TravelBlog » meanderingrob

meanderingrob - Robert A. Flahive

I am a bit of a vagabond. I quit my job in January 2007 to spend a few months traveling with the intent of joining the Peace Corps, but two years is a big commitment, so I searched for something fulfilling in the Middle East over the course of my six months abroad. I certainly found it in every moment spent around the region.

I'm partial to ramshackle over luxury and seek to be absorbed by all things foreign. I grew up in the middle of the US, so virtually everything is new and exciting. The postings detail an overland route between Istanbul and Cairo, as well as time spent volunteering in the West Bank. Some of my pictures are posted @ (http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/raflahive).

I've since returned from the Middle East, but have yet to settle into a routine...not yet, anyway. Mid-September I begin an Americorps program to work with inner-city high school students in St. Louis, MO. I am keeping this blog, because I feel that life is essentially a journey that we can experience not just necessarily on the road, but even when we sit down for a moment, take a deep breath before moving on to the future endeavors, which is precisely what I'll be doing the next year.

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Joined on: February 8th 2007
Last Login: July 24th 2008

Blog Entries: 48
Photos: 0
Recommends 1

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Status: BLOGGER

Blogs & Travel Journals

by meanderingrob, order by Date newest first.

By meanderingrob
August 31st 2007

Crisfield, MD

North America » United States » Maryland

Fascinating. That's the best way this Midwesterner could possibly describe this little Eastern Maryland fixture. I initially came here to visit Janes Island State Park, then to access Smith Island, the oldest continually inhabited island in the US. After a few hours spent absorbing the local Americana, I found this town of 2,800 to be bursting with intrigue. Crisfield is a town built on Oysters, both figuratively and literally. At one time, the Coast Guard deemed it a dangerous port due to the 10 oyster rocks surrounding the town. Oyster houses sprung up all over town, and eventually, oysters became the [View Full Entry]

By meanderingrob
August 31st 2007

Crabbing

North America » United States » Maryland

Oh, I neglected to mention the crabs. Side Street market, which boasts extremely fresh crabs serves up some excellent "sea bugs". And to have them served with some garlic butter and Old Bay seasoning is truly an experience like no other. These have definitely been the best crabs thus far. My previous stops in Ocean City and Annapolis did not offer the same character and taste of this place. Jimmy Cantler's serves up fresh crabs basically on a dock with heaps of steam and character. The place is a mainstay of the crab-eating experience here. Hooper's in Ocean city was like [View Full Entry]

By meanderingrob
August 15th 2007

Final day

Africa » Egypt » Mediterranean » Alexandria

Yet another time, I find myself in the magnificent reading room of the Bibliotec Alexandrina. Yesterday, I made my way to Alex. with Mike for some excellent seafood and relaxation. It's been wonderful. Last night we ate @ Kadoura, the seafood restaurant in which one selects their fish out of a ice cooler, then tells the server the preferred method of preparation. It is then served with an assortment of delicious mezze. This visit to the library has been as amazing as my previous visits. The enormous reading room never fails to impress. The sheer scale of it is absolutely incredible, [View Full Entry]

By meanderingrob
August 12th 2007

Rhythmn of the city

Africa » Egypt

It's another hot morning in Cairo, which has brought back memories of my previous stays here. It's strange to imagine the first time I was here was toward the beginning of April, over four months ago! For now, though, I simply want to enjoy the rest of my time here. This morning, I met up with Mike, a carefree Canadian I met @ the Faisal in Jerusalem. This afternoon we meandered through the chaos that is Khan Al-Khalili. The narrow dirt thoroughfares are overflowing with activity. Women in black burkas balance microwaves or pans on their heads dodging the oversized pushcarts [View Full Entry]

By meanderingrob
August 11th 2007

Spinning and spinning

Africa » Egypt » Lower Egypt » Cairo

Once again I find myself in the bursting streets of Cairo. Yesterday, the temperature sensor on my watch read 99 degrees when I stepped off the bus. True, the weather is oppressive, but it is part of the package here. Everyone deals with it; you sweat, then drink water, then sweat some more. Eventually, the weather becomes the least of your worries, as crossing the street becomes a track meet event. The combination of the various types of activity are intoxicating. It is all hustle and bustle. It's incredible to be a part of it. And it has everything, including all [View Full Entry]

By meanderingrob
July 26th 2007

Familiar footsteps, different perspective

Middle East

The days glide by now that I've settled into a routine. This has a tendency to make the days kind of run together. Anyway, I spent quite a bit of time at the Amarnehs this past weekend. I returned to their home on Sunday to meet with Abu-Akram. I'm trying to help him with a problem he will likely have with accessing his land once the Separation Barrier is constructed. His land in Al-Khader, a few towns away will be other side of the Separation Barrier, so I am investigating ways for him to continue to access it once the wall [View Full Entry]

By meanderingrob
July 22nd 2007

I'm a spectator!

Middle East » Israel » West Bank » Bethlehem

I recently realized the past few weeks have lacked the excitement of my previous stay in Dheisheh. Routine has ruled, and I simply go in to work at the center in Shu'fat, then return to Jerusalem around 3pm to spend the rest of my hours reading, chatting simply taking in the wonderful surroundings. A little excitement was necessary, and I was long overdue to visit all of the wonderful people I'd met in Dheisheh, so I made a surprise visit on Thursday night. I picked up a "Bhakhtick" (watermelon) as a small offering for the Amarnehs, but I simply wanted to [View Full Entry]

By meanderingrob
July 16th 2007

Sweet Relief

Middle East

It's been over a week since I arrived in Jerusalem. I've finished the main proposal I was working on in the first week at the Women's Center. It was incredibly liberating to be able to simply say: "Khallas" (finished). There are still two basic sections which need to be added, however, people @ the center need to provide information to complete them. It was a wonderful relief to be done with it. I'm finding that my schedule allows for quite a bit of free time. I generally arrive at the center (15 minute mini-bus ride away) between 8 and 9, then [View Full Entry]

By meanderingrob
July 7th 2007

Back to the basics

Middle East

Bus rides are never fun. And those that stretch on through the night or any extended period of time are simply miserable. Yesterday afternoon, I made a split-second decision to head back to Jerusalem. The reason for the urgency was the approaching Shabbat. This is the Jewish holiday that stretches between Friday @ 4pm to Saturday evening. So I pulled myself together, and sat on the bus for 8 hours to the Taba border crossing. Now I've done this route before, but I suppose I forgot how long and excruciating the buses were. After waiting a few hours at the border, [View Full Entry]

By meanderingrob
July 5th 2007

Dancing!

Africa » Egypt » Lower Egypt » Cairo

Wow, I can't believe it's the day after the fourth of July. I celebrated this holiday by continuing to research organizations. Most of the day was spent researching Palestinian refugee camps and NGO's between Cairo and Jerusalem. I didn't have the luck I had hoped for with organizations here in Cairo, so my plan is to head East. Although I'm not looking forward to being physically and psychologically violated at the Taba border crossing, I feel it is a necessary evil. Yesterday, the only excitement came in the form of a Sufi show. It was absolutely amazing. And the best part [View Full Entry]

TravelBlog » meanderingrob

meanderingrob | Robert A. Flahive | Travel Blog

meanderingrob - Robert A. Flahive

Blogs & Travel Journals

Crisfield, MD

Crabbing

Final day

Rhythmn of the city

Spinning and spinning

Familiar footsteps, different perspective

I'm a spectator!

Sweet Relief

Back to the basics

Dancing!