Island Tour

After two months we finally were able to take the Island tour offered by the base.  It really wasn't an island tour so much as it was just seeing a few local attractions around the capital city.  The first stop on the tour was the Grand Mosque, one of the most recognized landmarks in Bahrain.  It is an amazing sight.  Built about 20 years ago, it can hold 7000 people to worship at one time.  The ground floor is for the men to worship while the women have the upper floor.  There is an "overflow" courtyard and another building just off the main one for families with small children.  The call to prayer is done five times a day; the first beginning just before the sunrise and last ending after sunset.  Mosques in the region typically broadcast them on a loud speaker that can be heard all over.  Muslims do not need to go to any one mosque to worship.  We were told some stop by the side of the road and pray if necessary.  A wonderful man explained the Muslim culture and the reasoning for many of their traditions.  He did a great job of highlighting the similarities, rather than the differences between Islam, Christianity, and Judaism.  It was very interesting to hear the similarities our cultures share.  All of the women visitors must wear the traditional abaya and hijib.  I was one of the last women to get fitted, so I got lucky and got a flowered hijib that was tied like a scarf.  After the lady put it on me she said, "Why, you look like Jackie O..."  Funny lady...  

The Grand Mosque

Jackie O

 The glass globes in the chandelier is hand-blown from France,

and the rug is imported from Scotland

This is Travertine Marble imported from Italy

This is the nice gentleman who gave us the tour and presentation

Our next stop was to the Bahrain Fort.  It was extremely hot but we managed to navigate our way around the whole thing.  For me it was one of those things that you do because you love your husband.  From afar it is beautiful but walking around in the dirt and heat was not my favorite thing.  The history behind it is interesting, though.  It is a Tell, meaning it is a mound that consists of civilization built upon civilization over a long period of time, which is quite common in this part of the world.  Some information about it from Wikipedia...

It is composed of an artificial mound created by human inhabitants from 2300 BC up to the 18th century, including Portuguese and Persians.  Qal`at al-Bahrain is a typical tell — an artificial mound created by many successive layers of human occupation. The strata of the 300×600-metre tell testify to continuous human presence from about 2300 B.C. to the 16th century A.D. About 25% of the site has been excavated revealing structures of different types: residential, public, commercial, religious and military.

Our last stop was the Bahrain Museum.  I loved the cultural exhibits and the one all about teeth.  Go figure, right???  We did not have enough time to go through the whole thing so maybe we can take Katie back there sometime.   The presentations were very well done.

We have just scratched the surface of this small island.  I have so many things on my list of things to do while living here, so stay tuned....

My first henna...

I was so excited to have a moms morning out.  My friend Jann and I went and got pedicures and some beautiful henna tattoos on our feet.  The henna paste is used to form a design and once dried it flakes off and a stain that is light orange appears.  Over the day/night it darkens to a dark brown and stays about 2-4 weeks.  The artists did it all freehand and with no suggestions from us.  I was amazed at their talent.

About 2 hours after most of the paste had dried and started to flake off.

5 hours after 

Next morning

About 24 hours after.  This is the darkest it got.  

Happy 1st birthday to Jacob!!!

What!?!?

Already!?!?

No way!?!?

Yes My friends a year has already passed.  I am in disbelief that our baby is already a year old.  I will never forget that day.  We have been blessed with the sweetest most lovable little boy ever.  There is hardly a moment when he is not smiling.

Since moving to Bahrain he has endured many nights in a pack and play, extreme heat, long days looking for a place where his crib will fit just right, and jar baby food.... but, I am excited to report that a routine has been established yet again and his head is resting in his very own bed.

He continues to amaze us each day with his silly faces, dancing and gibberish.  He started walking right at 11 months and is now up to almost running.  He follows Katie everywhere.  Shoes, forget about it.  He has no time to waste putting them on.

We had his one year well check and he was 31.5 inches tall and 23.10 pounds.  Yes, he will be tall just like his daddy.  He will have big feet too.  He is already a 6 but not for long I am sure.

We have been teaching him some basic sign language to help communicate.  So far we have:  'More', 'please', 'all done', 'eat', 'drink', and we are working on 'thank you'.  Words he can say are:  'Mama', 'dada', 'baba' (bottle),' nana', what sounds like 'this' and 'that', and tons of silly things only he understands.  Haha.

Every little boy needs Army men

Sweet little face

Isn't that the truth!  :}

Vroom! Vroom!

Just call me Handy Jacob...

Katie helping

My first attempt at baking in the celsius oven...  Turned out Great.

Make a wish

Thanks again Katie

Yea

MMM... First chocolate taste

I think he liked it...

What???  Do I have some on my face???