The Colosseum

The Colosseum or originally the Flavian Amphitheater is an elliptical amphitheater in the center of the city of Rome, Italy. It is the largest ever built in the Roman Empire. It is considered one of the greatest works of Roman architecture and Roman engineering.

Occupying a site just east of the Roman Forum, its construction started between 70 and 72 AD under the emperor Vespasian and was completed in 80 AD under Titus. Further modifications were made during Domitian's reign (81–96). The name "Amphitheatrum Flavium" derives from both Vespasian's and Titus's family name.

Capable of seating 50,000 spectators, the Colosseum was used for gladiatorial contests and public spectacles such as mock sea battles, animal hunts, executions, re-enactments of famous battles, and dramas based on Classical mythology. The building ceased to be used for entertainment in the early medieval era. It was later reused for such purposes as housing, workshops, quarters for a religious order, a fortress, a quarry, and a Christian shrine.

Although it is partially ruined because of damage caused by devastating earthquakes and stone-robbers, the Colosseum is an iconic symbol of Imperial Rome. It is one of Rome's most popular tourist attractions and still has close connections with the Roman Catholic Church, as each Good Friday the Pope leads a torchlit "Way of the Cross" procession that starts in the area around the Colosseum.

The Mouth of Truth (Bocca della Verità)

La Bocca della Verità is an image, carved from Pavonazzetto marble, of a man-like face.  It is located in the portico of the church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin in Rome, Italy.  The sculpture is thought to be part of a 1st century ancient Roman fountain, or perhaps a manhole cover, portraying one of several possible pagan gods, probably Oceanus.  Most Romans believe that the mouth represents the ancient god of the river Tiber.

The most famous characteristic of the Mouth, however, is its role as a lie detector.  Starting from the Middle Ages, it was believed that if one told a lie with one's hand in the mouth of the sculpture, it would be bitten off.  The piece was placed in the portico of the Santa Maria in Cosmedin in the 17th century.

ASD Elementary Cross Country 2010

This year I had the pleasure of helping and coaching the elementary cross country team at ASD.  It was made up of grades 2-5.  We met twice a week for an hour to run and have fun!  On December 5, we headed to the Doha Golf & Country Club to race against 11 other teams from around Doha.  We were able to take 10 girls and 10 boys to the meet.  Even though we did not come in the top finishing places, I know both the students and the other coaches learned a great deal and enjoyed the day.  The weather was perfect and we had a great number of parents come out and support their runners!  We were so proud of the students that came every practice and made the commitment to work hard!  I know that I already have some better ideas for next year and I am looking forward to it as well! 

And they are off...

What a good looking team!

Some of the grades 3-5 boys!

Three of them are my students!

Go Dragons!

Warming up and stretching with Miss Trish!

Still stretching...

Getting ready for the big race.

There they go!  They made so many improvements!

A great day for a race in Doha!

Qatar must win over skeptical fans

Qatar must win over skeptical fans

By Michael Casey, AP

DOHA - Qatar won over FIFA with a promise that a World Cup in the Middle East would be good for soccer. Now it faces what could be an even harder task: Convincing skeptical fans who fear the desert nation will hold a sweltering and alcohol-free tournament.

Some fans wrongly believe Qatar has the same social restrictions of Saudi Arabia or the violence that plagues Afghanistan and Iraq.

Twitter was abuzz with such concerns immediately after Qatar was awarded the 2022 tournament on Thursday. Some fans suggested Qatar would keep women out of stadiums and many fretted they won't be able to buy a beer.

They might be surprised to find a largely safe, cosmopolitan capital where celebrity British chef Gordon Ramsay has set up shop, malls are filled with designer goods and the skyline rivals any in the United States. Women are free to work, drive and cheer on their favorite soccer team, as they did during last month's Brazil-Argentina exhibition. Drinking is allowed, but mostly restricted to ex-pat havens.

Still, this country of 1.6 million is no Paris or Rio or even neighboring Dubai — and Qataris seem to want to keep it that way. Drinking and dancing is limited to the handful of raucous bars and nightclubs in four- and five-star hotels, public affection is usually tolerated but occasionally punished. Bikini-clad swimmers only began appearing on beaches two years ago.

Most understand, though, that the country will have to open up with the World Cup coming and find a balance between the modern and traditional. Organizers have already promised to allow drinking in designated fan zones and Qataris have resigned themselves to the sight of scantily-clad foreigners strolling through their streets — something that is frowned upon.

"I never wanted the World Cup in the first place because of the girls and the drinking. It's against our religion," said Mohammed al-Sayegh, a 16-year-old Qatari dressed in full-length white thobe worn by most men.

But like many of his friends shopping at the Villagio Shopping Center — complete with an ice skating rink and canal network with gondolas — al-Sayegh supports the bid as a way to boost the country's standing on the international stage.

"We want to take the World Cup, but we can't take everything," he said. "We can show the world that we can preserve our culture even if we host such a big event."

Another Qatari shopper in the mall, 21-year-old Hassan al-Emadi, said he was willing to take the "good with the bad" that would come with the World Cup.

"The good will be that other countries know Qatar is a peaceful place and has the capacity to host big events," he said. "The bad is the drinking in the streets. By 2022, there will be a new generation and when they see people acting like this, they will think this is the Qatar. It will be a challenge to keep our traditions."

Most expatriates in Doha felt the tournament would be a success, but that some things would have to change — at least for those four weeks during the tournament.

"If you can't drink beer, there is no World Cup," said Bono Van Wyk, a South African who has lived in Qatar for three years and works for an oil company. "They will have to lift all the restrictions. People want to drink where they want to drink."

Out at a makeshift beach on the outskirts of Doha, two fully clothed Muslim women waded into the water at a public beach, while several women in bikinis lounged on chairs at a private beach at the nearby Intercontinental hotel.

"I don't have any difficulties at all. It's very safe and secure," said Lara Koujou, a Lebanese national. "You have to respect the traditions and culture but you can go to the beach or the clubs. Of course, this is not Europe or America. I can wear a short dress at a club but not on the street. That isn't the norm here."

Most agree the challenge will be about changing perceptions of this Gulf country. It first came to the attention of Westerners as one of the Pentagon's Gulf partners during the U.S.-led battles to drive Iraq from Kuwait in 1991 and later hosting the U.S. military's command center for the 2003 invasion of Iraq. It still hosts U.S. warplanes.

As recently as the 1990s, Qatar was a sleepy, port city that over the past quarter-century has transformed itself into one of the world's richest nations thanks to the discovery of vast oil and gas reserves. It's also a media hub for the Arab world as the home of the Al-Jazeera network, which is backed by Qatar's ruling family. It has become one of the hot spots in the Gulf for sporting events, including a European Tour golf tournament, men's and women's professional tennis tournaments, the 2006 Asian Games and upcoming 2011 Asian Cup.

Ruled by the Al Thani family without any opposition, there is no doubt that Qatar will make good on its commitment to spend $42.9 billion on infrastructure upgrades and $4 billion to build nine stadiums and renovate three others. All those stadiums, Qatar says, will have a state-of-the art cooling system that will keep temperatures about 81 degrees. Similar cooling systems will be used at training sites and fan zones.

Qatar has to address not only questions of its openness but also about its location in the volatile Middle East. Like most Arab nations, it has no diplomatic relations with Israel.

Bid chief executive Hassan al-Thawadi promised Israel would be allowed to participate if it qualifies and earlier said fans from all nations would be welcome.

"We are a very, very hospitable place that welcomes people from all parts of the world," he said. "Bringing the World Cup to the Middle East now ... will feature to the world that the Middle East is home to a lot of people, it's opening its arms to the rest of the world."

Al-Thani also said the country was making strides in promoting women's sports, noting how it soon would be starting one of the first women's soccer leagues in the Gulf.

"This is another perception, another perception that women are oppressed in the Middle East and this is a wrong, wrong perception," he said. "We hope with the World Cup being awarded to Qatar, we can change that."

Top 10 Vacation Destinations for 2011

A family friend of mine gave me this article to read.  I found it very interesting considering that Qatar just won the bid for the 2022 World Cup!  Even more so, it has given me more ideas of wonderful places to visit in this world...  

Top 10 Vacation Destinations for 2011
Our experts share their 'must-visit' spots for the coming year
By Frommer's Editors

Each year, Frommer's editors, authors, and experts from around the world sit down to talk about the best cities, islands, beaches, and other vacation destinations for the coming year. We aim for a list that steers clear of too-hot spots or places that are so under the radar you'll find yourself lost.

To tell you about our choices, we turned to our experts in the field: authors and editors who live in the destinations or who travel there on the regular. We think the best people to share about a city or a region are those who can't stay away from them for too long.

• Doha, Qatar

Doha doesn't attract the hoards of beer-swilling British tourists or the sheer number of hotels that the U.A.E.'s Dubai does, but its beaches are more beautiful and its gourmet restaurants are less crowded. The Al Jazeera news network is what put Doha on the map a decade ago, although a different sort of camera -- the movie kind -- is what's drawing tourists for the Doha-Tribeca Film Festival. Next year marks its third installment. Doha is concentrating on beefing up its presence on the international stage by following up its world-class, I.M. Pei-designed Museum of Islamic Art with a bid for the Olympics in 2016 and the Fifa World Cup in 2022. Plus, the city is hosting professional soccer's Asian Cup in January.

• Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Although hardly a secret destination, Rio de Janeiro is shedding its image as a sun, sea, and samba town and going for glamour and sophistication. Join the friendly Cariocas for an innovative 10-course Amazonian dinner at Rio's top Le Pré Catelan restaurant or some delectable "brapas" (Brazilian tapas) at hip eatery Oui Oui. Even Rio's magnificent beaches are better than ever before; from Leme to Leblon, new outdoor cafés boast fabulous seaside patios with comfortable bathroom facilities. As host of the 2014 Soccer World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics, the city is abuzz with exciting developments that will be sure to attract huge crowds. Beat the rush and see how the Girl from Ipanema is all grown up.

• Stockholm, Sweden

Best-selling writer Stieg Larsson has rocketed Stockholm to the top of the list of most popular European cities through the exploits of computer hacker Lisbeth Salander, better known as the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. It's high time: Stockholm has always been a city of under-appreciated surprises and discoveries. Every visitor should see the main sights (like the Royal Palace and the winding cobbled streets of medieval Gamla Stan), but then hop on the 1900 steamboat that takes you past hidden creeks and marshland to the royal family's palace on Drottningholm. Swim in a restored 1904 Art Nouveau pool, tuck into reindeer or arctic char in a gourmet food market, or try a distinctly different guided walk over the rooftops. And of course, follow in the footsteps of Lisbeth Salander on the former working-class island of Södermalm.

• Atlanta, Georgia

As the gateway to the New South, Atlanta has certainly come a long way since it burned to the ground during General William Tecumseh Sherman's March to the Sea in 1864. And while remains of the Civil War are still a big draw for visitors -- the Kennesaw Mountain/National Battlefield Park and Cheatham Hill specifically, there is much more to this great city than 150-year-old confrontations. Atlanta boasts the world's largest aquarium, the World of Coca-Cola museum, a world-class zoo, an impressive botanical garden, and Federal parks highlighting the life and works of native son Martin Luther King, Jr. Reinvigorated neighborhoods scattered throughout the city, such as Virginia-Highlands, Midtown and Buckhead, are easy to navigate on foot and boast great shopping, dining and nightlife. Progressive yet rich in history, Atlanta truly has something for everyone.

• Kent Coast, England

Less than two hours from London by train, the Kent Coastline offers long stretches of clean, sandy beaches, secluded coves, and bustling seaside towns. There's plenty to keep visitors going over a long weekend, from quirky independent shops to worthy eateries to stylish boutique hotels. A focus for visitors is the area from Whitstable to Ramsgate, taking in the colourful beach huts of Herne Bay and the traditional seaside resort of Broadstairs, with many beaches to be discovered along the way. Walkers can take off on a bracing cliff top ramble whilst exploring the 27-mile-long Viking Coastal Path, taking in smugglers haunts, and some of the oldest churches in England.

• Hokkaido, Japan

The northernmost island of Hokkaido was the final frontier for the citizens of Japan, so it's only fitting that it's the final frontier for visitors as well. Hokkaido confounds expectations at every turn. While the mainland of Japan has a reputation for being tiny and crowded, Hokkaido is expansive and sparsely populated. While the mainland features typically Asian architecture, the major cities of Hokkaido have a distinct, almost European feel. And while Japan is known as a technological paradise, Hokkaido overflows with natural wonders, from fields of alpine flowers in the summer to breathtaking ice-scapes in the winter months.

• Cesme Peninsula, Turkey

The picturesque villages with crumbling Greek facades and enormous stretches of sparsely populated beaches that were once the hidden playground of Izmir's working class have developed into a veritable international holiday sensation. Today, relaxation can be found at more than a dozen deluxe thermal spas and visitors can find lodging at opulent bayside resorts, romantic boutique hideaways, or even a stately Pasha's manse. Step back in time at Erytrai, the city of antiquity peeping out from under the Mediterranean brush, and pass into the medieval era in Çesme's hybrid Genoese-Ottoman fortress before returning to the 21st century in one of the many elegant streetside cafés of Alaçati or the white-glove restaurants at Dalyan cove.

• Nahanni National Park, Canada

If there's such a thing as a quintessential Canadian wilderness experience, paddling down the Nahanni River may be it. While the remote Nahanni National Park in the Northwest Territories has always had a degree of recognition -- it was the world's first-ever UNESCO World Heritage Site -- its profile increased dramatically in 2009 when the park underwent a massive expansion to become more than 11,500 square miles of protected land (nearly the size of Switzerland). While the park's remote nature means that this is not a budget trip, you also don't have to be a grizzled outdoorsman to enjoy it -- warming in the north means that the season gets a little bit longer every year, and many people choose to float comfortably down the river in a whitewater raft, enjoying the abundant wildlife.

• Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica

A tiny town fronting a small protected harbor on Costa Rica's Caribbean coast, Puerto Viejo offers up a laid-back environment, spicy food, palpable tropical heat, and streets filled with the rhythmic lilt of patois and reggae music. From the shore right in town you can watch surfers tackle Salsa Brava, a steep reef break reminicent of Hawaii's treacherous Bonzai Pipline. Just south of town are white sand beaches backed by thick rain forest and protected park lands. If you decide to do more than sunbathe, you can hike the trails of the nearby Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge and Cahuita National Park. You'll almost certainly hear the roar of howler monkeys, and watch parrots fly by.

• Ponza & the Pontine Islands, Italy

The principal island in Italy's Pontine archipelago is one of the most naturally gorgeous and downright fun islands of Italy, and just far enough from the mainland to be an impractical destination for mass tourism. So much the better for those who do go to the trouble of making a trip here, because what you'll find is a rare Mediterranean gem that has kept its Italian identity intact and undiluted. It's not that Ponza is "undiscovered." On the contrary, it's a summertime escape that enjoys feverish devotion among the bella gente of Rome and Naples. If you want to avoid the holiday scene altogether, just come in the gorgeous shoulder months of May, June, and September -- locals will tell you this is when their island really shines

Pope Benedict XVI

Pope Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope. He was elected on 19 April 2005 in a papal conclave, celebrated his Papal Inauguration Mass on 24 April 2005, and took possession of his cathedral, the Basilica of St. John Lateran, on 7 May 2005. A native of Bavaria, Pope Benedict XVI has both German and Vatican citizenship. He succeeded John Paul II.

In Rome, I saw the Pope twice. Every Sunday he greets and speaks to the masses from his apartment in St. Peter's Square. On Wednesday we gives mass in St. Peter's Square.

The Pope's apartment.

Waiting for the Pope in St. Peter's Square.

St. Peter's Square.

St. Peter's Square.

St. Peter's Square.

The Pope in his apartment.

Speaking to everyone in St. Peter's Square.

St. Peter's Square.

Mass in front of St. Peter's Basilica.

During mass on Wednesday.

There were a number of big screens posted around the square.

Christmas in Qatar

This was sent to everyone at school by a colleague of mine and I enjoyed it! Thought I would share it with you all...

Fierce Pajamas: An Anthology of Humor Writing from The New Yorker

"Christmas in Qatar"

(A new holiday classic, for those tiring of "White Christmas" and "Jingle Bells")

VERSE:
The shopping starts, and every store's a zoo.
I'm frantic, too: I haven't got a clue
Of what to get for Dad, who's got no hobby,
Or why Aunt Jane, who's shaped like a kohlrabi,
Wants frilly sweater sets, or where I'll find
A tie my loudmouthed Uncle Jack won't mind.
A shopper's told it's vital he prevails:
Prosperity depends on Christmas sales.
"Can't stop to talk," I say. "No time. Can't halt.
Economy could fail. Would be my fault."

CHORUS:
I'd like to spend next Christmas in Qatar,
Or someplace else that Santa won't find handy.
Qatar will do, although, Lord knows, it's sandy.
I need to get to someplace pretty far.
I'd like to spend next Christmas in Qatar.

VERSE:
Young Cousin Ned, his presents on his knees,
Says Christmas wrappings are a waste of trees.
Dad's staring, vaguely puzzled, at his gift.
And Uncle Jack, to give us all a lift,
Now tells a Polish joke he heard at work.
So Ned calls Jack a bigot and a jerk.
Aunt Jane, who knows that's true, breaks down and cries.
Then Mom comes out to help, and burns the pies.
Of course, Jack hates the tie. He'll take it back.
That's fair, because I hate my Uncle Jack.

CHORUS:
I'd like to spend next Christmas in Tibet
Or any place where folks cannot remember
That there is something special in December.
Tibet's about as far as you can get.
I'd like to spend next Christmas in Tibet.

VERSE:
Mom's turkey is a patriotic riddle:
It's red and white, plus bluish in the middle.
The blue's because the oven heat's not stable.
The red's from ketchup Dad snuck to the table.
Dad says he loves the eyeglass stand from me--
Unless a sock rack's what it's meant to be.
"A free-range turkey's best," Ned says. "It's pure."
"This hippie stuff," Jack says, "I can't endure."
They say goodbye, thank God. It's been a strain.
At least Jack's tie has got a ketchup stain.

CHORUS:
I'd like to spend next Christmas in Rangoon,
Or any place where Christmas is as noisy
As Buddhist holidays might be in Boise.
I long to hear Der Bingle smoothly croon,
"I'm dreaming of a Christmas in Rangoon"--
Or someplace you won't hear the Christmas story,
And reindeer's something eaten cacciatore.
I know things can't go on the way they are.
I'd like to spend next Christmas in Qatar.