Kellee Green 6/8/18 Kellee Green 6/8/18

Jordan

Well hello there. It's so good to see you guys again. If you are here from reading my previous entry on Israel, then this is what you guys have been waiting for. If you are new here, welcome, come on in, get cozy and let me take you through a virtual trek though Jordan. While traveling in Israel I crossed over to Jordan and explored the cities of Jerash, Petra, Wadi Rum.

I would like to start off by saying that Petra has always been at the very top of my bucket list since day one, so naturally, when I decided to go to Israel, I knew that I would be going to Petra. I had no idea what I was in store for, but I knew that that greatness would ensue. Months before the time came, I would literally pray that nothing happened to me until I got to Petra. These prayers would sound a little something like, "Dear God, please don't let me die or hurt myself before I see Petra in November. Let me die in Petra if it's in your will that I die, but not a moment before." That my friends, is how you know that you have a serious heart and passion for exploring the world. Only now do I realize that me praying like that just sounds absolutely ridiculous. God was probably looking down on me shaking his head and sighing thinking where did he go wrong with this one.

I decided to book a three days and two night tour to Jordan through Abraham Tours. Like I mentioned before in my Israel post, I highly recommend all of your tour needs though Abraham Tours. They are phenomenal and not like other tour companies that spend tons of time talking and talking and not giving you the freedom to explore off on your own. They are also very affordable and offer a huge variety of things to do. Their guides are the best. With that being said, this is not a paid promotion of any kind. They are just very good!

Moving right along. I arrive at Abraham Hostel in Tel Aviv early in the morning and check in for the trip. The driver and tour guide comes and gathers everyone to board the bus for a short ride to the Israeli/Jordanian boarder. As we get to the boarder, we gather our belongings and get off of the bus that we were just on and wait for another tour guide to come and take us through passport/immigration control. Our new tour guides name is Amina. She is a local Jordanian woman who will be escorting us though out our time in Jordan.

Everyone, meet Mia from Canada with the green and black scarf, Thomas from Prague in the black, and Giuseppe from Italy with the back pack on. These guys are now life long friends of mine. Meeting these guys made the trip so much better.

Once we get through immigration control and exchange currencies, we board another bus and begin making our way to the ancient city of Jerash. This city sits just north of Amman and is known for having some the best preserved Roman ruins outside of Italy. As we enter the city and come upon the ruins, I am immediatley taken back to another time in history. Everything has been preserved beautifully. Nothing like any ruins that I have seen before. I imagine what it must have felt like to live back in the time when this city was thriving and day to life was happening. I start to drift into my own little world. I find myself peeling away from the tour group and lingering around certain spots just a little longer, making small exchanges with one of the locals, even if it is just a smile.

A local Jordanian man with his daughters and horse.

Standing on the steps of the colosseum in Jerash.

After exploring the ruins of Jerash, we head out and begin our long drive through the dessert highway and onward to the Seven Wonders Bedouin Camp where we'll be staying for the night. The drive is long. Our bus driver is escorted by a Jordanian police officer that rides along with us the entire time. At the time, I thought he was only with us as we made the journey through the dessert highway. No, he was here to stay. And something that I noticed towards the end of the trip was that there was no clip in his service weapon. No ammo? What tha? Sir, how do you plan on securing us if something happens to us with no ammo. I guess I am lucky that I didn't get to see how that would go down this time. And just to clarify, the dessert highway is just a very very long stretch of highway the goes though the Jordanian dessert. There isn't much to see other than dessert scenery, wild camels here and there, and scarcely scattered palm trees.

Jordanian dessert scenery from our bus ride through the dessert highway.

Wild camels. Much different than the ones you will see dressed with colorful fabrics and tourist sitting on top of them.

Since we are a little ahead of schedule for our arrival time to the camp, our tour guide decides to surprise us and takes us to a local olive press where olive farmers press their olive crop and turn it into olive oil. Olives are such an important part of life for many of the Jordanian people. Its their livelihood. Farmers harvest the olives year around and they make their money buy turning it into olive oil. Once the olives are turned into oil, the people from all over the Jordanian region come to buy the oil. Olive oil is not sold as it is here in the states. Its sold in bulk in huge containers. People use it not only to cook with, but for medicinal purposes, cosmetic purposes, to light lanterns, tons of things. Olive oil is a huge part of Jordanian life. And I must say, the olive tree is very abundant in Jordan. This was such an amazing thing to experience with the locals. We were the only non Jordanian people there. This is exactly what I live for when traveling, true authentic, off the beaten path experiences.

A man carrying two large containers of olive oil fresh from the presses.

People come with their harvested olives and stack them in a line and wait for their turn to use the press. It is an all day process. In one cluster, that belongs to one person. They will then press all of those olives into oil. That will be theirs t… — People come with their harvested olives and stack them in a line and wait for their turn to use the press. It is an all day process. In one cluster, that belongs to one person. They will then press all of those olives into oil. That will be theirs to keep or sell, or both.

Fresh olives on the pressing machine. Ready to to be made into olive oil. Pure and unadulterated.

Locals waiting on the other side for their olive oil.

By the time we arrive to the Bedouin Camp it is late. The sun has gone down and the temperature has dropped significantly. Luckily for us, the camp was set up beautifully with an dining tent and a bedouin style fire to keep you warm. We get our briefing about the camp and the facilities and our guide explains the logistics of how tomorrow is going to go, because, ya know, tomorrow is the big day. The day we go to Petra.

Guys, how beautiful is this bedouin camp set up in the middle of the Jordanian dessert.

One of our host preparing tea over the camp fire to keep us wam until dinner is ready.

It isn't long before we head into the dining tent and eat a traditional bedouin feast. They have prepared, chicken cooked over rice, fresh hummus, yogurt sauce, hot pita bread, a salad mixed with tomato, cucumber, parsley, onion, and feta cheese. A true gastronomical treat for the senses. As I sit back and take it all in, I can't believe this is my life.

Tomorrow is an early day so I head to my tent to gather my things for a shower. While this is indeed a bedouin camp, they do have hot shower facilities and restrooms, which may I add, were of outstanding quality. Way better than any field shower that I had while in the army or Iraq. This was familiar to me. I was familiar with sleeping in tents in the dessert and showering in trailers, but this, this was a different experience. I felt so at ease. My soul was at peace. Something was happening to me. I was in my element.

I finally get myself situated inside my tent for the night. There was an option to share a tent or stay in one alone. I opted for the tent alone. Lucky for me, my friend Mia was right next to me in the tent over. All I had to do was yell her name and she would be right there. Pretty comforting to know. I anticipated on being anxious and scared that night, but I was pretty okay. I had my flashlight for when they cut the generator off, and the rest, I just put it into Gods hands. They cut the generator at 11:00 p.m. and by that time I was just getting ready to fall asleep. I slept like the dead. I hadn't slept that well since I was a child. Something about being under the dessert sky. Once they cut the generator off there is no noise pollution, no light pollution, nothing. Just the sweet lull of the dessert wind helping drift me into an even deeper sleep.

Inside of my sleeping tent. It was rather cold so I used all of the blankets on the spare bed and kept nice and toasty. Have I mentioned how well I slept. Ughhh, my soul craves to sleep like that agin. — Inside of my sleeping tent. It was rather cold so I used all of the blankets on the spare bed and kept nice and toasty.
Have I mentioned how well I slept. Ughhh, my soul craves to sleep like that agin.

I ended up waking up somewhere just at the crack of dawn because my bladder had decided that enough was enough. I peel myself from under the several layers of warm blankets and feel around until I find my flash light. I cut the flash light on and find my shoes and get ready to make a mad dash to the bathroom. I open my door to my tent and step outside and look up. The first thing I notice and hear is the Azaan, the Muslim call to prayer. It was loud enough to hear off in the distance, but faint enough not to be heard through the tents. The sound was beautiful as it bounced down the dessert mountainside behind me and into my ears. I look up and it's almost like I am dreaming still. I can see a million stars and a sliver of the moon. I was breathless. Have you ever seen the stars under the blacked out dessert sky where there's no light for hundreds of miles away. I die. I stand there completely ignoring the fact that in any minute, my bladder will explode all over the place and I will be standing in a river of my own urine. I had butterflies in my stomach. I wanted time to stand still for as long as possible. I didn't want that moment to end. I looked up and thought, God, I know you're right here with me right now. Look at all of your majesty. May I never forget this moment as long as I live. I brake free from the trance that I am in by looking up at the bright moon and stars and run quickly to the bathroom and then back to my tent. I lay back down until my alarm goes off, which is only like 45 minutes.

A view of the dessert sky while the sun is trying to crawl to the horizon of Earth and the moon still hanging out.

The day has arrived. This is the day where I go to Petra. This is the day that I can't believe is about to happen. I get ready and head to the breakfast tent to eat a good breakfast before heading out. There is an array of delicious foods spread out for breakfast. Hard boiled eggs, bread, jams, honey, yogurt, fruits, you name it. It' all there. I eat and drink and use the restroom. Before you know it, we were boarding the bus and heading to Petra.

This is where the Bedouin people sleep. They have tents to sleep in as well, but they prefer to be outside most time if the weather isn't harsh.

Everyone, meet Abdalah. He is one of the local Bedouins that helps out at the camp. He can also be found in Petra helping tourist navigate their way through the ancient city.

It takes us only 20 minutes or so to arrive at Petra. Our tour guide gathers us like little sheep in her flock and we're off, beginning our trek down inside the ancient Nabatean city of Petra.

Going into the entrance of Petra. I can't believe that I am actually doing this (squeee)

A few thing that you should know before hand. Wear comfortable shoes. Petra is massive and cannot be concurred all in one day. The hikes and paths to get to some of the main sites are killer. You need to be able to walk a pretty good distance. It doesn't seem like you're walking a lot at first when you're starting out, but its the return that will break you off. At the end you will be dead dog tired. And lastly, DRINK WATER! Bring water with you and buy it there. They have places to use the restroom and places to buy snacks, food, and water. And one last very important thing. Do not ride the animals. They have donkeys, camels, and horses. They do not take care of the animals and they are in poor condition. Please be a responsible tourist and don't support this. They will harass you every so often to ride. Just say no and walk. There will also be little Bedouin children asking you to buy things. They are very persistent, our tour guide suggest you buy one thing and walk away, if not, you will end up buying everything and a lot of it is not authentic. Okay, now that we have had that talk. With out further ado, I present to you ladies and gentlemen, Petra.

Making our way down to the main part of the city that leads to the Treasury.These caves that have been carved out were actual places of residence back in ancient times. Some even burial sites. — Making our way down to the main part of the city that leads to the Treasury.
These caves that have been carved out were actual places of residence back in ancient times. Some even burial sites.

A local Bedouin and his daughter. When ever I see children in other countries I can't help but wonder what their every day life is like. As a little bedouin girl, it is likely that this way of life will be all she ever knows. If only I can see life … — A local Bedouin and his daughter. When ever I see children in other countries I can't help but wonder what their every day life is like. As a little bedouin girl, it is likely that this way of life will be all she ever knows. If only I can see life through her little eyes.

I can hardly take the suspicion of what lies beyond.

The only way to get to the treasury is through the this narrow canyon called the Al Siq. I held my breath for so long standing there at the first glimpse of this beautiful ancient site. I am still in awe to this day when I think about it. I was actu… — The only way to get to the treasury is through the this narrow canyon called the Al Siq. I held my breath for so long standing there at the first glimpse of this beautiful ancient site. I am still in awe to this day when I think about it. I was actually there standing on that ground, the same ground as whats in this picture. A dream come true.

Is this even real right now. There are a lot of other tourist around but my senses block them out. It's as if I am there alone, making this discovery all on my own for the first time.

The best day of my life thus far....well, thats a hard call, but it's definitely high up there on my list. A girl like me, never in a gajillion years would I ever think that I would get to explore a place as magical as Petra. Thank you God! I am for… — The best day of my life thus far....well, thats a hard call, but it's definitely high up there on my list. A girl like me, never in a gajillion years would I ever think that I would get to explore a place as magical as Petra. Thank you God! I am forever grateful for this experience.

Guys, the pictures are good, but I promise that the pictures don't do it any justice. My words trying to describe it don't do this place any justice. Petra is magical, an absolute must experience for any serious traveler. Do not die before coming to Petra. Okay, I am getting carried away, but you get what I am saying.

Petra is a UNSCO world heritage site. It is considered one of the newest Seven Wonders of the World. If this looks familiar to you, you may have seen this site on the film Indiana Jones, 'The last Crusade'. The movie was filmed here in Petra. The city of Petra is all carved out of sandstone. It is said that Petra will not be here forever due to the gradual deterioration and fading of the sandstone.

Moving right along. Once you get to this point their is a space to use the restroom, get a snack or drink, and move right along to the next path/hike that will lead you up to the Monastery. Some people usually decide right at this point if they want to hang around here or go up further. The hike up to the Monastery can be tough on a really warm day. It is all up hill with slippery footing form the smooth sandstone and and loads of steep steps. Not an easy task at all, but worth it for sure. I got about half way up and thinking; what have you gotten yourself into Kellee. I pushed through one step at a time, stopping several times along the way to breathe. I thought I was going to have a legit heart attack. I would see people coming back down from being at the top and they would look at me say, "you're almost there, its just a few more steps up."

These are people who persistently ask you to ride the donkeys all the way up to the Monastery. Just say NO! The animals are not taken care of and can not bear the load of a human going up the step path.

Trecking along to the path to start the hike up to the Monastery.

Yeah buddy. Getting pretty high up there.

I discover a lone donkey off on the path up.

Finally, I make it up to the top and I am out of breath and just shy of collapsing onto the hot dessert ground, but then I took one look at the Monastery and I quickly forgot that I was dying and out of breath.

I can't believe that I actually made it up there. That, no doubt, was hard work. But, its not even the tip top. You can keep trecking further up to discover even more of the ancient city. I decided that this was my stop point. I would rest here, use the restroom, hydrate, eat a snack, and prepare for the treck back down. At this point we were about 5 miles in from the city gates. We'd have to make the trek back to the gates in time to get on the bus.

A resting place atop where the Monastery is.

My friend Mia captured this image of a little bedouin girl. We had seen her all over Petra at every stop we made. How she scales those steep sandstone cliffs and hills so quickly with out skipping a beat is beyond me, but this is home for her, she i… — My friend Mia captured this image of a little bedouin girl. We had seen her all over Petra at every stop we made. How she scales those steep sandstone cliffs and hills so quickly with out skipping a beat is beyond me, but this is home for her, she is on familiar land.
Photo credit for this image goes to Mia Dungo.

More views of the city on the way back down headed towards the Treasury and out of the gates.

Passing by the treasury on the way out, I snap a candid photo of the guard that is standing by one of the shops. I wonder where his mind is in this photo. What was he thinking with his arms crossed, foot semi cooked, and a hazy daze on his face.&nbs… — Passing by the treasury on the way out, I snap a candid photo of the guard that is standing by one of the shops. I wonder where his mind is in this photo. What was he thinking with his arms crossed, foot semi cooked, and a hazy daze on his face.

The hike back down was no easy feat either. Going down some of the narrow slick sandstone steps were super scary. If you didn't step just right and balance, you'd hurt yourself for sure. By the time we reached the bottom we still had a ways to go. We had to pass the Treasury again and then go through the uphill path through the gates. Yes, uphill again. You don't realize that when you're entering, you're actually going downhill. I thought I would legit pass out before I reached the gates to exit. All you see on the final stretch is tourist stoped over on the sides catching their breath and willing themselves to just take one more step. One foot in front of the other. My head pounding, muscles literally shaking from fatigue, and out of breath. I was spent. But ask me if I would do it all over again. ABSOLUTELY! Petra is a once in a lifetime experience guys. If you ever decide to make the trip. Push yourself. Get ready ahead of time so that you can cover as much ground as possible. It is so totally worth it. I walked for months before coming on this trip and I still got broken off. You will be tired, but you will have epic memories of a lifetime. And besides, how many people can say that they've been to Petra.

One by one our group starts to find their way back to the bus and we return to the Bedouin Camp for the night. I eat, shower, and sleep. I was exhausted. Nothing and no one could keep me from sleeping that night. The next morning, we wake up, get dressed, eat, and head out for the final day of our time in Jordan. This final day, we spend it in the Wadi Rum Dessert. The Wadi Rum dessert is like something that I have never seen before. It gives the feeling of being on Mars somewhere. Am I still here on Earth. This is amazing. This world never ceases to amaze me. Like I said, some things you have to see up close and personal. You have to experience it with all of your senses. We load up on the back of small 4x4 pick up trucks in groups of five and set out to explore the Wadi Rum dessert.

Annaline, Mia, Giuseppe, me, and Thomas ( not pictured)

Have you ever in seen anything like it in your entire life.

A herd of camels with their owners taking a break in the cool shade.

As we finish up with our tour of the Wadi Rum Dessert, we set off to have one last lunch, bedouin style, and we start our long journey back to the Jordanian/Israeli border. And that, my friends, is my epic Jordanian experience. I felt most welcome and safe the entire time in Jordan no matter where we were. Please don't let the media scare you into never leaving your own back yard people. The key to safety anytime when traveling is to have situational awareness, follow your gut, be smart, do your research, and most importantly, go with God. I hope you guys thoroughly enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed sharing it with you. My heart will forever be under the Jordanian sky. It has not been one day since returning home that I do not think about Jordan, the people, the dessert, and Petra.

Kellee Green 6/4/18 Kellee Green 6/4/18

Israel

Hi guys, welcome back to the blog. Come on in and get cozy and settle in while I take you on my journey to Israel. I have no idea where to even begin because a lot of things went into the decision making on whether or not I would even go to Israel. I remember receiving an email about a flight deal going to Tel Aviv and another one going to Morocco. I couldn't figure out which one I wanted to do because they were both way high up there on my bucket list of traveling. So, unlike anything else, when I can't make up my mind I ask Karina what she thinks. Well, Karina was no help this time. The traveling wanderlust bug hasn't sunken its teeth in her quite like it has me. I remember asking her which one I should go to and she said, "neither, why would you want to go to Morocco or Israel"? I looked at her as if she had landed in my living room from a galaxy that I wasn't familiar with. Is this girl even apart of my tribe? Who is this imposter standing before me?

I did research, so much research guys. I was looking up everything about Morocco and Israel at the same time and calculting the cost of each. I prayed about it; yes, I pray, and finally I come to the decision that I am going to Israel and Jordan. Yes, I said Jordan. Why Jordan? Well, because Petra is there, duh. Jordan borders Israel and it's not far to reach at all. You can reach by a small flight or a drive. Also, for me, when I travel, I always try and go to as many places as possible thats in the surrounding areas. A rule of thumb for me is that, if I have to take a international flight across the water I am going to do everything and go everywhere I can (reasonably) for the amount of time that I am there. Anytime I go out of the country it is always for an extended period of time because I like to explore and take it all in, but not rush the experience because most of the time these are once and a life time oppertunities.

So here we go. It's happening, the day has arrived and I'm off. My feelings that had been building up for this trip were all over the place. I was so excited and pumped and ready to go, but I have anxiety y'all, not just the ordinary kind, but the chronic kind, the PTSD kind. It can be very crippling at times. The last time I was in the Middle East I was in the Army and we were at war in Iraq. So a lot of residual feelings were stirring around and I couldn't help but think; what if something crazy happens while I am there blah blah blah. Israel is still the Middle East. It's still a region of conflict. I had to stop myself because I know that the way that my mind is set up, I'll freak myself out and miss out on an experience of a lifetime. And besides, YOLO right!

I arrive in Tel Aviv in the wee hours of the morning. After deboarding the flight, everyone goes through what seems like an eternity of check points and security through the airport. I will say this, the security upon arrival and departure is vigorous and intense at Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv. It takes all of a little over an hour to pass though all the checkpoints and security. Try to keep your wits about you and just know that they are strictly about safety. The security may seem cold and rude, but its their job to ensure that people coming in, and out, for that matter, are legit and safe.

I fetch a shuttle taxi that takes me to Jerusalem where I will start the first leg of my trip and I get checked into my airbnb and settle in. It isn't long before my day starts. I arrived in the very early hours of the morning, so I literally just had time to have a two hour nap and shower before I went out to start the day. I was quite eager to see what Israel was all about. I started my day in The Old City. The Old City is divided into four parts. The Christian Quarter, The Armenian Quarter, The Jewish Quarter, and The Muslim Quarter. All of these people living and working together side by side everyday in a city with walls thats only .35 square miles. It's amazing.

Arriving at the Old City. Standing right out front of the Jaffa Gate that takes you straight into the Christian Quarter.

The Old City is filled with people of the Jewish, Muslim, and Christian Faith. These people co-exist in this space and they do it with out skipping a beat. There is no hostility, no tension, just life. People going on with with their day, children roaming the narrow ally ways, merchants propped out side of their shops conducting business. I can barely take it all in. I try to imagine what these walls have seen over the course of time and my mind can't grasp that I am in the Old city of Jerusalem. Walking the same streets that Jesus walked.

I start out in the Christian corner and I am overwhelmed with how many people are walking around. Tons of tourist. But also just as many local people are there too. I walk until I hit the Armenian quarter and to my luck, I am just in time to see the Armenian service at the Cathedral of Saint James. Tons of young men, no older than early 20's dawn their black hooded robes and begin the service. It is something that should not be missed. I believe they have services at 3 p.m. every day sharp. I can still hear the gregorian singing in Armenian.

*Disclaimer* I tried to get good shots while inside, but it's a thin line of getting a good shot and being disrespectful. This is still a place of worship.

Cathedral of Saint JamesArmenian Quarter — Cathedral of Saint James
Armenian Quarter

After the service is over I continue walking and I end up in The Jewish Quarter. I could immediately tell that I had hit the Jewish quarter when I stumbled upon a lovely guy who was selling all kinds of beautiful bread. And I would have to say, he was the friendliest encounter I had had all day. He was all smiles and very polite. I asked to take a photo of him and brought some bread as a good gesture and was on my way. I can still feel the warmth of his smile every time I revisit the photo.

I stroll the streets of the Old city getting lost in my thoughts of wondering what life is like for the people who call this place home. This place has a lot of hustle and bustle, but it is extraordinary. Perhaps, maybe, one of the only places in the entire world where the main three monotheistic religions live so close together. I can imagine that there is tension at times, but what can you do if you live here inside of these walls. But for right now, everything is flowing and there is peace. I walk slowly taking everything in, not wanting to miss anything. I want to experience this with all of my senses. Taste, touch, hear, see, and smell, everything.

Kids roam free here in the Old City. They are everywhere. The older little one cut her eyes at me when I gave her a friendly smile. Made me laugh.

A small part of the Western Wall (Wailing Wall). I didn't want to get too close to the main wall because people were praying and reading the Torah. I didn't want to be disrespectful or be too intrusive.

Two men sit in a quiet place to study the Torah in the Jewish Quarter.

After exploring the Jewish Quarter I make my way to the Via Dolorosa. Via Dolorosa means The Way of Suffering. The Via Dolorosa starts at the Lions Gate and Ends at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The Via Dolorosa was an experience that I can't quite put into words. There were mobs and mobs of people walking the route. The Israeli Defense Force were at what seemed like every corner and turn. Entire church groups carrying an actual wooden cross through the entire road of the Via Dolorosa, all the way to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. It was a lot going on, and to be honest, I couldn't take it in like I wanted to. But now that I have returned home, I am in awe of it all. I can't believe that I was actually there.

I tried to go into the Prison of Christ but it was closed during the time I was there. It is suppose to be the exact prison that they held Jesus in and gambled with dice for his clothing.

Walking through the stations through the Via Dolorosa takes a little while. There are shops and merchants of many kind set up along path. No one there tries to hustle you into buying their merchandise. If you go in to look around and not buy anything, they are still very friendly. During my walk I decided to stop into a falafel shop for food. I ordered shawarma, humus, and falafel. The food was prepared fresh to order and it was amazing. This is as authentic as it gets ya'll. The humus was unlike any I had ever had. So good, that I decided to order more and hadn't even finished my meal yet. Once done eating, I guzzled some water and took the last little bit of the walk that led to the Holy Sepulchre.

In Christianity, The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is believed to be the place where Jesus was crucified and buried. Always expect large crowds here. I arrived in the later part of the evening and there were still massive crowds. Luckily, at the time of my arrival, the church clergy were making their rounds to bless different areas of the church, and when they do that, they clear a path to make way for the priest coming around. I was fortunate to get some pretty good views. However, the lines to see the spot where Jesus was crucified and buried were wrapped around the inside of the church and they had roped it off for no more people to enter the line. I did manage to get to follow the locals around with the group of priest that were doing the blessings over the different areas of the church. It was pretty cool experience sitting there listening to the prayers in a language that is not my own.

The priest are blessing the Stone of Anointing, the place where Jesus' body was prepared for burial. This stone usually has crowds of people kneeling down and bent over kissing it and saying prayers over it.

Following the blessings of the different areas.

Calvary.The Alter of Crucifixion. — Calvary.
The Alter of Crucifixion.

One of the lines leading to the burial of Jesus Christ.

By the time I leave the Holy Sepulchre, the sun has set and it is time for me to go back to my airbnb and recharge for the next day of exploring Jerusalem.

A quick story. As I walk to the Lions Gate to exit the Old City, I realize that I am no where near the other gate that I entered the Old City on. I am now on what is considered as the Muslim side of the Old City. I call my airbnb host because she advised me to call her in the event that I couldn't get a taxi to get back to her place. I call her to tell her my location, only for her to tell me that her taxis ( Jewish taxi services) don't come to the Lions gate or to this side of the city. She hangs up rather quickly. More quickly than what I am accustomed to. She was almost borderline rude if I dare say. Then, I suddenly realized where I was. I was not at home. I am in the Middle East, alone. It's getting late and I am all the way on the other side of the Old City. The back end of the city. I tried several times to hail a taxi only for them to tell me no when I tell them address where I am going is to the Jewish part of the city. I didn't panic, but i did start to walk. I had to hike it all the way around back near the Jaffa gate to get a taxi that would take me to my airbnb. That was quite a hump guys. Jerusalem is nothing but step hills every where you turn. By the time I get inside the taxi, I am grateful that this day is almost over. What would a trip to the Old City in Jerusalem be with out this experience. This is what makes the trip memorable. Even if it is very inconvenient. It's a real life taste of life in Jerusalem.

One of the many spice shops in the Muslim Quarter.

Leaving the Old City.The Muslim Quarter. — Leaving the Old City.
The Muslim Quarter.

The next day I wake up and my feet are swollen from the day before. I will tell you now that Israel is a lot of walking. It is important to have proper shoes. My feet were swollen so bad that I could not put my feet in side of my shoes. I had to wear flip flops. That wasn't my choice, but I had no other option. Swollen feet and all, I decided that I needed to go out and make the best of my time. I only had this day and next to explore Jerusalem before going off to Petra in Jordan.

I decide to go to the Mount of Olives, Dominos Flevit, Church of All Nations, and the Garden of Gethsemane. They are all clustered right there together. You start a the top of the hill at the Mount of Olives, work your way down to Dominos Flevit church, then proceed to The Garden of Gethsemane, and onto the Church of All Nations.

Th climb to the top of the hill where the Mount of Olives is. The climb is very steep. I suggest taking a taxi if you have any problems walking. Coming down, I thought I would fall several times.

Dominus Flevit Church. The church was closed off to visitors/tourist on this day but a local invited me in to join in on the Mass. It was such a special moment and time for me. I did not take photos inside out of respect for the Mass that was i… — Dominus Flevit Church. The church was closed off to visitors/tourist on this day but a local invited me in to join in on the Mass. It was such a special moment and time for me.
I did not take photos inside out of respect for the Mass that was in progress.

The garden of Gethsemane. The  olive trees are the same tree's form when Jesus went to pray right before he got betrayed by Judas Iscariot. If only these trees could talk. No one is allowed in the Garden. You can look through the gates. Their i… — The garden of Gethsemane. The olive trees are the same tree's form when Jesus went to pray right before he got betrayed by Judas Iscariot. If only these trees could talk. No one is allowed in the Garden. You can look through the gates. Their is one garden keeper.

The Garden of Gethsemane is such a place of peace. I have never felt peace like the peace that I felt at the garden. I didn't want to leave. There was so much on my heart and I just stood there and prayed and I could feel The Lords pretense.

The prayer that Jesus prayed in the Garden right before being led off to his death.

People travel to Israel for many different reasons. The entire time I kept thinking to myself, I feel so disconnected to God in the Holy Land. I feel him strongly everywhere but here, especially when I was in the Old City. I thought that I would feel a certain level of Gods precence there, but I didn't. I was more overwhelmed than anything. But when I came down to the bottom of the hill at the Garden of Gethsemane, it was a quiet place with no other tourist to really speak of. It was there where I felt Gods spirit speaking to my heart tenderly. Sometimes, the world can literally be too loud for me. Sensory overload. In the Old City I had sensory overload and felt a disconnect of some sort. I was taking it all in, but it wouldn't be until I returned home to the sates that I could reflect and really let it sink in, the gravity of everything that I had seen and experienced.

A resting place right outside the Garden of Gethsemane.

The Church of All Nations. Basilica of the Agony. Built over the rock on which Jesus prayed the night before he was crucified. — The Church of All Nations. Basilica of the Agony.
Built over the rock on which Jesus prayed the night before he was crucified.

The next day, my final day in Jerusalem, I decide to go on a Dual Narritive tour of Hebron through Abraham Tours. The description of the tour is as follows via of the website: "This tour of Hebron is a unique tour in that it presents two very different narratives of one ancient, contested city. This is the only tour where you’ll have two guides, one Israeli, one Palestinian, each showing a different half and a different perspective of this city. The tour is political but objective, with each participant free to form their own opinions".

I would HIGHLY recommend this tour if you ever come to Israel. Both tour guides give their perspective on how it is to live in the West Bank Palestinian city of Hebron. There are several zones through out Hebron. At each zone their are different check points with Israeli soldiers who check your papers to make sure that you are authorized to enter into any particular zone. You start the day off with your Jewish tour guide taking you through the areas of Hebron where there are Israeli settlers. You will also get to go to the Tomb of Patriarchs. It is a site that is holy to both Israeli's and Muslims. During the second half of the day you meet with your Palestinian guide and cross over into the Palestinian side of Hebron that is controlled by Israeli Defense Force (IDF). You will have lunch with a local Palestinian Family and continue on your tour through out the Palestinian side of Hebron, ending your time back with your Israeli tour guide who will help you get on the bus headed back to Jerusalem.

The Hebron Dual Narrative Tour is an extremely valuable learning experience. It gave me an entirely new perspective on what it's like to live in the city of Hebron, which is a part of the West Bank. Having heard both sides, it's very hard to pick a side. Both sides will pull on your heart strings. I will, however, say that the media will warp the true story. The media will promote fear. Get out and see the world guys. Go to some of these "hot spots" in the world and form an opinion for yourself. Coming to Israel and going on this tour in Hebron was best thing that I could have done while here. It really opens your eyes to a lot.

In Hebron on a rooftop of a Jewish settlers home. The Palestinian flag just on the other side.

A Palestinian little girl entering her home through a window. There is a checkpoint set up by the IDF where her front door is and she and her family are not authorized on that side. They have to enter their home through a window now.

Checkpoint with an IDF soldier patrolling.

Our Israeli tour guide showing us Ancient Dead Sea Scrolls inside of an old Jewish Synagogue.

The streets of Hebron. Desolate. Can you tell which side we're on?

Our tour guide Lena, standing in front of a group of Palestinians girls coming out of the Muslim side of the Tomb of Patriarchs.

Walking through the markets of Hebron. A merchant selling scarves, rugs, and other little treasures.

Abrahams Tomb inside of the Tomb of the Patriarchs on the Jewish side.

Inside of the Tomb of the Patriarch you will find both Arab art as well as Christian art. The stained glass right alongside the gold plated imaged of Arab writing at the top. — Inside of the Tomb of the Patriarch you will find both Arab art as well as Christian art.
The stained glass right alongside the gold plated imaged of Arab writing at the top.

My time in Jerusalem has come to an end I am off to Tel Aviv. While in Tel Aviv, I go to see more of the the West Bank, The Dead Sea, and explore the streets of Tel Aviv.

I decide to book one last tour through Abraham Tours to see The Best of the West Bank. On this tour they take you to three different cities in Israel; Jericho, Ramallah, and Bethlehem over the span of one day. I felt completely safe during my entire time of the tour with the exception of when we entered Ramallah. Ramallah was a small city with pretty dense crowds of people. I was pretty hyper vigilant the entire time. Lots of buildings with blown out windows up top. There were pictures of martyrs all over the place and all I could think about was whether there were snipers up in those windows with the glass blown out of them. We were an easy target walking through the busy round about. It was an all too familiar vibe in that city that made me a little uncomfortable. A Canadian man that apart of our tour group could sense that I was feeling a little uneasy and admitted that he too wasn't feeling it. Come to find out he served in the Canadian Army. But the tour goes off with out a hitch. We had no problems what so ever. I am glad that I pushed through and experienced all of the West Bank.

A view of the city of Jericho. A land flowing with milk and honey.

PLO leader, Yasser Arafat's tomb in Ramallah

manners of Arafat are hung everywhere in the city of Ramallah

Flea market area in Ramallah. Way to much going on for my blood. Very busy and packed.

Our lunch that was provided by a local Palestinian family right out side of Bethlehem.

Inside of the Church of the Nativity. This is said to be the place where Jesus was born.

This very place is where Jesus is said to have placed in the manger after Mary gave birth to Jesus.

A treat a local sweet shop in Bethlehem. Kanefah is to die for. A rich sweet treat made of sweet cheese, sugar syrup, and pistachios.

A dove carrying an olive branch in his mouth as symbol of peace with a bullet proof vest on with a target on his chest... Welcome to Bethlehem. Welcome to Palestine.

The next few pictures are of the West Bank Israeli Barrier Wall. On one side is Israel, the other is of occupied Palestine.

For the most part, we as foreigners were welcomed heavily in The West Bank. The locals were very friendly and hospitable. Our tour guide was outstanding. He, himself, as a local Palestinian, invited us into his home and fed us lunch and took us around and gave us a first hand encounter on what its like to live in occupied Palestine. It was rich in history and culture. I would like to add that I also, do not live life with rose colored glasses on. I know that Hamas and the PLO are heavy in Palestine, and there are truly deep rooted issues in the land. However, it is hard to take one specific side after all I have I seen during my time thus far is Israel. I do not have a solution to the conflict that plagues this land. Maybe it's not about choosing a side at all. Maybe it's just about being aware and trying to be a good human people. Loving thy neighbor.

Moving right along, and if you are still reading this, God bless your soul. On my very last day in Israel, I decided to go to The Dead Sea. I didn't think that I would I be able to squeeze it in, but I am glad that I did. It was quite a treat indeed. The Dead Sea is the lowest spot on the entire earth sitting 2300 feet below sea level and is home to the most saline waters on earth. It is advised for people not drink the water, get it in your eyes, or splash around in it. I had the pleasure of finding out the hard way by getting into my eyes.

The mud from the Dead Sea has amazing health benefits for the skin. I was standing knee deep in that stuff. Give me all of the mud.

I couldn't have asked for a better experience in Israel. There is so much to do that you would need to spend extensive time to truly get a greater understanding of the land and culture. I barely touched the tip of the iceberg. Israel is a place that I will be exploring again and again. I did not get to go to Jaffa, Haifa, Caesarea, Capernaum, Galilee, Nazareth, or the Negev. All places that are worthy of a return trip to Israel.

Kellee Green 5/23/18 Kellee Green 5/23/18

My Morning Routine

Well hello good people of the earth. Today I am going to share with you my morning routine. It's something that I do every day upon waking, only after brushing my teeth and getting dressed. I am not a routine type of gal but this is something that If I don't do and tend to, my day gets off track and I loose focus on whats important and I forget who's ultimately in control.

I have always been a girl that prays right when I notice that I am alive and conscious in the morning. Something about not dying in my sleep is really satisfying. I struggle with extreme anxiety at night and I haven't good sleep since coming home from the war in Iraq, so when I wake in the morning, regardless of how I feel, I am grateful for another day. It usually takes me at least 30 minutes to even realize that I am awake enough to get up and go to the bathroom. Even then, I usually have to have a sit back on the bed and I may even lie back down to gather myself before I officially rise for the day. And don't let me have to set an alarm for the next day. It gets down right shameful. I will hit that snooze button for at least 30 minutes before I officially cut it off. Hell, on a bad day I may even cut it off and go right back to sleep.

Now that we have established that waking up is quite the challenge for me, I'll share a little bit on my journey that lead me to my morning routine.

Back in April of 2017 my family moved from Virginia Beach to Ft. Knox. The change and the transition was just horrible on me. I had been a resident of the Hampton Roads area (now called Coastal Virginia) for the past 16 years. Thats basically my entire adult life. I left home at 18 to join the Army and to my luck, I ended up getting stationed at Fort Story in Virginia Beach. I fell in love with the area and decided to stay after my separation from the military. I would definitely consider myself a local by now. It was a good place. The sea was basically in my back yard. Life was good. My church was there. My friends were near by; we lived very well. It was home for me. I had finally grown roots in a small tucked away place on this earth. But oh how the seasons change in life.

The sea is where my heart and soul are most content. This is the beach that was a block behind my home. Life couldn't have been any sweeter.

I was always aware of how well I lived while living in Virginia Beach. I knew that not everyone could say that the sea was basically their back yard. We were blessed. I never took any of it for granted. But sometimes when life seems to be flowing consistently for a good bit of time, that's when change comes. You know how the old saying goes; the only thing that's constant in life is change.

I remember from the time that I received the news that we were moving to Fort Knox, I was okay with it because I knew that it would be temporary. I wasn't worried. I wasn't anxious. I was ready. Kind of like, lets get this over with so we can come on back home. We were only going to be gone for two years. Two years is doable, right?

Oh the agony. The month before leaving I could feel myself slipping into a major disconnect. I was there in the physical form but my heart and mind were already thinking about how much I would miss the place and I hadn't even left yet. I was in mourning of my life that I was soon to leave behind. It all became too real, too fast. Never the less, the time was here and I had to say solong to my life as I knew it in Virginia Beach.

A very candid shot of me on the night before eating dinner and watching TV via my shoe propping it up. Household goods came to pick up all of our stuff and transport it to Ft. Knox the following day. — A very candid shot of me on the night before eating dinner and watching TV via my shoe propping it up. Household goods came to pick up all of our stuff and transport it to Ft. Knox the following day.

We traveled for two days to reach Ft. Knox. Looking back, the drive wasn't horrible because we split the 12 hours into two days giving us time to rest and get refreshed for the day. We reach the main road that leads to the base and my heart begins to sink. It all hit me like a ton of bricks. This is where I am going to be living for the next two years. Where's the water? Where's all of the stores? Why is this place so desolate? There is nothing here. We are literally in the middle of nowhere. My thoughts were racing and I was well on my way to a full fledge state of depression. I cried and cried and cried some more. I phoned my friends mom and told her that I wanted to come back home. She was very supportive and offered me a place to stay, but I couldn't do it. I couldn't leave Karina here by herself. She would have no one. And having no one in a place like this with nothing to do and being in the middle of nowhere is a lonely way to pass two years. Plus, we are family. Family doesn't leave when it gets hard.

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Ft. Knox.

So we're here. When I tell you that there's nothing to do around here I mean that. Now, I have been in the military and I usually can adjust and adapt fairly easily and quickly, but something was different about this time. I wasn't transitioning well at all. I was so home sick and I was super depressed. I had been uprooted from everything that was familiar. Most of all, my entire support system was back in Virginia. I knew that I had to get out of this rut if I wanted to survive these two years.

It's funny how just when you're at your wits end God sends you a little something that will help you. I was sitting on the couch one day crying because I wanted to go back home and the day was just overall crummy. I began to scroll on Instagram and the first thing that pops up on my feed are these Write the Word books from an account that I follow called cultivatewhatmatters. I had been following the woman who runs the account on her personal page for a quite a while and when I learned that she had a business that sells different products to help you get unstuck, a lightbulb went off in my head. I decided to purchase the entire series of Write the Word. I figured that if I put my mind on something like God's word then that could help me get through this season in my life.

I couldn't wait to dive in. It was something different and new. I have always been a woman of faith, but it's a life long journey. I am still growing and learning everyday in my faith. I had just left my church. I couldn't find a new church home that I felt comfortable with around Ft. Knox so I needed to find a way to stay rooted and grounded in God's word, and what better way than to write it out and meditate on those very words on the page.

The place where you write out whats on heart. There's even a space for your particular word for the day.

Guys, these books have been life changing for me. They really helped me to get through a tough season in my life. Included in the series of five books, there are different themes such as Faith, Hope, Joy, Gratitude, and Renewal. They all have different scriptures that focus on the theme of the given book. Writing in these books really prompted me and helped to do heart work. I was able to read God's word, write it down, and really meditate on what the scriptures were saying to me. The back of the page where you write whats on your heart was extremly helpful in getting me to write my prayers out, express what was on my heart, and give it all to God.

I started off doing these Write the Word entries in the evenings, but I started thinking that maybe I should start incorporating this into my morning routine. It would really help to set the tone of the day and it could help put my heart at ease. So my morning routine consited of prayer, my devotion that I read called Jesus Calling by Sarah Young, my Write the Word, and most times when I have a little extra time I read my Bible plan called Bible in One Year. It may seem like a lot, but the devotion is very short. The Write the Word takes the most time because it's a very intentioal act of reading and writing Gods word, plus you do heart work at the end. And I don't know about you guys, but when I can sit in a quiet place and start pouring out my heart to God, it refreshes my spirit.

A little side note* The cultivate what matters team added two new additions to their Write the Word series this year and I had to get them. They are the top two books under the sticker book in the stack. One is Prayer and the other is Forgivene… — A little side note*
The cultivate what matters team added two new additions to their Write the Word series this year and I had to get them. They are the top two books under the sticker book in the stack. One is Prayer and the other is Forgiveness. I'll tell you all about the sticker book in part two of this.

It has been a full year since I received my books and they have been a game changer for me in my prayer life and the way that I read and focus on God's word. These books really help me to sit down and intentionally quiet my heart before God to hear Him speak to me through his Holy Spirit. I have learned a lot during this season in my life. Sometimes the good Lord has to bring you away from all of the noise in your life and bring you to a still and quiet place so that you can hear his voice. He speaks to my heart loudly here in this quiet desolate place. He has stretched and grown me like never before. So even though I still miss home and still long to go back to my roots and everything that is familiar. I trust God, and I trust that I am exactly where I need to be. God is doing great things in my life right now. I am learning to surrender, and the art of surrendering all to God is no easy task, especially when you've been a control freak for most of your life. God wants to have his way in my life, and He has planted a seed of great peace in the midst of me being here.

My word of the year is SURRENDER.I also added TRUST GOD and FAITH. Just a gentle reminder. — My word of the year is SURRENDER.
I also added TRUST GOD and FAITH. Just a gentle reminder.

I hope you guys have enjoyed reading about my morning routine. If I ever skip a day I can feel it and tell the difference. I try and do this every day to keep me focused on what really matters.

There is a part two to this entry/story that will be talking about Powersheets that I also purchased from the same company and how they have helped me to birth this blog. There was a build up to me actually finally getting the guts to do this. To actually share myself and thoughts with the world. It's no easy task. Stay tuned and follow up to hear how the blog actually got started. Until next time, peace and blessings to you all.

Kellee Green 5/13/18 Kellee Green 5/13/18

Tropical Eats and Drink

Hi there, welcome back. I am so glad that you decided to come on over to the blog today. I will be talking about some of my favorite food and drink that I like to whip up whenever I am feeling, or shall I say, wishing, that I was somewhere tropical catching a cool breeze with a nice drink in my hand. Before we jump right into it I want to tell you that this is a no frills or fuss type of deal. I am just a regular lady whipping up things in her kitchen and sharing it with the world. Have I told y'all that I love to eat? I am foodie to the very core of my being. I love a good bite to eat.

Well, lets get right into it, shall wee.

I prepared three things today. Hawaiian pulled pork sliders, strawberry/mango cheesecake, and a glorious boozy rum punch. With the temps reaching well into the 90's here on Ft. Knox the timing couldn't be better for a nice cold tropical rum punch. This was my first time making the Hawaiian pulled pork sliders so I was a little apprehensive at first but the meat turned out magnificent. With everything that I am preparing today you can use what ever you like to make it yours and more suitable for your palate. I just used what I had in the house at the time.

Hawaiian Pulled Pork Sliders

Pork Shoulder (3-4 lbs)

1 small onion

1 cup of pineapple juice

Pineapple chunks fresh

1/2 cup of water

1/2 cup of brown sugar packed

1 Tbs Salt

1 Tbs Pepper

1 Tbs Garlic

1 Tbs Paprika

1/2 tsp Cayenne Pepper

*Adobo (a pinch for good measure)

King's Hawaiian Rolls

The measurements of the seasonings are a personal preference so feel free to use more or less of each. I cooked a small pork shoulder so I started with a tablespoon of each of the seasonings. When I cook it's all by the hip. I just go with what I think will be good. A good rule of thumb to go by when cooking is to start light on the seasonings and add more if needed. However, with pork, I am always a little heavy handed with the seasonings because I feel like the pork absorbs it more and it needs more flavor.

For this recipe, I cut my pork shoulder in to small pieces and washed them thoroughly with a little salt, cold water, and apple cider vinegar. I drained the water, rinsed, drained, and rinsed one more time. After my final rinse I pat dried the chunks and placed them into the crock pot bowel. I added all of the seasonings, brown sugar, pineapple chunks, diced onion, and liquids; mixed everything around by hand (I used gloves) to get all of the meat coated evenly and put the lid on. Final step was seting it on low for 8 hours and walking away.

Cleaned pork shoulder ready for the seasonings, liquids, and other tid bits.

All done. If only there was a such thing as smell-o-vision!

After eight hours time has gone by check your meat to make sure it's nice and tender and basically falling apart. Strain all meat from the juice in the crockpot and put it in a container and shred (pull apart) with two forks. It should easily break apart with two forks. If your container or dish is oven proof you can sit the dish in a warm oven to rest while you prep the rolls and the garlic butter drizzle that goes on top.

The garlic butter drizzle is nothing more than a couple of cloves of fresh pressed garlic, parsley flakes, and a stick of butter sautéed lightly over med high heat on the stove.

Cut the entire pack of rolls open but do not separate them piece by piece. They should look like two big pieces of bread that have been sliced width wise across. Kinda like making a sandwich.

Before we go any further, I suggest getting a deep oven safe dish because the sliders will have to go in the oven for for the final step and they need a place for the garlic butter liquid to collect.

After you have cut the Hawaiian rolls, layer on the pulled pork as thick as you'd like. Feel free to top with cheese or any kind of cole slaw or sweet and tangy BBQ sauces that you fancy. I opted for a shredded cheese mixture this time, but next time I will go with nice thick slices of cheddar. After you've put the sandwich together heat up the garlic butter drizzle and pour it evenly all over the top of the Hawaiian rolls and put in an oven set to 350 for about 15 minutes.

Side note*

I have a very temperamental gas oven and it can cook things fairly fast, so you may have to adjust your temp setting and time depending on what type of stove range you have. The point is to heat up the sliders and melt the cheese on the inside. So just eye it and make sure it's not actually cooking and burning. You want it to have a nice and toasty look to it when pulling them out of the oven.

All theres left to do now is to wait until they are cooled down enough to eat ;)

On to the cheesecake. I made this cheesecake the night prior to making the pulled pork sliders due to the time that the cheesecake and fruit topping needed to rest. This particular cheesecake was a labor of love. I made the crust from scratch as well as the topping.

For the cheesecake I used three packages of softend cream cheese, three eggs, one cup of sugar, 1/4 cup of butter, and splash of vanilla for good measure. I mixed the three packages of cream cheese, the butter, and sugar all together until it was smooth and creamy. I separated the egg yolk and egg whites then beat the egg whites until they formed stiff peaks. Slowly, one by one, I added the egg yolks to the mixture while mixing until they were well incorporated and then folded in the stiffened whipped egg whites gently. I hear this is ''supposed" to make for a fluffier texture cake.

Cheesecake batter before I folded in the egg whites.

Now, on to the fun part. For the crust I used an entire package of graham crackers and turned them into tiny crumbs. For this part you can put the graham crackers into a ziplock bag and hammer away at them until they are crumbs, or you can put them in the food processor; but thats no fun if you're trying to let out some pinned up aggression ;)

After the the solid graham crackers are all crumbly, empty the graham cracker crumble into a bowl. Add 1/2 cup of melted butter to the crumbles and about two tablespoons of sugar. Mix all together until nicely combined and dump the mixture into the cheesecake pan of your choice and spread out evenly covering the entire bottom of the pan. I used a pie dish that I have but you can also use a round spring pan. I put the cheese cake into an oven set on 350 for 35 minutes.

Crust set and ready for the cheesecake filling.

While the cheesecake is doing its thing in the oven I prepared the strawberry mango topping. Ya'll, mangos are my jam! As I was peeling and cutting the mango's for the topping I couldn't stop stealing little bits and pieces and eating them. Im surprised any of the mango ended up in the puree at all.

Caught red handed devouring the pit of the cut up mango. Look at the juices running down my hand. That, ladies and gentlemen, is how you know that you have a ripe and delicious mango.

The topping is pretty straight forward and simple. I washed of some strawberries (about two hands full) threw them in the Vitamix. Peeled and cut two mango and tossed the bits in with the strawberries. Added about two table spoons of sugar and pulsed until I got the texture I wanted. The Vitamix is a powerhouse blender so I only had to pulse three or four times before it was done.

Mango and strawberry going in the blender.

I set the topping in the fridge overnight so to the sugar could do its thing and make the topping come to life. By the time I was done with the fruit topping the cheese cake was ready to come out of the oven and rest overnight as well. I don't know about you guys, but when ever I bake anything yummy I have the hardest time letting it rest and cool. It's tourture! The entire house smells so good and all you can think about is how delicious everything will taste.

Now that everything has set in the fridge over night and rested, its time to dress this cheesecake and dig in. I spread the topping on leaving the outer edges bare, but you can cover the entire thing if you wish. It's yours to do what ever you fancy with it.

I would just like to say that I am horrible at cutting anything in the shape of a circle. It will always come out a little wonky. I thought I had let the cheesecake sit on the counter for enough time to get the chill off; boy was I wrong. The thing was still pretty hard to cut. Well, lets just say that the crust was being temperamental. The cheesecake part cut beautifully.

It's not always pretty, but it sure is yummy.

Now that the cheesecake and the pork sliders are complete, its time to throw together the rum punch. The recipe for the rum punch is just bunch of random things that I mixed together that put me in the mind of tropical.

I used 1/2 cup Malibu's coconut Rum, 1/2 cup Bacardi Mango Rum, the juice of a whole lemon, one cup of Simply Fruit Punch, 1 cup of Simply Tropical, one cup of sprite. I mixed all of the liquids and threw in some orange slices, pineapple, and strawberries. I added about a cup and half of ice cubes and mixed. You may be thinking, is that all of the alcohol she's using? Keep reading. The secret ingredient (not so secret now) to all of this was about 1/4 cup of Summer Colada Ciroc. The Summer Colada is not a rum but a vodka. It goes completely against the grain of what a rum punch is but the pineapple note takes the flavor of the rum punch to the next level.

And just like that, we have all things tropical. This was so fun to make. It really made me feel like I was experiencing a little bit of the island life.

This is the part where you dig in and let you heart and mind take you somewhere topical.

Well, I hope that you guys have enjoyed this segment on Tropical Eats and Drink. I can't wait until out next food adventure. I am sure it won't be long before I'm either back in my kitchen whipping up something or going to one of my favorite places to eat. Thanks for stopping by today :)

Kellee Green 5/7/18 Kellee Green 5/7/18

Paris and The French Riviera

As I sat on the couch sometime in late September of last year, I was hard core thinking about my birthday that wasn't until April of the following year. Now, I know you're probably thinking, who thinks about their birthday so far ahead of time. I do. This girl does. I was probably having a moment where I was rounding up my age and thinking, damn, your almost 40. You need to go somewhere for your birthday next year and celebrate.

Rudi FennikissThe sitter sent me this while I was in France. How handsome is my boy. Get used to seeing his cute face. He'll pop up randomly on other entires over time. — Rudi Fennikiss
The sitter sent me this while I was in France. How handsome is my boy. Get used to seeing his cute face. He'll pop up randomly on other entires over time.

Now, let me just back track for the sake of giving you a glimpse of what my schedule was looking like for the rest of the year. I was prepping to go to Israel and Jordan for the entire month of November, give or take a few days. I had a major surgery scheduled, (the key word = MAJOR) for the first week of December upun returning home from my trip to the Middle East. Yet, there I was, in full on planning mode, purchasing tickets, making accommodations, and semi sort of making an itinerary for France. If you haven't caught on by now, I can get an idea in my head and run with it before I even know what it's blossomed into, but we'll talk more about that in another post.

Fast forward and it's finally April. The time has come. I don't know about you guys, but there is a lot of build up in my house pre travel. It gets pretty hectic, and as much as I am a planner and like to have things organized, its always helter skelter in this house. We have to make sure travel documents are ready, passports are go to go, the mail is on hold, the dogs arrangements for his sitter is taken care of, and the list literally goes on. But, never the less, I LOVE that feeling because it lets me know that it's almost go time. And go time it was! As a disclaimer, I usually travel solo on all of my trips around the world, but this time I was very happy to bring along my best friend Karina. This was her first time traveling this far on her own will (she's in the military).

We leave for the airport and everything goes smoothly and we board our first flight. We layed over in Charlotte N.C. for two hours and then we were off to get on the the last leg of our flight to Paris. We arrive at Charles de Gaulle around 7 a.m. and for some reason, we felt that we could be brave girls and carry on with the day as if we didn't just cross the Atlantic and go through several time zones. After we leave the airport and start heading to the Airbnb my heart gets all warm and fuzzy from the nostalgia of the last time I was in Paris. It is still the same strong effect on me. A charming and romantic city with beautiful people and scenery and architecture that will make you swoon. I flirt with the thought of never returning home back to America. Being in Paris instantly evokes a vibe that I can't quite put into words. I LOVE this city. We immediately checked into our Airbnb, took showers, put on fresh clothes, and we went out the door desperate to take in all that Paris had to offer.

This was not my first time being in Paris so I was already a little familiar with the area. Anytime I am in Paris I always stay in the 3rd arrondissement, also known as Le Marias. Le Marias can be described as a chic little area of Paris that offers tons of boutique shopping, cafes, flower shops, exclusive art galleries, fresh boulangeries, and beautiful organic markets for produce. It is also home to the Musée de Picasso (Picasso Museum) and much more. Just a fabulous area to stay in while you're in Paris on holiday.

Beautiful view of La Marias right at sunset.

Can we just stop for moment and talk about how real jet lag is. I am the type of person that doesn't sleep a wink on long haul flights because the odds are just never in my favor and I am always too uncomforatbale being cramped into the microscopic sized seats the airlines have now a days. I tell ya, its almost impossible to be comfortable, especially when flying economy, but thats neither here or there. Our first couple of days in Paris were semi miserable because we would start out eager in the morning ready to explore and take it all in, but by noon we were basically being thrashed by hard core jet lag and we could not come out of it. No amount of expresso or energy drinks could fix that. We were ready to crash hard before 3 p.m. for about four days straight. I was so cranky and nothing pleased me. You may say, but Kellee, you're in Paris. Yes, that is true, but I am the type of person who can't function or enjoy anything when I'm tired. Karina was equally feeling the effects.

Candid shot of me struggling to try and stay awake for the remainder of the day after a failed attempt of exploring the streets of Paris. It was only 2:30 p.m. I wanted to sleep so badly. Jetlag! — Candid shot of me struggling to try and stay awake for the remainder of the day after a failed attempt of exploring the streets of Paris. It was only 2:30 p.m. I wanted to sleep so badly. Jetlag!

Before we jump into all of the lovely sites that we explored around Paris, I want talk about how we navigated the city. We opted to buy the Paris Pass to get us into a lot of the sites with out having to wait in line. We also took full advantage of the one day hop on-hop off bus tour that come with the purchase of the Paris Pass. Depending on what company you buy the Paris Pass through, they offer a free hop on hop off bus tour that allows you to explore the city sites at your leisure for that day and you can get on and off as much as you like. Its a very convenient way to become acquainted with the city when you've just arrived and are dealing with a bit of jet lag. The lines can be pretty long during peak season in Paris so its definitely something to consider. The Paris Pass might not be right for you if you plan on leisurely spacing your visits to the sites out over several days. It is something that has be used consecutively. For example, if you buy the three day pas, you have to use it back to back to back during all three days. You can't just pick three separate calendar days. So its something to think about according to your schedule and how much time you will have. We also used Uber quite a bit while in the city. It works very well. All of the drivers were pleasant and spoke enough English to communicate basic dialogue to get you to and from your destination. Paris is also a very walkable city. One doesn't need to rely heavily on Uber to get around in Paris. Thier public transportation is also very efficient and I highly recommend it. It is how I got around during my last visit to Paris, however, during the time of our stay there was a transportation strike going on countrywide that effected all modes of transportation severly.

On to the sites

Notre Dame: A beautiful Gothic cathedral with amazing architecture built int he Middle Ages. Its beautiful to capture a photo of this masterpiece while on a cruise going down the Seine River.

The architecture is amazing on this cathedral.

The Louvre: The Louvre is an iconic museum that is home to many amazing pieces of art from almost every era of time in history. The Louvre is home to the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, Liberty Landing the People, and my all time favorite; The Oath of Horatii. The Louvre doesn't disappoint. It's an art lovers dream. Not to be missed. You can spend hours in there drooling over the millions of masterpieces on display and you still wouldn't see everything.

Arc de Triomphe: The Arc de Triomphe is a monument that sits right off the Champs-Élysées. It is home to France's Tomb of The Unknown Soldier. You will find many tourist standing in the streets of the Champs- Élysées taking pictures of this beautiful monument. You can go to the top for an areal view of Paris for a fee of 12 euro per adult. The entry for children is free.

Palais Garnier, (The Opera House): Ya know the saying that some things can't be described, they have to be experienced; this is one of those things. The Palais Garnier seats a little over 1900 people and they have shows such as ballets and operas all year long. During our tour it was interesting to learn that they sell out of seats almost every day. There is no such thing as an off season at the Palais Garnier. Another must see, not to be missed! The pictures do this place no justice. Very sad that we weren't able to make a show while visiting the city. It has always been a dream of mine to go to an opera.

The Palace of Versailles: The palace is literally dripping and oozing gold in every corner, crack, and crevice. The King spared no expense on his digs. Very beautiful inside and out, but what is most breath taking are the gardens. You could spend hours just visiting the elaborate gardens in Versailles. I must admit that I was a bit underwhelmed with the palace part. I think it had something to do with the massive crowds. I could barley move an inch without someone stepping on the backs of my heels or brushing against me on both sides. Thats not a good time for me at all. I have massive anxiety in settings with large crowds. I try to keep the anxiety at bay and I am usually very mindful, especially when I am visiting tourist destinations that can potentially be packed, but the crowd on this particular day had me ready to crawl out of my skin. The gardens were the perfect escape and remedy to the super crowded palace. Although I couldn't handle the crowd, I enjoy the parts that I did see.

The Hall of MirrorsI desperately tried to get a better shot here but it was impossible. — The Hall of Mirrors
I desperately tried to get a better shot here but it was impossible.

Queens ChambersI really want to say these were Marie Antoinettes chambers for when she stayed in the palace, but she also has her own estate on Versailles, so I don't want to misspeak here. — Queens Chambers
I really want to say these were Marie Antoinettes chambers for when she stayed in the palace, but she also has her own estate on Versailles, so I don't want to misspeak here.

Just the beginning of the gardens. The gardens stretch out for miles and miles.

The gates to the palace. We were leaving for the day and decided to get a quick photo with no other people around.

The Eiffel Tower: No matter how many times I come to Paris, seeing the Eiffel Tower never gets old to me. It's beautiful during the day and she sparkles and comes to life during the night. The lights cut on at 9 p.m. and sparkle every hour after that on the hour. It really is amazing, and its another must see, when in Paris. I suggest going to Trocadero to get a good view of her during the day and take a river cruise at sunset to see her sparkle and light up at night. And don't worry about being out late, Parisians are quite the night owls and the city lives during the night. There will be plenty of people out strolling around and is security is tight all over Paris. I felt completely safe during the entire time of my stay. The key is situational awareness at all times.

Trocadero viewing point of the Eiffel TowerIsn't she lovely — Trocadero viewing point of the Eiffel Tower
Isn't she lovely

Right a dusk. It had just turned 9 p.m. and our river cruise has just pulled back in the dock. Perfect timing.

Sparkle timeYou'd have to be there to see just how beautiful and magical it really is. — Sparkle time
You'd have to be there to see just how beautiful and magical it really is.

Montmartre, and the Sacré-Coeur: Montmartre is in the 18th arrondissement in Paris. It is home to the Sacré-Coer Basilica that can be noticed towering high on the hill. You can enjoy this hip little arrondissement walking through out the hills and exploring different shops and cafés. We didn't get to explore all of Montmartre like we wanted because jet lag was still rearing its ugly head. While visiting the Basilica we were lucky enough to be able to sit in on mass and hear the nuns singing their prayers. It made me nostalgic of my old catholic school days. We didn't take many pictures inside of the basilica for the sake of being respectful to the people who their worshiping. Upon exiting the church you have an amazing view of the city form atop of the hill that the church sits on.

Descending from the hill that the Basilica sits on in Montmartre.

Champs Elysées: The Champs Elysées is a long street full of shopping. However, don't be surprised when you find almost all of the same stores that you have access to at home here on this row. There are a few high end shops such as Cartier, Louis Vuitton, Tiffany and Co, and the highly favored macron shop, Ladurée, but for the most part it's filled with stores that we have here in the U.S. I mentioned Ladurée because I believe that deserves special recognition. Laduré is a shop that specializes in macrons and they are AMAZING. I ate so many macrons during my time in France that I could be a connoisseur. If theres one thing that France does right, it's their pastries and desserts. I have never in my life had desserts as good as I had in France.

The strawberry candy flavor is unlike anything I have ever tasted. Quite delectable!

The possibilities are endless with yummy treats inside of Ladurée.

One of the many parks right off the Champs Elysées. Perfect spot for an afternoon picnic.

And now, the moment that I suspect you've all been waiting for, The French Riviera, also known as the Côte d'Azur. We split our two weeks in half in France by staying in Paris for the first half and we picked Nice as base for the second half to explore the French Riviera. I will start out by saying that I have only seen and heard how amazingly beautiful the South of France was before I decided to go there. It is jaw dropping beautiful and such a stark contrast to Paris.

We traveled to the South of France by an SNCF train. We booked our tickets for the train way ahead in advance as they tend to fill up fast. We were worried about getting there because of the transportation strike, but we got lucky on that day. We managed to book the only train leaving from Paris going to Nice that day. The train was slammed pack. Thank heavens for the intuition to book ahead.

The train ride was around five hours and some change. It was such a beautiful ride watching the city fade into pristine green fields of proviencial country side that ended in coastal views of various deep turquoise shades of clear blue/green sea. I knew from the views outside of my window on the train that I was loosing control and entering into a trance with my eyes fixed on all the surrounding beauty. I had fallen deeply in love with the South of France and I wanted to do nothing more than debark the train and go explore. As we come to our stop I get excited, the kind of excitement that I get when I look at my dog for the first time when I awake him in the morning and smell his neck and ears and smother him with smooches (racing heartbeat and a tingly heart). I couldn't believe that I was actually there in the French Riviera.

The neighborhood right outside of our Airbnb.

Before I go any further, I would just like to warn you guys that our stay in French Riviera was cut short due to the transpiration strike. We ended up leaving a few days early due to the lack of trains running. If we didn't leave early we would have been stuck in the South of France past the date of our return flight going back to the U.S. I am going to need for the Department of Transportation in France to get their act all the way together. Cutting into my holiday time (insert angry face). We originally planed to visit Cannes, Eze, Antibes, and Monaco while there, but was only able to visit Nice. Cannes, Eze, Monaco, and Antibes are all a short bus ride away from Niece, so it would have been ideal to do day trips. But not to worry, we will absolutely be returning soon.

I also ended up coming down with a really bad sinus and upper respiratory infection during my stay in Nice. I woke up on our second day in Nice ready to go out and explore only for my body to protest with aches and pain and fever. The cool thing about France is their phenomenal health care system. I did some research and learned that doctors will come out to your home and see you. Theres no reason to go in unless its really serious. I got a recommendation for a doctor from my property manager and with in an hour of making the call to the doctors office the doctor showed up and examined and treated me all for under 100 euros. That is AMAZING guys! France could teach the U.S. a thing or two about health care.

After spending a full 24 hours of recovering, resting, and taking care of myself, it was time to set out and explore the beautiful South of France.

Our first view of the surrounding area of the city of Nice.An aerial view of the city with the beautiful snow caped Swiss Alps in the back. — Our first view of the surrounding area of the city of Nice.
An aerial view of the city with the beautiful snow caped Swiss Alps in the back.

Our days were spent strolling along the Promenade de Anglais taking in the beautiful sights right off the shore. We could walk for hours just admiring the beautiful blue sea and taking in the tantalizing smells of delicious food wafting through the air. We set into a carefree rhythm of existence while in the French Riviera. The vibe was so laid back and relaxing. A very good place to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city in Paris. I found myself so focused on the present moment, just taking it all in as if I would die right on the spot if I let my mind wander to any other place at that given time. I wanted to really sit with the joy that my soul was feeling during that time. After going through a grueling first quarter of the year I was finally able to breath in and exhale with a real release. This was just what the doctor ordered.

The beaches are filled with people at all hours of the day. I there is one thing that I have learned while traveling in France, it is that they really appreciate and savor their time. Whether they are casually sitting at a cafe for hours on end drinking coffee and smoking cigarettes or just sitting at the beach catching a sea breeze, they enjoy their time. They do not rush to get to the other responsibilities that beckon them through the day. This is a culture that I could get used to.

The best pizza and caesar salad that I have ever had the privilege to taste!

We ate and drank and ate and drank some more. We would gorge ourself on desert pastries and macron as if our lips would never taste anything as good as what we were eating at that given moment for as long as we lived. I would describe it as an intense gastronomical experience of bliss. After filling our bellies to limit we'd walk even more and explore.

The highlight of my time during our stay was when we walked up Castle Hill for the most breath taking views of the coast. There are several look out points once you climb up. There is even a waterfall if you reach all the way to the very top. beautiful if you can catch it while its running full.

The stairs leading to the climb up Castle Hill

The climb up was moderate but so beautiful and scenic along the path with several rest spots if you need to catch your breath and take break.

Finally we reach the top. This view is worth every step.

After soaking up the views and getting our second wind about us, we take off to explore more of Castle Hill. As we continue on and follow more of the path, we discover an entire park up there with ancient cobblestones filled with art from days of old. Its quite lively but it has a peaceful and relaxing vibe to it still. There are more look out points to the port side of the coast. There's even an ice ream shop that sells cones and frozen fruit pops. It was magical on top of that hill. I didn't want to go back. I found myself hinting at Karina to stay just a bit longer.

Steps that lead to the park and the port view.

Ancient art along the park path on Castle Hill.

Our time was nothing short of amazing while we were in France. We took full advantage of every day and still wish that we had more time in the beautiful French Rivera. It will be long on our minds for quite some time. I can easily see myslef investing in some property somewhere along the coast in the the South of France. As our time quickly came for us to leave and head back to Paris to fly back to the United States, we were grateful and humbled to be able to say that we got relax and hang out in the South of France. These memories will last a lifetime.

I will always be in love with the Côte d'Azur. Until next time. Au revoir....Abientôt