Photograph above is of the Palace of the Sultan of Oman in Muscat. In fairness to him this country is a breath of fresh air after India. Clean and brilliant roads and a Grand Mosque which was a pleasure to visit. Lots of old fortifications as you left there and to keep us company were shoals of dolphins. So round the gulf of Aden where the Somali pirates play and up the Red Sea to Aqaba and on to Petra in Jordan by land where we climbed to the Monastry which was well worthwhile. A swim in the gulf topped that visit off. Round to Egypt where I saw this fine looking man up on many a building. Photograph was taken I suspect many years ago and he is now about 80 years old. on through the Suez Canal and to Beirut in Lebanon and to Byblos, one of the worlds oldest inhabited places. Then up by cablecar to the Basilica of Our Lady of Lebanon and back on a nostalgic trip round the city. See the damage to Holiday Inn and St. George hotel on the sea front from past conflicts. Do you note the photograph of the "Man of the Cloth" he and the other man I met on the boat and they both resemble two men, one from Thomastown and one that lived many a year there. Any suggestions? Keep scrolling down.

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North to Syria to Tartuis and a visit inland to the Crusader Castle Crac de Chevaliers. A most imposing structure. Next day to Saladin's Castle near Latakia. Orange trees grow a plenty here amongst this lush green countryside. Met this travelling person with his family as he made his way through the land with his children. This country has photographs of a man dotted everywhere who rules the land and forbids wifi anywhere. Was amazed by the attitude of the current regime which is so severe to a people which to say the least are so kind. I will have photographs later to demonstrate this austere and inhospitable attitude of some of the authorities there and some decorative suggestions for Garda motorcyclists back in Ireland. Click here and leave a comment or greeting. Well the answer is that the priest is Fr. Eugene Knee who was from the west of Ireland , born in Louisburg, Co. Mayo and reared in Co. Meath, he is now based in Coventry. He was ordained in St. Kieran's college in the 1960's and his theology teacher was Canon Carroll, later to be PP in Thomastown. The other man was Ronnie Haywood, a comedian but a gentleman also from the Coventry area and he in my mind looked like the younger version of retired Bishop Larry Forristal. Would you agree? They were both very enjoyable company for a number of weeks as we travelled through the Indian Ocean.

Please note that these photographs were taken on digital camera; images are compressed to aid speedy downloading and do not reflect the quality of final photographic prints.