Okay....I was going to start where I stopped in the telling of my vacation. Instead I am going to jump ahead to where I was just five nights ago.
I was walking down a pedestrian street shopping, stopping to eat at a fabulous vegetarian restaurantt, laughing with two people that I love. Never felt the danger that I knew could be there. Signs around me were reminders, one store front had a sign that read 'Discounts for brave tourist'. I thought that was funny and wanted to buy something, but there was also a sign that said the owner had stepped out for a few minutes. Walked past a pizza place that had exploded a few months before. Not a trace that it had even happened. The restaurant was back in business. Bought a few gifts to take home and we walked a couple of blocks to the car, tired after a very busy day exploring the old city that could be so beautiful, but is marred by the hate of two groups of people.
Tonight that street is the scene of more bombings....as of right now five people are dead, hundreds more are wounded. I am watching the news and I recognize the signs of places I passed, places I stopped, places I walked by, laughing, with two people I love.