Christmas in Iraq

CPT N and I posing in front of our Christmas tree during our company holiday festivities. Aren't we so cute! This one is for you Jodi. Merry Christmas!!

Silliness and Fun

SPC A and I being a bit goofy.

Backing up a bit to my tour of Ur, this is a doorway at Abraham's House. Well, a re-created one on the original foundations. This site was restored for the Pope's visit in 2000 (I think that is the correct year). This place was huge! Abraham had quite the abode in his day.

A lunch with a view

This fabulous building is the Pantheon. After visiting I had lunch across the way (where this pic was taken). Now, not only is this a memorable site to see but a very cute and very charming watier came over to tak my order and said (now you must read this with an Italian accent) "what can I get you, tell me everthing you beautful woman." And of course I melted and giggled at the over-the-top service but hey....when in Rome.....

Close up!

Ooh, bad hair day. Hair aside though, this is one of my "self-portraits" at the Coloseum. Behind me is the "floor". In ancient times, the part behind me would have been covered and sand spread across it for the fighting.

Where is the other half??

This structure certainly needs no introduction. My second day here was spent touring the ancient sites including this one. This is a fabulous view/picture I do say so myself:) Postcard worthy!

Just Me

Piazza Barberini. Just stopping for a photo op whil hanging out with Wendy and Cathy.

Luck of the Irish (and us!)

On my underground tour of Rome I met these two lovely ladies, Cathy (left) and Wendy (right) and we kinda just stuck. We found a great Irish pub to eat at as we were (a little) tired of pasta. Irish stew and some beer hit the spot.

On the St. Mark's Basillica Balcony Overlooking St. Marks Square

Yup, this is me. I am at the top of St Marks Basillica. Isnt my venetian scarf fabulous?!

Happy Birthday to me!!!

A fabulous pic at what was my birthday dinner. Yummy lasagna and some delicisio vino.

Bellisimo! (I think that is the way of it..)

So this is Vittorio Vento, where the apartment I rented it. Its so pretty!

Ciao! Let the Vacation Begin...

This is a castle in the town where I am staying, Vittorio Vento. I found this gem my first day while exploring. My first castle! Now where did I put that knight and shinning armour......

Tomb of the King

Straight out of Indiana Jones, this is a tomb where excavators found a mesopotamian King. Everything that was found is now either in the British Musuem or in the Baghdad Musuem. Inside was pretty much tomb-ish----dark, dank and a few bats. Local hang out spots for little birdies too.

The Ziggy

This is the big kahuna. The ziggurat is a temple. There were originally three layers to the ziggurat, but the top portion degraded away. Its a solid structure with holes in the side for drainage and expansion.

Adventure Girl

I'm under the oldest archway in the world. Yup, I'm a shortie.

The Ziggy

These are the steps up to the Ziggurat. Its a long way up!

Just. A. Little. Bit. Further.

So there I was rocking out to some Beyonce and about to collapse and kiss the ground where the official finish line was. 13 miles all before 8am! Despite this being a terrible picture of myself, Captain P and I are in pretty good shape.