Scent from Rhodes

Pine, bay, sage and thyme... The air is full of herbal scents. Sun,sea and sand, architecture and archaeology we're rambling through Rhodes sampling them all.

Aylesbury mosque

"Oh Prophet, truly we have sent thee as a witness, a bearer of glad tidings, and a warner."

Thus read one of the admonitions (or is it a prayer?) on a wall at our local mosque, the Aylesbury Ghausia Mosque.
This view of the lovely carpet (a good reason for removing your shoes) is from one side of the room and that was the side where the women sat, slightly behind a rather wobbly screen.
The president of the masjid ('mosque') welcomed us, and a school student recited some of the Qur'an in that odd singing tonal chant you hear from minarets.  Perhaps that's just the way that Arabic sounds.  The boy stood at the centre of the room so both men and women could hear and see.   I guess they were pleased with and proud of the young man, but the Arabic language passed most of us by, even though someone then translated it.
An imam gave a key note speech about peace, which was short and to the point, then there was a lo-oong speech about the relationship between Islam and Christianity and the law.  I should like the speaker to join our local Toastmasters, come along one Monday evening to the meetings at Stoke Mandeville Stadium.  Finally our local MP gave a short message.
Then we were free to tour the majid, examine the exhibition, watch a hajj film and take refreshments, but we had stayed too long and had to forgo the food.   I'd like my own church to be as inviting (though it probably doesn't have the curiosity value).  Thank you to those who invited us, showed us what is important to them and how we share important values.