging through the dirt Tel Summeily we had a firsthand look  into the bronze and iron ages. I never knew broken pottery could be so useful for pinpointing a time period, but not as useful as a 2^nd breakfast. The travelers then marched north following the path of Jesus and the crusaders. We got to see where Jesus walked on water, preached, and found a few important fishermen. We got to see where the Christian crusaders made an incredible castle called Revoir, with the most amazing views that  anyone could ever witness.  As we made our way back to the south we followed the story of David and Saul at En Gedi where we enjoyed the cooling waterfalls. The whole time we traveled you could feel the power of Rome all around you as we saw their destruction and majestic replacements in many different places. All of this time traveling was before we left Israel!

Then we crossed the border to Jordan to find ancient mountains in the desert at Wadi Rum. The jeeps sped through the red sand revealing majestic rock features and gesticulated sand dunes that would test the most experienced climber’s abilities. We drove by camel caravans and Bedouin  tents  that took us back to the spice trade. Then there was Petra. Living vicariously through Indiana Jones we marched into the intense heat and through Roman streets in the cracked earth to see the “Treasury”.  Little did we know that was only the beginning of our travels that day. After a wonderful 21^st century lunch at the “Basin” we started the most treacherous Stairmaster workout ever known.  The more than 850 winding (different sized) stairs tested our strength, character, and persistence in a way I had not felt since 3- a- day football practices at CMC/U (shout out) when I was 18.  When we got to the top we saw a giant sandstone monastery created by the Nabateans. After seeing this majestic temple we all felt a sense of accomplishment until we came to the sobering realization that we now had to walk back to our hotel. The walk back was every bit as intense as the walk up, but this time without the restaurant break. My fellow travelers and I trudged down the steps back into the sand and onto the Roman road.  Along the way we yearned for water and fought off the vendors, camels, and donkeys determined to walk back on our own. When we crossed back in front of the “Treasury” we knew we still had a long way to go as the Arabian sun beat us down. When we walked back through the cracks in the mountains we avoided chariots in the Roman Street and trinket peddlers.

                The final approach to the Hotel was the driving force to get us through the last kilometer up a steep hill. I have never wanted to lie down from exhaustion more in my life than at that moment of reaching my room. As I soaked up the A/C appreciating the present I could not help but reflect on the past I had just circumnavigated. The people in the Middle East provide an experience of times gone by with traditions that have not changed for thousands of years. When you are in this region you cannot help but see the past around you.  As you sit in a Roman Theatre or stand on top of Tel Hesi it is impossible not to feel like you have travelled through time to see what life was like thousands of years ago.