It's just not the same without camels

The last 10 days were spent in a world different from any previous experiences we had. The only thing I could identify with was the arid lands of the desert that in some places reminded me of the desert plains of the American southwest. In the Negev desert on our last day we had to travel through a sandstorm not unlike those I remember from my days of growing up on the dry plains of Colorado.

The last day was a day of real contrasts. We started at Eilat on the Red Sea and drove up along the Jordanian border and ate lunch on the shores of the Dead Sea. (Dry, hot south wind, blowing sand, 43ºC/109ºF). From there, 30 or 40 km away, we ate dinner on the outskirts of Jerusalem, on the way to Tel Aviv. (Western breeze from the Mediterranean, 23ºC/73ºF) Leaving Tel Aviv at 1 a.m., we arrived in Brussels about 5:00 a.m., temperature: 3ºC/37ºF!

We had planned an overnight stay in Lisbon before going back home to Madeira. Just as well. The airport of Madeira was closed yesterday due to the volcanic cloud, and we haven't had confirmation that it opened this afternoon. We may get home tomorrow.

During the hour or so between flights at Brussels, I reflected back over the last 10 or 11 days and considered the world we were re-entering. With a twinge of sadness, I thought to myself, "Life's just not the same without camels."

                                                                                                                                                        Photo taken at Petra