Dwelling on the Past

When we began planning this journey, we were focused on visiting some countries in Europe that we had not been to in the past.  During our research, we realized that this part of the world is steeped in a long history, and that became our focus.  From Athens to Aqaba, Paphos to Petra, and in between, we were awed by the resourcefulness and acumen of the ancient peoples who inhabited these lands.
Our dependence on the vagaries of airline routing and scheduling prevented us from going logically from point A to B to C.  However, compared to the dependence on sailing ships of those who preceded us thousands of years ago, we have no complaints.  We were able to see the places we wanted to go quite efficiently by that measure.

GALAXIDI, GREECE, ONE OF OUR FAVORITE SMALLER TOWNS

As with all travel, we had some pleasant surprises and some disappointments.  We learned a lot about history and even a bit about ourselves and our limits.  With a few exceptions, the people we interacted with were pleasant and kind.  Even in the tension-prone Middle East, we never felt unsafe. Most of the places we visited left us feeling no further need to return.  Greece, Spain and the United Kingdom, however, are calling us to come back.
    •  Days on the Road:  43 
    •  Air Miles:  17,341
    •  Road Miles:  3,064
    •  Foot Miles:  253
    •  Total Miles:  20,658

    •  Countries visited:  8  [UK, Greece, Cyprus, Malta, Spain, Andorra, Jordan, Israel]
    •  Hotels:  21        [ Best:  Barcelona Hilton | Worst:  Akotika Acre ]
    •  Flights:  11
    •  Airlines:  9       [ Best:  Emirates  |  Worst:  Vueling ]
    •  Rental cars:  6
    •  Subway rides:  68     
    •  Highest gas:  $9.56/gallon  (Israel)

    •  Warmest temp:  100°  (Arad, Israel, 5/2)
    •  Coldest temp:  41°   (London, England, 5/9)
    •  Photos taken:  3,136
    •  Letterboxes:  Found 3, Planted 9

    •  Tour buses:  too darn many!
    •  Goats & sheep on the road:  5,635
    •  Camels:  1,844
    •  Free Range Cats:  3,638
    •  Artifacts awaiting reunion:  287,099,583
    •  Street markets:  15
    •  Wildflowers:  95,278,114
    •  Cruise ship groups on land tours:  264
    •  Ancient theaters:  15
    •  Bottles of Water Consumed:  124
    •  Olive Trees:  847,809
    •  Favorite Days:  Drive to Delphi, Greece (4/9) & Train to Cambridge, England (5/9)
    •  Favorite Large Cities:  Athens  |  Barcelona  |  London
    •  Favorite Small Cities:  Galaxidi, Greece  |   Paphos, Cyprus  |  Nafplion, Greece
    •  Best Scenic Drives:  Barcelona to Andorra
    •  Favorite Cemetery:  First Cemetery, Athens
    •  Most Hospitable Locals:  British
    •  Best Historic Sites:  Jarash  |  Petra  |  Acropolis
    •  Favorite Museums:   Acropolis Museum  |  Olympic Torch Museum
    •  Favorite Canal:  Corinth Canal, Greece
    •  Best Military Ceremony:  Guards at Tomb of the Unknown, Athens
    •  Coolest Rock Formations:  Wadi Musa, Jordan
    •  Most Convenient Subway Service:  Barcelona & London  
    •  Cleanest Subway Stations & Cars:  Athens
    •  Most Fabulous Architecture:  Athens  |  Barcelona  |  Cambridge
    •  Best Bridge:  Rio-Antirio Bridge over Gulf of Corinth
    •  Most Brilliant Roadside Idea:  Greek highway relief stations at frequent intervals
    •  Worst Judgment Call:  Thinking we would spend the night in a tent in the desert  
    •  Oops, We Did It Again:  Misjudged the effect of Easter weekend  
    •  Most Deceptive Marketing:  "European Business Class"  (economy by another name)
    •  Ugliest Road Surprise:  Unmarked speed bumps  (Jordan)
    •  Biggest Automobile Excess:  Malta    
    •  Most Excessive Airport Security Screening:  Amman Airport
    •  Most Neglectful of Street Cats:  Cyprus
    •  Rudest Drivers:  Israel
    •  Biggest Disappointments:  Shattering of the Jordanian hospitality myth
    •  Biggest Disappointmenst:  Disappearance of Israeli hospitality
    •  Worst Litter:  Jordan
    •  Biggest Surprise:   Accidentally walking into a funeral at First Cemetery, Athens
    •  Most Unique Architecture:  Maltese balconies
    •  Picnickiest Country:  Jordan
    •  Most Pampered Street Cats:  Athens
    •  Why Hadn't We Heard of This?  European "Business" Class
    •  Most Contrived Tourist Site:  Aphrodite's Rock, Cyprus  
    •  Biggest Turtle Population per Pond:  National Gardens, Athens
    •  Oldest Tree:  1,700-year-old olive tree, Cyprus  
    •  Most Wildflowers:  Cyprus
    •  Most Ornate Church Decor:  St. John's Co-Cathedral, Valletta
    •  Most Motorcycles per Capita:  Barcelona
    •  Most Hitchhikers:  Jordan 
    •  Sorry We Missed:  the Greek islands
31 MARCH 2019—11 MAY 2019