The Simple Life

Pictures from a Wednesday night in the Old Town...

Lebanon

October Beach

Summer in Central America

This summer, Matthew and I spent a month traveling in Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama. Here are some of my favorite shots. Enjoy!

An alleyway in Granada, Nicaragua

A man sells traditional Panamian hats in El Valle, Panama


So-called "Diablo Rojo" buses ply the streets of Panama City, trying to one-up each other with over-the-top colorful designs


We ran into this guy at a rally celebrating the 30th anniversary of Sandinista control in Leon. The flag on the left is the flag of Nicaragua, and the flag on the right is for the Sandinista party, which has returned to power nationally under President Daniel Ortega


A bus picks up passengers in Leon, Nicaragua

Summer Vacation in Greensboro, NC

Photos from the Summer Solstice fair in Greensboro, NC USA.

Irish Band in Aqaba

Another day, another garbanzo

A woman walking to the mosque for Friday prayer.

Men praying at a mosque for Friday prayer.


Pre-kebab.

Spring Sunsets

Hanging out at sunset. Eilat, Israel in the background.
Aqaba, May 2009

Jordanian Shebab

Shebab, a common Arabic term for young men, in the back of a pick-up truck in the Wadi Araba desert

Hookah Heads

Nargileh, the Jordanian term for Hookah, is an extremely common pastime in Jordan. Men and women spend hours nursing a pipe, drinking tea, and conversing.

Istanbul, Turkey

Aya Sophia Mosque
Istanbul, Turkey April 2009
Ablutions before prayer.
Istanbul, Turkey 2009

Blue Mosque
Istanbul, Turkey 2009

Saturday Morning on the Town

A sheikh enjoys a Saturday breakfast in Aqaba

A newspaper salesman in downtown Aqaba
An Aqabawi woman stands in front of the main public park


Hijabs for sale in all colors and patterns

Warm April Nights in Aqaba

The plaza around the flagpole overlooking the Red Sea is a popular place for nargileh and tea on weekend nights in Aqaba

The street running from the flagpole towards the mountains is dominated by tire and car repair shops

Aqabawi Band

Playing traditional Aqabawi Arabic music at an outdoor amphitheater in Aqaba city center. March 2009

Wadi Araba

Wadi Araba, Jordan March 2009

This Friday at the Mosque...

Two young girls sit outside a mosque during the midday Friday prayer.

Eid al-Adha in Alexandria, Egypt

Above: Eid al-Adha street festivities for children in Alexandria, Egypt (November 2008)

Eid al-Adha is a Muslim holiday that commemorates Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son, Ishmael, as an act of obedience to God. Satisfied with Ibrahim's devotion, God put a ram in place of Ishmael at the last moment and Ishmael was saved.

To celebrate Eid al-Adha many Muslims sacrifice a goat, lamb, cow, etc. as a symbol of Ibrahim's sacrifice, and then distribute sacrificed meat to the poor.

Purim in Tel Aviv

Purim is the Jewish festival commemorating the deliverance of the Jewish people of ancient Persia from Emperor Haman's plot to annihilate them. However, among the young and secular in Tel Aviv, it has become a costume party in the streets which runs until past dawn.










Above: Purim in Tel Aviv (March 2009)

Judaism In Jerusalem

Women pray in front of the female section at the Western Wall, with Jewish prayer books in the foreground

Orthodox Jewish men on a street in West Jerusalem

Young Orthodox Jews wait to cross the street

Men pray, sing, and embrace at the Western Wall of the Temple Mount, the holiest site in Judaism

Above: Jerusalem, March 2009