Today's journey took us to the Jordan river, at the site where Jesus was reportedly baptized. Excavation of the site has been undertaken, and the Franciscan's are responsible for funding and supporting the project. Our tour guide was a newly married archaelogist who was very knowledgeable and told engaging stories, like the one about when he first began excavation on a cave that most likely housed monks who lived at the site. As he carefully widened the hole, a swarm 
of bats exited, startling him mightily! He said it took some time to catch his breath and return to the cave excavation! The Jordan river borders Palestine, of course, and it was startling to see how small the river was. I could almost have leapt across it. Instead, I sat and bathed my feet, just as many people over the centuries have done, perhaps at this very spot. Just above the place we were standing in the photo was the Palestinian flag and the Hebron flag. There was a great deal of development at that site as well. Several churches have sprung up. This beautiful painting was from the ceiling of a Greek Orthodox church we visit
ed on our way back from the river. Following our tour of the site of Jesus' baptism, we went to Mount Nebo, the site where Moses died and was buried. He also said to have looked out (as did I!) on the Promised Land from this very spot on the heights of Mt. Nebo. The view was truly breathtaking, especially when you look around at the barren, hot, rocky terrain that Moses and his people wandered in for 40 years. The Promised Land (ie:Jordan valley) must have truly been a sight! It was hazy today, so the view wasn't as spectacular as I'd hoped, but it was impressive nonetheless. I love the beautiful 
mosaics we saw everywhere at the excavation site. As we left Mt. Nebo, we stopped along the way to shop for mosaics at a small shop that sells wares specifically made by the handicapped. A man in a wheel chair explained to me the mosaic he had made, a beautiful rendition of the tree of life, with symbols of life and death at it's feet--life represented by graceful gazelles and death represented by a lion killing a gazelle.
All part of the circle of life. Very poetic, actually. The mosaics are made traditionally by painting a picture on a muslin like cloth, stretched tight. The pieces of stone, all local, are cut and then glued in place with a flour paste. When it is finished, the whole thing is then framed and a grout like material spread over the top. You've been look
ing at the back this whole time! When you flip it over, the muslin cloth is peeled away with boiling water which dissolves the flour paste. Additional grout and cleaning is done and there you have it! The more modern version is less labor intensive, and less lovely, I think, so I purchased a small gift of the more traditional type of mosaic for my school's new chapel. When we arrived back at the dorms, we were surprised by two very friendly cats that decided to join us for part of the evening. They eventually decided to take their leave, but not before inspecting every open dorm room! It was a nice reminder of my kitties at home!
of bats exited, startling him mightily! He said it took some time to catch his breath and return to the cave excavation! The Jordan river borders Palestine, of course, and it was startling to see how small the river was. I could almost have leapt across it. Instead, I sat and bathed my feet, just as many people over the centuries have done, perhaps at this very spot. Just above the place we were standing in the photo was the Palestinian flag and the Hebron flag. There was a great deal of development at that site as well. Several churches have sprung up. This beautiful painting was from the ceiling of a Greek Orthodox church we visit
ed on our way back from the river. Following our tour of the site of Jesus' baptism, we went to Mount Nebo, the site where Moses died and was buried. He also said to have looked out (as did I!) on the Promised Land from this very spot on the heights of Mt. Nebo. The view was truly breathtaking, especially when you look around at the barren, hot, rocky terrain that Moses and his people wandered in for 40 years. The Promised Land (ie:Jordan valley) must have truly been a sight! It was hazy today, so the view wasn't as spectacular as I'd hoped, but it was impressive nonetheless. I love the beautiful 
mosaics we saw everywhere at the excavation site. As we left Mt. Nebo, we stopped along the way to shop for mosaics at a small shop that sells wares specifically made by the handicapped. A man in a wheel chair explained to me the mosaic he had made, a beautiful rendition of the tree of life, with symbols of life and death at it's feet--life represented by graceful gazelles and death represented by a lion killing a gazelle.
All part of the circle of life. Very poetic, actually. The mosaics are made traditionally by painting a picture on a muslin like cloth, stretched tight. The pieces of stone, all local, are cut and then glued in place with a flour paste. When it is finished, the whole thing is then framed and a grout like material spread over the top. You've been look
ing at the back this whole time! When you flip it over, the muslin cloth is peeled away with boiling water which dissolves the flour paste. Additional grout and cleaning is done and there you have it! The more modern version is less labor intensive, and less lovely, I think, so I purchased a small gift of the more traditional type of mosaic for my school's new chapel. When we arrived back at the dorms, we were surprised by two very friendly cats that decided to join us for part of the evening. They eventually decided to take their leave, but not before inspecting every open dorm room! It was a nice reminder of my kitties at home!
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