Climbing around in archaeological ruins is fun
Trip Start
Jan 10, 2007
1
22
72
Trip End
Jul 03, 2007
Sanaa,
Yemen
Friday, February 16, 2007
We went to an old village on a hilltop on the outskirts of the city. This wasn't just any old ordinary village...this was the Jewish village.
Did you know that there used to be a sizeable Jewish community in Yemen? Neither did I, but I think I can imagine.
We took a taxi, who didn't know how to get through the surrounding village up to the hill, so he left us somewhere on the outskirts, and we had to climb our way to the top. As we picked our way through the village, two boys stopped us and were very happy to see us there, so we followed them up the mountain side. This drew stares from the villagers as we passed through. The kids were entertaining, and good guides, even if they did demand sizeable baksheesh, and there was something of a battle over how much they had really earned.
Sana'a through the ruins
The site doesn't seem to be entirely abandoned, and the buildings that were abandoned seem to be in current use as latrines. Apart from that, you are free to climb around inside the crumbling buildings, crawl through the crevices and walk around on the remains of the walls and roofs. The only danger is that a lot of the ceilings are crumbling, so just you watch where you put your feet!
This is a happy memory for me, because it reminds me of the archaelogical searches my father used to take me on in Greece--only better, because nothing was cordoned off, and there are no guards blowing whistles when you touch the wrong thing.
Comments
good work, liz!
I just now went to your blogsite for the first time since before you were told to be more 'positive'. By who? You haven't said, but I went back to the first few entries to reread them and loved how you changed them. Your facesiousness is hilarious! I then spent all morning to read all the way up to #23. WOW! You have been busy, not only having some amazing experiences but also reporting them (extremely well, by the way, with beautiful photos to boot). Thank you. It has been most entertaining and educational. I have several things to say regarding the entries but I can save them until you come back. Here, I will just add that you have a great sense of humor and I still can't get over the fact that you got a manicure and went to a bar. Did I see correctly that you were wearing makeup at some posh outdoor cafe, standing next to some studly-looking young man??? You sketchily mentioned something about a kidnapping and I am starting to think that perhaps you have been kidnapped and someone has taken over your identity and blogsite. HA! I am grateful that you got your breath of fresh air in Yemen and got to see Kim. Can't wait to see the photos tomorrow when you post them. Even better, can't wait to see you when you get back...so BE SAFE and TAKE CARE!!! God Bless, danna
umm...yeah
That was supposed to be 'facetiousness' in my last comment. Typo. My bad.
Re: umm...yeah
Hi Danna. Don't worry--I knew what you meant. Ha! My cousin Amy just did the same thing--she wrote 'antidote' when she meant 'anecdote'. Happens to the best of us!
Seriously, though--everyone here has to wear makeup, or face social ostracision. The guy at Madinat Jumeira is this guy in my Arabic class that I tagged along with for some photo ops of the area. I promise--nothing going on between us.
Ma Salaame, liz
Re: Re: umm...yeah
At my cousin's request, I hasten to add that she did in fact correct herself immediately. No worries, see?
Liz
Re: Re: Re: etc.
Hey, I was kinda kidding about you making me look bad, but thanks anyway for the clarification even though you say that no one reads the comments section anyway. Hope you're well and keep writing!
-Amy-