Author: jpcwetzel

Spring Break trip from 2023

Here are some selections from a pre-Thanksgiving trip down to Montego Bay, Jamaica.

Thanks for the peace of mind you provided me, Jamaica. Respect.

Here are some selections from my summer trip to Greece which was carefully coordinated by my brother, Luke. I’m thankful to have had the opportunity to join his family to this beautiful and welcoming place.

On Day three, we headed out to Delphi for a day trip to see the ruins there.

Day 4 we took a ferry to the island of Hydra. There are no cars on the island, but walking around town and to the beach was amazing.

After a couple days in Hydra, we ferried onto the Peloponnese peninsula. We rented a car and headed down the coast to Nafplio.

One night we drove into Epidavros to attend a tragedy at a fourth century BC theater.

After two nights there, we drove through the mountains South to Sparta on the way to our stay in Paralia and visit to the old town of Monemvasia.

We then headed West along the southern coast to Kardimyli, stopping by a shipwreck on the way.

Later that day, we made the 3 hour drive back north, crossing the Corinth canal and making our way back to Athens for two more nights.

The last evening was spent catching the sunset at the Temple of Poseidon, East of Athens.

At the end of February, I took a domestic flight to Medina where I joined a small tour group to go to Al Ula in NW Saudi.

Here are some photos from the trip in which I met some great fellow Saudi Expats. Some photos (and they’re labeled) are courtesy of Fernando- a talented photographer on our trip.

My student trip to Tanzania that was supposed to happen at the end of March has obviously been cancelled due to COVID 19. We have started Distance Learning, teaching kids online, and that will be the case for the next few weeks at least. Let’s hope the Coronavirus will soon peak and subsequently make its decline. Stay safe and healthy everyone!

In January, I made the decision that this is my last year in Saudi Arabia. Three years has been a good ride, but now I’m ready to move on to the next adventure. For now, I think that means back to KC.

So, in February, I set up some meetings and flew back for a week. It so happens that week was Super Bowl week. Of course, I had to get tickets to see my Chiefs! Coordination with former teaching teammate, friend, and fellow fan Kerri and Kevin Beck resulted in buying tickets online. We ordered row 17, but when they came in the mail, they were row 1!! A very welcome surprise and amazing time had there.

Here are some photos from Super Bowl weekend in Miami:

We flew back to KC the next morning early and later in the week, we enjoyed the parade.

My friend Brian, pictured in the first photo with the trophy, lives in the Western Auto lofts on Grand with a balcony over the parade route. He was kind to let my brother David and I and some other friends come watch. Same spot we watched the Royals parade drive by a few years ago.

It was an unforgettable week, and I still can’t believe it happened. So fortunate to have enjoyed the game and parade from where I did. I am so thankful the timing was right and that my family and friends helped put me in place to witness this historic win.

Looking forward to enjoying next season from my usual seat! I’m coming back, Arrowhead!

Currently, I’m on the second-to-last leg of a 24 hour travel day back to Saudi (KC-Philly-London-Bahrain-Dammam). I have to fight the travel exhaustion somehow! Here are some photos from the break which I spent in Kansas City.

On Halloween night, my parents arrived at the Dammam, Saudi Arabia airport, via Amman, Jordan via Chicago. The next morning, we enjoyed a walk around the compound followed up with a parade that happened to be held that day. I was walking with a dozen members of a student service club I help sponsor at my school. 

The parade culminated in a celebration.

We then headed down the King Fahd Causeway to Bahrain. The line of cars was pretty brutal as it was a payday weekend and everyone’s ready to spend that cash.

We walked around the old Bahrain fort the next morning before heading back in a 2 hour line of traffic at the customs border back into Saudi.

The next few days I had class but my parents made the most of their time that I was at work driving to the Arabian Gulf beach in Ras Tanura, traveling to the Al Qara Caves in Hofuf, and spitting camels along the desert highway.

We also enjoyed some good time on the compound.

We then headed to Jordan for the three-day weekend. We flew in at 11pm, so it was after midnight when we pulled in to the Dead Sea.

After the late drive in, we were pleasantly surprised with an upgrade to the Crown Suite because the hotel rented our room out. Um, yeah. Fanciest room I’ve ever been in.

At the bottom of the hotel’s three layers of pools was the one and only, Dead Sea.

Our room in the picture above is the whole middle balcony in the center of the picture above the fountains. Insanely extravagant.

Then it was on to Jesus’ Baptism site North of the Dead Sea along the Jordan River which borders Jordan and Israel. My mom, Dad, and I were given secret permission by our guide to walk down and touch the stones between the four pillars, believed to be THE site. I guess he could tell it meant a lot to us to be there.

We drove four hours toward Petra after that amazing experience.

Our place was right next to the Visitor Center and entrance into Petra, so it made for easy access the next morning. We got up early and headed in to see the ruins of the Nabatean City. Of course, the Treasury is the crown jewel of the area. You’ll recognize it as the building from Indiana Jones.

We headed up a trail less traveled to the ceremonial sacrifice point at the top of the mountain.

Then a walk around more of the incredible ruins. We finished with a 2 mile hike up to the monastery building, which looks similar to the Treasury building. You can see it as “Ad Deir” on the far left of the map below.

Until next time, Jordan!

Thanks to my parents for making the venture out. If anyone else comes towards the Middle East, let me know and we’ll get an adventure together too!

Cheers,

Peter