tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54627525632997010102024-02-07T17:14:58.552-08:00My Duck Feet<p><p><p><p><p>This blog is dedicated to my 3 month WOOFing trip to Israel.
The name? I don't need a reason to mention ducks. I need a reason not to.</p></p></p></p></p>Ayinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10120620659286171851noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462752563299701010.post-775797230709284752010-01-31T07:27:00.000-08:002010-02-10T01:40:04.713-08:00Final Post: Neot SemadarOK, so most of you know by now how lame I am at doing blogs. Most of this final post I wrote in a cafe in Haifa before my flight, but I've been too er busy to finish and post it until now. Here it is.<br /><br />--<br /><br />Wow. So, it's my very last day in Israel. The last two weeks I've been at Kibbutz Neot Semadar, where the internet facilities consist of two battered old PCs with no USB between more than a hundred people - hence the lack of blogs recently. I left this morning and have spent 7 hours on buses and trains to get back to Haifa in order to collect a painting I bought form the Druze village nearly two months ago. This is my third time in Haifa and I like it here more each time. Definitely my favourite place in Israel.<br /><br />Anyway. Neot Semadar was quite a shock to the system after Dimona. From the African Hebrew Community, which is constantly bustling with smiles and conversation, greetings and well-wishing, to an austere agricultural community with an emphasis on silence. Each day begins at 5.45AM with 15 minutes of silence in the dining hall - people file in slowly, pour a hot drink and sit solemnly, accompanied only by the shuffling of feet and coughing. This was a really odd experience for the first couple of days but soon I came to really appreciate the therapeutic benefits. Without the need to constantly engage in conversation, I could find some interior space for my own thoughts - or even lack thereof. Mealtimes are also conducted quietly (not silently). Conversations, if required, are whispered and usually limited to 'pass the salt' or 'water please'. Lastly - and I found this the most difficult personally - no one greets each other. People start conversations if needed, but there is no hello or how are you. I can understand the validity of this, and long terms members did tell me they had come to find it very pleasing to strip away draining social niceties in order to concentrate on content; however, my own social skills definitely require that kind of buffering before meaningful interaction takes place and as a result I found actually getting to know people quite difficult. But hey, there's nothing massively new there.<br /><br />The Kibbutz is huge - several acres I think, and has existed for about 20 years. They grow grapes, olives, fruit and vegetables, and rear goats, horses and chickens. They make their own cheese, wine which they sell, as well as several other health shop-oriented products from the apricots and dates. The wine is <span style="font-style: italic;">very</span> nice. As are all their products in fact. I really enjoyed working with the goats, although I managed to get out of milking them. I noticed that there is a distinct lack of male goats which worried me a little - the community is vegetarian although they eat fish every Shabbat. When I asked about the male goats I was told "we sell them" - ah. Where to, I nervously enquired. "Bedouins". Oh! I was expecting a slaughterhouse. "They eat them." Oh. Oh well...<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbx3Y32RfR0KTJL94Q1mjH__OMSby0DriMcCA6wOvw9Jm-CQ2icFsSxy8YWmaefY_DuB4kvGR2wJwe-ufjXs63YYEG1aOLzkP9LnEwit2tjv-5ONTZslxJcp4T0e_7sb8MzJyRUcBdaa8/s1600-h/DSC01218.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbx3Y32RfR0KTJL94Q1mjH__OMSby0DriMcCA6wOvw9Jm-CQ2icFsSxy8YWmaefY_DuB4kvGR2wJwe-ufjXs63YYEG1aOLzkP9LnEwit2tjv-5ONTZslxJcp4T0e_7sb8MzJyRUcBdaa8/s400/DSC01218.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435541572024317906" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0FDmkZ9B3GvJR86dLILcKSktdthNa852wfuScFlv8G7z4FfabD81aG_Y33tXr1uxYrU7frdPSUSFgeXtQet5T2mrwK27z0mwzH1qyRH30aO9OkDOgZhTl6dYT86tXExD9msyjvo1SM9Q/s1600-h/DSC01217.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0FDmkZ9B3GvJR86dLILcKSktdthNa852wfuScFlv8G7z4FfabD81aG_Y33tXr1uxYrU7frdPSUSFgeXtQet5T2mrwK27z0mwzH1qyRH30aO9OkDOgZhTl6dYT86tXExD9msyjvo1SM9Q/s400/DSC01217.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435541564368497186" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGvkPKDz8MzKF5jX-7J7ZZQwOl845O92d2YmgFKpiPTIVc2lNwIIeADsIz8ju5uAW6rj9FRB5_dvSZSUERJmwB5lmcOBPnPX4IEUqoHwy8-nqqp8eEQCPHtW14WAf16Yzzzv-vxEJqvTg/s1600-h/DSC01216.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGvkPKDz8MzKF5jX-7J7ZZQwOl845O92d2YmgFKpiPTIVc2lNwIIeADsIz8ju5uAW6rj9FRB5_dvSZSUERJmwB5lmcOBPnPX4IEUqoHwy8-nqqp8eEQCPHtW14WAf16Yzzzv-vxEJqvTg/s400/DSC01216.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435541563949559010" border="0" /></a><br /><br />As well as the goats they have a single Dishon, a biblical animal sort of like a deer with huge horns.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZPIaehLcxeOB-v3fs_7tdihli8gwtOPvKfIKrd83XRHQdRFdUjp9S5S5JaWu1n6r2L1WokLD2oBNCu3wyXn6oQV1VVnX7lvlCBVwR7F2VJg8BF6P_X3LyvKtt9ZFo5TcWtlRgIc03UNY/s1600-h/DSC01208.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZPIaehLcxeOB-v3fs_7tdihli8gwtOPvKfIKrd83XRHQdRFdUjp9S5S5JaWu1n6r2L1WokLD2oBNCu3wyXn6oQV1VVnX7lvlCBVwR7F2VJg8BF6P_X3LyvKtt9ZFo5TcWtlRgIc03UNY/s400/DSC01208.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435542242836717762" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq_PV2Flbv8KnSiEpqLeU90BU5fQgjBJy70rMABDLhyeGD4jdrfQz0PqURNZX8iMzp4VW4NnKqRXY34jbksCV_bqbb0lcfSrmX_RE5gGtqwSwcTasS6A7cR8JRBFLd8BM-d0_6_1SGaGY/s1600-h/DSC01207.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq_PV2Flbv8KnSiEpqLeU90BU5fQgjBJy70rMABDLhyeGD4jdrfQz0PqURNZX8iMzp4VW4NnKqRXY34jbksCV_bqbb0lcfSrmX_RE5gGtqwSwcTasS6A7cR8JRBFLd8BM-d0_6_1SGaGY/s400/DSC01207.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435542242090816818" border="0" /></a><br />This was given to them by a place which maintains near-extinct animals, having been orphaned, and was raised by the goats. It keeps an aloof distance from the other animals though and can often be seen wondering outside the pen. I once made the mistake of trying to herd it - it peered at me for several seconds before lowering its head to point its impressive horns at me, at which point I agreed that it could actually go where it wanted. Bizarrely, there is also a single goose who lives with the goats. It could easily fly away but seems to like the company. Or perhaps just the free food and water, who knows.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJmnFJfhBwOTCZsWRr-bcMs2ect6O63zRJBZ2l51dNbX432vo1b-iyQNhFLLMbHQOHTBVGe6OQRN_UomPG9HbgLlyteDBkiCjT31o77whppSGsAa1z6fLkSxLC1ct94eFeLXqJOfUlPtk/s1600-h/DSC01219.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJmnFJfhBwOTCZsWRr-bcMs2ect6O63zRJBZ2l51dNbX432vo1b-iyQNhFLLMbHQOHTBVGe6OQRN_UomPG9HbgLlyteDBkiCjT31o77whppSGsAa1z6fLkSxLC1ct94eFeLXqJOfUlPtk/s400/DSC01219.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435541576508611698" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I met three types of fruit I've never experienced before. One I can't remember the name of, but is small and white sort of like a new potato. Once peeled it is sweet and fleshy around a stone only just large enough to fit inside the mouth. Inconveniently, the only way to eat it is by sucking, like a huge boiled sweet. The other two fruits were parmella and parmelite. These are similar varieties on citrus, the latter quite like grapefruit but not as tart. We ate these at each break and they were very nice.<br /><br />The art centre has some of the most beautiful architecture I've ever seen:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOaOE6YdTMtOcY2vJKTdEXrWjcXxzAJobg8-bbmC734YJPpfS3ARMJY5bL1GqrfnjnD3km4eKPRB77qoInbDHWjQYpFxt96kDnjK-aKD_ZcGltpV_-lm78x_HjfggZ7B_NcJyTPi4CasY/s1600-h/DSC01204.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOaOE6YdTMtOcY2vJKTdEXrWjcXxzAJobg8-bbmC734YJPpfS3ARMJY5bL1GqrfnjnD3km4eKPRB77qoInbDHWjQYpFxt96kDnjK-aKD_ZcGltpV_-lm78x_HjfggZ7B_NcJyTPi4CasY/s400/DSC01204.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435542532412297938" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoBnh7KSeTGSIhb9r2Gm4xxkxUdXQ8i8lSpY22ebMyto0b6_NY36xPT7hhoqG_CfYv-xcewSNC6sDmtnRjIf6sgOMs529OtZU-1aEjZcm8MIi9n-d_6YktcPuJSY38_gb7WCSYWqQnpbg/s1600-h/DSC01206.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoBnh7KSeTGSIhb9r2Gm4xxkxUdXQ8i8lSpY22ebMyto0b6_NY36xPT7hhoqG_CfYv-xcewSNC6sDmtnRjIf6sgOMs529OtZU-1aEjZcm8MIi9n-d_6YktcPuJSY38_gb7WCSYWqQnpbg/s400/DSC01206.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435542231548560674" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIKANS3Y6mH4HrJS7R_caDbHfoBywmoF6n1mY-LPC6KiSYKpS1CXEmuEezAnl_4aII4mzZSEZncksPawuVDwvqjHZ5EtnRV6lkN0drbSjf-zq1OjGicH8ZWUFlmIdWqKe2DEIC8aRT0SA/s1600-h/DSC01205.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIKANS3Y6mH4HrJS7R_caDbHfoBywmoF6n1mY-LPC6KiSYKpS1CXEmuEezAnl_4aII4mzZSEZncksPawuVDwvqjHZ5EtnRV6lkN0drbSjf-zq1OjGicH8ZWUFlmIdWqKe2DEIC8aRT0SA/s400/DSC01205.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435542226799324850" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiucDNxBN0DBICNRfq-iXy94nDT73ljDN8n8VZj9Go0o8CD3-08-dUTf6uDzQtnusv9d9eogKv2B7DgqGDM3ZG-7PgFKGpeMcoTKhENgzopvSvUAUCYFs90yB09zA7go114zPKdhWegagI/s1600-h/DSC01203.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiucDNxBN0DBICNRfq-iXy94nDT73ljDN8n8VZj9Go0o8CD3-08-dUTf6uDzQtnusv9d9eogKv2B7DgqGDM3ZG-7PgFKGpeMcoTKhENgzopvSvUAUCYFs90yB09zA7go114zPKdhWegagI/s400/DSC01203.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435542526395556194" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsVwRXKlYKbiWK3MC05Q8HrzI8ECX2bm8uQHVmYAM8mpl4Fg2YQnCIQhzGe82Ud-YmP0vKF4Vz1cGYjBzMSnty4eACDO5_BlCVhsiYLl4VhU1c73fdt0SE1faIT3FFdWnlyLIohpPOz8Y/s1600-h/DSC01202.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsVwRXKlYKbiWK3MC05Q8HrzI8ECX2bm8uQHVmYAM8mpl4Fg2YQnCIQhzGe82Ud-YmP0vKF4Vz1cGYjBzMSnty4eACDO5_BlCVhsiYLl4VhU1c73fdt0SE1faIT3FFdWnlyLIohpPOz8Y/s400/DSC01202.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435542520575488194" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijrW6rKa1taADHckzYV_DIrxMHsm8czKzy_e2eaEfkbwhdeqSCBFbT7m_L7gf0L5koECMBI6Xz08k7xjVuv8AcsR3TOTSAWicUy1HCl1sf_22_ufDIvp0PMsQtzOC32PwqHBhUorl5ab0/s1600-h/DSC01201.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; 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display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0OUtyrFJTda_o8dfB9g0GhpC7GuHXmsaljG9qtnum5-HUy46rGHRrkkdPpOqfTmETANy6IqH-VRJ8LRyjTwCR1fkUXTfi_zxbE-Er5ZHojw-A31RdoEcOTw1lg6tNRuN0gLYbEbWriyE/s400/DSC01199.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435542832351685234" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3x3OC6jaa2rgbFfyHahsQwDSSClJWnYMLeYa1jQhUze7efrcKO79ytjl4zhenB2DJswtZwfU6xRIUYmXEQe1RaR9EzjCAcBEGOYNBi8tbGmu-MKYKZG8ZRqnTuL39JlXA4cgs_HNrKgA/s1600-h/DSC01198.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3x3OC6jaa2rgbFfyHahsQwDSSClJWnYMLeYa1jQhUze7efrcKO79ytjl4zhenB2DJswtZwfU6xRIUYmXEQe1RaR9EzjCAcBEGOYNBi8tbGmu-MKYKZG8ZRqnTuL39JlXA4cgs_HNrKgA/s400/DSC01198.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435542830709693618" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLFQWD1lrD-DqsrLE5rM0175IMomIjmZeRPj2EImP3e558zIg25t5_Nk4c56L5pH9EaxMj7U0XyVijbJhK58oZoWeKWBhxVo6i5-nfo54KRqVkJ3I7NjWOwyrfXsyZLnUhg5mZsftCh0U/s1600-h/DSC01197.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLFQWD1lrD-DqsrLE5rM0175IMomIjmZeRPj2EImP3e558zIg25t5_Nk4c56L5pH9EaxMj7U0XyVijbJhK58oZoWeKWBhxVo6i5-nfo54KRqVkJ3I7NjWOwyrfXsyZLnUhg5mZsftCh0U/s400/DSC01197.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435542825820850642" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0OUtyrFJTda_o8dfB9g0GhpC7GuHXmsaljG9qtnum5-HUy46rGHRrkkdPpOqfTmETANy6IqH-VRJ8LRyjTwCR1fkUXTfi_zxbE-Er5ZHojw-A31RdoEcOTw1lg6tNRuN0gLYbEbWriyE/s1600-h/DSC01199.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0OUtyrFJTda_o8dfB9g0GhpC7GuHXmsaljG9qtnum5-HUy46rGHRrkkdPpOqfTmETANy6IqH-VRJ8LRyjTwCR1fkUXTfi_zxbE-Er5ZHojw-A31RdoEcOTw1lg6tNRuN0gLYbEbWriyE/s400/DSC01199.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435542832351685234" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTkThon4wLMMSuusUl9gL4QOuK-u8m5tyeTCV1Ul9y1KamFZceQI7st-BDHV_KGIOZh0g-FPFKHpTcUrfPZnHjbEjmCLh_Pz1_vrSaZOtGAXtiLG1DLq-q2r-5t8KwcgVtfZXHWtym8Oo/s1600-h/DSC01196.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTkThon4wLMMSuusUl9gL4QOuK-u8m5tyeTCV1Ul9y1KamFZceQI7st-BDHV_KGIOZh0g-FPFKHpTcUrfPZnHjbEjmCLh_Pz1_vrSaZOtGAXtiLG1DLq-q2r-5t8KwcgVtfZXHWtym8Oo/s400/DSC01196.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435542823801705186" border="0" /></a> Some shots from around the grounds:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvk3KFu1GZtjLCS4bgdLiQykHGvbk71tbPmQkJ7XE1ICHKpB42BAB9KP8PTKRUcOSTJrx-wlbTV5sc72kZ1oceaY6lw5NpCr3C8S4_98HfbzbdJlGRWD7zcnexpqDsWtVez3CCCetOLZU/s1600-h/DSC01213.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvk3KFu1GZtjLCS4bgdLiQykHGvbk71tbPmQkJ7XE1ICHKpB42BAB9KP8PTKRUcOSTJrx-wlbTV5sc72kZ1oceaY6lw5NpCr3C8S4_98HfbzbdJlGRWD7zcnexpqDsWtVez3CCCetOLZU/s400/DSC01213.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435541872434579890" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMVwW0-uGS8pY0LDzofjyqTlkAFwX_o7QoEpy-HWSgPSKo0stepzY2YKtMJmxsSyucW1OLR9hW-d-aBe9AwJ79yxL54kRWv2IG-AMPLD0RN4casA6gyj-13A9IAZNJ4TBiEHpy01WBsYk/s1600-h/DSC01212.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMVwW0-uGS8pY0LDzofjyqTlkAFwX_o7QoEpy-HWSgPSKo0stepzY2YKtMJmxsSyucW1OLR9hW-d-aBe9AwJ79yxL54kRWv2IG-AMPLD0RN4casA6gyj-13A9IAZNJ4TBiEHpy01WBsYk/s400/DSC01212.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435541868594051138" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS1yrlBY9q9fEa0Hy0v3gVV-fcQsIoPyWc8m0TGaWaUb0QJ1Z8szJVLis01xCUKBwU6C45DKY57dnOPgqgPK_zjY6zIZDpgKvN-bHv8UFmjCya8E5rLJ_U9u3HS-i83mr8knGLRrd98XQ/s1600-h/DSC01211.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS1yrlBY9q9fEa0Hy0v3gVV-fcQsIoPyWc8m0TGaWaUb0QJ1Z8szJVLis01xCUKBwU6C45DKY57dnOPgqgPK_zjY6zIZDpgKvN-bHv8UFmjCya8E5rLJ_U9u3HS-i83mr8knGLRrd98XQ/s400/DSC01211.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435541864063658626" border="0" /></a>Which peacock is beast, which peacock is priest?<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB93KHDVh18Hkln5An5niaLLTFF35lzQF_ZZtuJI8t6wEmIlri7PILD-VZnUEMcuLYBEQsMpEeCem4sQIxj42tNFAU5erVpHqkBrnEyJQe4Jf_4QSYTtHCWQbxim-CLkVUkjM4t4FLFwg/s1600-h/DSC01215.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB93KHDVh18Hkln5An5niaLLTFF35lzQF_ZZtuJI8t6wEmIlri7PILD-VZnUEMcuLYBEQsMpEeCem4sQIxj42tNFAU5erVpHqkBrnEyJQe4Jf_4QSYTtHCWQbxim-CLkVUkjM4t4FLFwg/s400/DSC01215.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435541557776433282" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihlRg7ZDjc4mBJm8F8pGNpic-Nwe03WmsDgZwUGpg2VNzcfG4oUtU2MPKuMRdUxtPIHsnKiaYYJJ5cUx7FEpOh0fVmABSFuZ7k9pyRctnYkXDeyTHXNOTlW23rQzy1XiPKpxvU5k-uxzY/s1600-h/DSC01225.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihlRg7ZDjc4mBJm8F8pGNpic-Nwe03WmsDgZwUGpg2VNzcfG4oUtU2MPKuMRdUxtPIHsnKiaYYJJ5cUx7FEpOh0fVmABSFuZ7k9pyRctnYkXDeyTHXNOTlW23rQzy1XiPKpxvU5k-uxzY/s400/DSC01225.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435541225705148306" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2HN8_26qLbP7mXRbRlqKfrFuPKOehoWOtWb2A-vXO0g_FnI8shyphenhyphen2m72-PFXK7tKqXYH9eIfTC8JW6q5jv7Uvr5HLpGHnlUhD-mH4M3qMMYyVaGkVbHXVUqH9AnSVzHayfAsTUlm8Cw3Q/s1600-h/DSC01224.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2HN8_26qLbP7mXRbRlqKfrFuPKOehoWOtWb2A-vXO0g_FnI8shyphenhyphen2m72-PFXK7tKqXYH9eIfTC8JW6q5jv7Uvr5HLpGHnlUhD-mH4M3qMMYyVaGkVbHXVUqH9AnSVzHayfAsTUlm8Cw3Q/s400/DSC01224.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435541223126297186" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXjfqyS9LoLtgtgA1LZXCGfVAVUxDWDaZxwNJxmwo3O3jAJj3bgLKx_uqfacCtipnx-GeNvFhAAPxo6Ehbekka3bZXfNjfSt2RDQGvxnCRWoM2hkEWVK5EF2C2HAhah9_KOGfN40_SvpE/s1600-h/DSC01236.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXjfqyS9LoLtgtgA1LZXCGfVAVUxDWDaZxwNJxmwo3O3jAJj3bgLKx_uqfacCtipnx-GeNvFhAAPxo6Ehbekka3bZXfNjfSt2RDQGvxnCRWoM2hkEWVK5EF2C2HAhah9_KOGfN40_SvpE/s400/DSC01236.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435540859782120562" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr6P9iCYUaoaVWqkJkXlgoUl3F7anGX8BQik3Vj45sChMHP9lux5SKUsgsUKBOFRB0nejKrxRvpeenVROPYbLp7MQqMs73kDSq9DrX81oNsaRFO1TbvBNxNDiTIj8xXPgq65xBsGQKrbk/s1600-h/DSC01230.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr6P9iCYUaoaVWqkJkXlgoUl3F7anGX8BQik3Vj45sChMHP9lux5SKUsgsUKBOFRB0nejKrxRvpeenVROPYbLp7MQqMs73kDSq9DrX81oNsaRFO1TbvBNxNDiTIj8xXPgq65xBsGQKrbk/s400/DSC01230.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435540843475407042" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-zi3X-B5W9gzEugbl0lwJkeRLeKHx0M6jR26T1mbNiGAt6VTF7UaSfHyeq03gwfu-69-MQdNKj5C4CN2Ubg-HBumnmQCVeuyBFhggoLWuz6x7VR5XT8OiOYJfscH9Hgx7_9aq4pqDdSY/s1600-h/DSC01226.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-zi3X-B5W9gzEugbl0lwJkeRLeKHx0M6jR26T1mbNiGAt6VTF7UaSfHyeq03gwfu-69-MQdNKj5C4CN2Ubg-HBumnmQCVeuyBFhggoLWuz6x7VR5XT8OiOYJfscH9Hgx7_9aq4pqDdSY/s400/DSC01226.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435540840255170066" border="0" /></a>And a couple from the Magaal, a strange freeform dance they did for Tu B'Shvat.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3vI2rhRIMI28faJ6X2BRsRT5xOk8v0uqkiK3bs22DN-J-I77_MM6ME6ngccq-PF2Q9JNyycNczrJ4zqdouIYKQgFCOqXPJJdEBRgCBUHqk798hT5ZJHjqV7tJox4Aq-zG_JeRkF6Zeu4/s1600-h/DSC01233.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3vI2rhRIMI28faJ6X2BRsRT5xOk8v0uqkiK3bs22DN-J-I77_MM6ME6ngccq-PF2Q9JNyycNczrJ4zqdouIYKQgFCOqXPJJdEBRgCBUHqk798hT5ZJHjqV7tJox4Aq-zG_JeRkF6Zeu4/s400/DSC01233.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435540855180751890" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFRbkWnUHNCvgD5WaWJ6aAZK0DQJdLqgBN7CnZZaUvNMLyPC4tOLnrj_TG6Bs-BpfL7Pg1cSVZFIrULx9xchKnPArbmqNyqWmmNrKwvTiWZOfoEiX7sFCJm_r5WmozlaW3Fn6DK_eDleo/s1600-h/DSC01232.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFRbkWnUHNCvgD5WaWJ6aAZK0DQJdLqgBN7CnZZaUvNMLyPC4tOLnrj_TG6Bs-BpfL7Pg1cSVZFIrULx9xchKnPArbmqNyqWmmNrKwvTiWZOfoEiX7sFCJm_r5WmozlaW3Fn6DK_eDleo/s400/DSC01232.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435540847054281570" border="0" /></a>So there you go. Finally, some more shots from Dimona.<br /><br />Some from the event I went to, which I can't even remember now what it was. But it had great music and a choir which in<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh51oSxDICfUWL3hbswAHXRrhzS3HzSNdMNFerlhLc7BbGavei75d0RFlTYpr4te7EuOMCZyQ4zZ_iZvRzzicRaT9mfqmOmzEGVDpsJjmYao-Cmm-VE_UcWEorcirk004P0LfTPEqEPG3Q/s1600-h/DSC01173.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh51oSxDICfUWL3hbswAHXRrhzS3HzSNdMNFerlhLc7BbGavei75d0RFlTYpr4te7EuOMCZyQ4zZ_iZvRzzicRaT9mfqmOmzEGVDpsJjmYao-Cmm-VE_UcWEorcirk004P0LfTPEqEPG3Q/s400/DSC01173.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435544385560642130" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguL8Tr-u2emC059y-KYIHBYJx_wuMZ-2gvVxLT_g0lwhPX4irKmoBbFLPl9LTFaIzPcVgwDUHKmaiXIYZcmnHdiFa2wELkBhgIeMf4hw7R2brz2eZvaE3XiQwCIRU9Nn2yxQBKkIV9P_I/s1600-h/DSC01177.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguL8Tr-u2emC059y-KYIHBYJx_wuMZ-2gvVxLT_g0lwhPX4irKmoBbFLPl9LTFaIzPcVgwDUHKmaiXIYZcmnHdiFa2wELkBhgIeMf4hw7R2brz2eZvaE3XiQwCIRU9Nn2yxQBKkIV9P_I/s400/DSC01177.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435544070115934850" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh035OE7FZfAJB2ceN90UMJxxkPVrBScN5f9RVhubY_SvIj2S6jKhIIfUrYtqyRELDuD2S0fBBP7sTM9dHdhI18P6_NE57IslmeyRY-QKgTelKvkkLA4Q5EOi2laXD5U-BeojPDSNEHbiU/s1600-h/DSC01176.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh035OE7FZfAJB2ceN90UMJxxkPVrBScN5f9RVhubY_SvIj2S6jKhIIfUrYtqyRELDuD2S0fBBP7sTM9dHdhI18P6_NE57IslmeyRY-QKgTelKvkkLA4Q5EOi2laXD5U-BeojPDSNEHbiU/s400/DSC01176.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435544064567840930" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxp22APO5nU8jHjxY9GM86ZrBhk4E4BMVCPVqc5mPChn7TMihCGgD6gc6Eg54-KIhhsk6QdlNK1FKA7f0JD4KaHty7mhyKMhUdXnCkHVcIOB6R5wrnGoAxUL7KP9mI25U4OjRoxqAeTX4/s1600-h/DSC01175.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxp22APO5nU8jHjxY9GM86ZrBhk4E4BMVCPVqc5mPChn7TMihCGgD6gc6Eg54-KIhhsk6QdlNK1FKA7f0JD4KaHty7mhyKMhUdXnCkHVcIOB6R5wrnGoAxUL7KP9mI25U4OjRoxqAeTX4/s400/DSC01175.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435544061999563138" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi89o4on5i0FjQ0q13ckNdFc8W7uELuAFMkAcjHGlSV3Ub3hoWWlQSkzYj7h5tu25VYJbX2aBewgFFQjvm4JNKapaBWmAEVYG0cspjXL8TbWMJ_0q3ECRZWFWTOWg5st5Uf0-HstL3n318/s1600-h/DSC01174.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi89o4on5i0FjQ0q13ckNdFc8W7uELuAFMkAcjHGlSV3Ub3hoWWlQSkzYj7h5tu25VYJbX2aBewgFFQjvm4JNKapaBWmAEVYG0cspjXL8TbWMJ_0q3ECRZWFWTOWg5st5Uf0-HstL3n318/s400/DSC01174.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435544056964831090" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrS0KrWefSwN-3I2RhOICyHuV3M8MlhNfI4NmrPOk9MDXRp_GSuv54QPpT2_tH45mx0uOvH54Dz-QWXIoz-1bt3TQ4YmsiCjeTI0YaRcfXe3bEhBdDaPoBnFKXpqx7_7Nx4MaIbqJySJI/s1600-h/DSC01173.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrS0KrWefSwN-3I2RhOICyHuV3M8MlhNfI4NmrPOk9MDXRp_GSuv54QPpT2_tH45mx0uOvH54Dz-QWXIoz-1bt3TQ4YmsiCjeTI0YaRcfXe3bEhBdDaPoBnFKXpqx7_7Nx4MaIbqJySJI/s400/DSC01173.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435544053436841938" border="0" /></a>Sunset.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjurqyvjJTdUtKiKypR747K2r8OZXcEemKIFSjZ7wM8keGLQQ3K_3fhYE1lvPXLKQ95T4WF2eLgw3Wh6mwqwOQt7hYAw-TzOLJ7morAF0cplV_uYKaxWbS0u-In8hUQ15ebs5qmYQQyWj4/s1600-h/DSC01172.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjurqyvjJTdUtKiKypR747K2r8OZXcEemKIFSjZ7wM8keGLQQ3K_3fhYE1lvPXLKQ95T4WF2eLgw3Wh6mwqwOQt7hYAw-TzOLJ7morAF0cplV_uYKaxWbS0u-In8hUQ15ebs5qmYQQyWj4/s400/DSC01172.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435544385421501106" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfWciSSDRw-WD0MsnaH8ug8mhYJSSSW9GP7MxGciqQ1c6Y80aL8QpiGmZc44Nm9ZTqMtSIs5Qq6ZpHFxfumsYyZkxZqFDcCjgYrOhCgJ6FfHnXnGWWhqzrX9SRlHC0VI3CRSoI5cubVvI/s1600-h/DSC01171.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfWciSSDRw-WD0MsnaH8ug8mhYJSSSW9GP7MxGciqQ1c6Y80aL8QpiGmZc44Nm9ZTqMtSIs5Qq6ZpHFxfumsYyZkxZqFDcCjgYrOhCgJ6FfHnXnGWWhqzrX9SRlHC0VI3CRSoI5cubVvI/s400/DSC01171.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435544379693744722" border="0" /></a>Bob Marley's daughter who visited briefly during the writers' conference. She was doing her own research on Rastafarianism around the world.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFTK2XlbHzWvGcR0diNQa4vlqNSdJ2HPiQRo2t7onaqT3gI8br2udCC0knx0QAj2gh9PsgM6lnbFj3a2NYZPYo9Ckc8_uqLC6HsJhrSaUkffBJmYaFD2Xi3sFca_rvYtJPhqT9Y_MGUpE/s1600-h/DSC01169.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFTK2XlbHzWvGcR0diNQa4vlqNSdJ2HPiQRo2t7onaqT3gI8br2udCC0knx0QAj2gh9PsgM6lnbFj3a2NYZPYo9Ckc8_uqLC6HsJhrSaUkffBJmYaFD2Xi3sFca_rvYtJPhqT9Y_MGUpE/s400/DSC01169.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435544371455810242" border="0" /></a>Some notices and signs I liked, or thought worth reproducing.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggFdWaZLslRXv87GWPtvfA87-ebSvxrdV1TZ2yApJt0uLpbKk4gqmW4y3TapGXXbkEW_1yd2UoXeISc9d_AnTKx6MFqJTYxm5NUf7FCJuOcRo0h42CIvfSoTy6hBweYj0EN1Z9tUFcW_4/s1600-h/DSC01170.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggFdWaZLslRXv87GWPtvfA87-ebSvxrdV1TZ2yApJt0uLpbKk4gqmW4y3TapGXXbkEW_1yd2UoXeISc9d_AnTKx6MFqJTYxm5NUf7FCJuOcRo0h42CIvfSoTy6hBweYj0EN1Z9tUFcW_4/s400/DSC01170.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435544374886811266" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj57b4B7ymUE0hMVcYaHL8q5b-c1UtPKco_hvZOTgu2gWmU8y6pMT50Z9keHc9UVXf5ddaWbhwmwnFuYa6KfYFZF3A71PJM9hPvRiyJ596sIIE5hNY30_yu-NryPnIktkUdYo4a9JZznM8/s1600-h/DSC01178.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj57b4B7ymUE0hMVcYaHL8q5b-c1UtPKco_hvZOTgu2gWmU8y6pMT50Z9keHc9UVXf5ddaWbhwmwnFuYa6KfYFZF3A71PJM9hPvRiyJ596sIIE5hNY30_yu-NryPnIktkUdYo4a9JZznM8/s400/DSC01178.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435543792100236706" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWjXQ_zmH-reyfN91G6VzjiiBASytA4YDKoZUgjOAcyJb-VmsD9w0IKC1VLMhET0M8JcZPzghJ7qZd_EtEk0NTAySrZWYT1o9MRVb4t_qdx113uufwBmU0BT6h5n97LtMXMIKrAjmiVVA/s1600-h/DSC01186.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWjXQ_zmH-reyfN91G6VzjiiBASytA4YDKoZUgjOAcyJb-VmsD9w0IKC1VLMhET0M8JcZPzghJ7qZd_EtEk0NTAySrZWYT1o9MRVb4t_qdx113uufwBmU0BT6h5n97LtMXMIKrAjmiVVA/s400/DSC01186.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435543447878118562" border="0" /></a>Some from the agricultural fields.<br /><br />Beehive:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkBftV40AQRBElIo1YlUWe_pGPLgQUZlbna2TsYq6rZimoGe7YwIU8lyyrQMB_fRdeQZU9MwKQ2jsisRZ_wjJidJZrzXRJmME0EYBpidmnNXHdYp10hqUnK1ZUpU6uFCBGWkNNj4Kh9UU/s1600-h/DSC01184.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkBftV40AQRBElIo1YlUWe_pGPLgQUZlbna2TsYq6rZimoGe7YwIU8lyyrQMB_fRdeQZU9MwKQ2jsisRZ_wjJidJZrzXRJmME0EYBpidmnNXHdYp10hqUnK1ZUpU6uFCBGWkNNj4Kh9UU/s400/DSC01184.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435543802222205586" border="0" /></a>Porcupine, due for release somewhere away from the lemons it was pilfering.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGp9fockwo8jaB-i4ZDBX3sPdiC57ejUBDWod5heF1vktLqfdP-iFcKMtUZuiXnLlGwaPXP4xYMrrlaw7t9h0Agdx4IQQCjQS8TVK37VclHgPcB5dl7mE_CO9ulOr07YwSwpOnLKvl60U/s1600-h/DSC01183.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGp9fockwo8jaB-i4ZDBX3sPdiC57ejUBDWod5heF1vktLqfdP-iFcKMtUZuiXnLlGwaPXP4xYMrrlaw7t9h0Agdx4IQQCjQS8TVK37VclHgPcB5dl7mE_CO9ulOr07YwSwpOnLKvl60U/s400/DSC01183.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435543800370475682" border="0" /></a>Nahgehla, after a morning picking brocolli.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaFtI9f0wl1-O4UhqEwMXAjNFlgKEPWHUA-63tD987xuTtkqLJhUwm2gtnE9WfGW_VlxvbZyFYuu8115e43QZHGK3tG5mW7C1KXewXSYK00wnmDlHHmlTe2BS63OVkmdKiUFWvcdwbiGU/s1600-h/DSC01182.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaFtI9f0wl1-O4UhqEwMXAjNFlgKEPWHUA-63tD987xuTtkqLJhUwm2gtnE9WfGW_VlxvbZyFYuu8115e43QZHGK3tG5mW7C1KXewXSYK00wnmDlHHmlTe2BS63OVkmdKiUFWvcdwbiGU/s400/DSC01182.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435543795866097154" border="0" /></a>And me, picking the brocolli.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3THBinMEIcLAUjcjVRFHJP0Iyb3CXHkLyTX5pEf22_DGwQVfhnSrpVf3_5zBCjkerrY_qcDQd2oHmjxr0HwRxOeCd0vZw3CVPj3MDCmTtZPzvfcCaO3bnXMKOBKIeN0Z5KPhlMYm0zTQ/s1600-h/DSC01180.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3THBinMEIcLAUjcjVRFHJP0Iyb3CXHkLyTX5pEf22_DGwQVfhnSrpVf3_5zBCjkerrY_qcDQd2oHmjxr0HwRxOeCd0vZw3CVPj3MDCmTtZPzvfcCaO3bnXMKOBKIeN0Z5KPhlMYm0zTQ/s400/DSC01180.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435543792331380658" border="0" /></a>Some of the new developments near the Peace Village.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Xfi7abosItUWgPYrp4ok_WMyry6ldDuLfFp07caF3UGUDFwdtMWSLWnnRlRK5R9dt_CGBUnOgzEQovLjLYYzIPITpVGkbgr2hVSBj-FoaP0tCUl8S8pM-mILiiK2eooQq5p8RltB66c/s1600-h/DSC01189.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Xfi7abosItUWgPYrp4ok_WMyry6ldDuLfFp07caF3UGUDFwdtMWSLWnnRlRK5R9dt_CGBUnOgzEQovLjLYYzIPITpVGkbgr2hVSBj-FoaP0tCUl8S8pM-mILiiK2eooQq5p8RltB66c/s400/DSC01189.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435543458377062258" border="0" /></a>And the desert wasteland where I went with Nahgehla to exercise.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisYQrQLIkcY7PWcR4VM-eI4zZYTPUs2E0uWWpKancyV_qa9prlvRTxjNZDcqV0AqqWu0HcUUIRnKDhEeSPCvuv7ojJpDAcQsnvz9q2Jm9bmlu4EEG0-H0IpHJ_9K89GDyUueOHUScLCyc/s1600-h/DSC01188.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisYQrQLIkcY7PWcR4VM-eI4zZYTPUs2E0uWWpKancyV_qa9prlvRTxjNZDcqV0AqqWu0HcUUIRnKDhEeSPCvuv7ojJpDAcQsnvz9q2Jm9bmlu4EEG0-H0IpHJ_9K89GDyUueOHUScLCyc/s400/DSC01188.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435543451278005074" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipf2BzN3Df_0RWk_VYJRFqb0Z3rqgaa52Zj883YfAj0tw1gB21sH0C6NylAYdbif0FjBSsCcA17Ny5n1ikdv6HrtQnmlfoTZmgKmqYLjeQ9mkHHZ1qUvFxqZBLgmO1KvAjFmfJi82guGg/s1600-h/DSC01187.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipf2BzN3Df_0RWk_VYJRFqb0Z3rqgaa52Zj883YfAj0tw1gB21sH0C6NylAYdbif0FjBSsCcA17Ny5n1ikdv6HrtQnmlfoTZmgKmqYLjeQ9mkHHZ1qUvFxqZBLgmO1KvAjFmfJi82guGg/s400/DSC01187.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435543447966616882" border="0" /></a>(how bizarre is this one - it looks like some deserted martian development. Apparently electricity boxes for a housing project which was abandoned).<br /><br />The Souq (market) in Be'er Sheva.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9awnQGKbq2tmcGgKye0uvAxfqhTWyD-xzr7drlJW5EU7WlaHSrey5vZa9WJN7JzWHP5uPaJa633LGDpq3PzkGd75LX6y7mUu4mnO93vlFOuutNoC-xQoFn5guzmEle9XEz1-9RXHB534/s1600-h/DSC01185.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9awnQGKbq2tmcGgKye0uvAxfqhTWyD-xzr7drlJW5EU7WlaHSrey5vZa9WJN7JzWHP5uPaJa633LGDpq3PzkGd75LX6y7mUu4mnO93vlFOuutNoC-xQoFn5guzmEle9XEz1-9RXHB534/s400/DSC01185.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435543444866840738" border="0" /></a>Oh yes, and the band I went to see in Tel Aviv - Rotting Christ, a Greek death metal band. Expensive evening (at £4 a pint) but worth it to se some of the underground culture the city had to offer.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij1W9ikR-hTFcaXk0tCQuLMJpP4jQ6QdP4wycrMO46ou8h8wQZOQW8DuzByxD-nFysOQGRJXX1tIe5umIUGHCnYf8hRuBWjXf0UnI3a0dVpHl_2ELLlJ6iqFfKYYHorZ2YFsQtV53NXLA/s1600-h/DSC01194.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij1W9ikR-hTFcaXk0tCQuLMJpP4jQ6QdP4wycrMO46ou8h8wQZOQW8DuzByxD-nFysOQGRJXX1tIe5umIUGHCnYf8hRuBWjXf0UnI3a0dVpHl_2ELLlJ6iqFfKYYHorZ2YFsQtV53NXLA/s400/DSC01194.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435543132089437314" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtZ6fY3cpFpcmCzPJaclzgg7MjjDoAD5gyTuShO11xei0MmiJgP5h1w4_DrDAQI6Qq1kEalurnW1zR_WZRJ6gq-TcmUTTRvGKdv04tG3tNvPUH2c9Fp22yBFpwJB_sgCv_SI_HwkiYn5o/s1600-h/DSC01193.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtZ6fY3cpFpcmCzPJaclzgg7MjjDoAD5gyTuShO11xei0MmiJgP5h1w4_DrDAQI6Qq1kEalurnW1zR_WZRJ6gq-TcmUTTRvGKdv04tG3tNvPUH2c9Fp22yBFpwJB_sgCv_SI_HwkiYn5o/s400/DSC01193.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435543126411322130" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKEUQZKNWtx36YNsLQ7URmptmhDV3qLS5XCAc5R7hyphenhyphenWxoZsMkz-6sv3U-CvbvNb2TUgMIpb7vpr4tlBgGC2k8p6-RU8UVd6p26kSCFtWw7pxbg-o9nofGbEd2SRPuUMc04vhp5nX0xsdI/s1600-h/DSC01192.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKEUQZKNWtx36YNsLQ7URmptmhDV3qLS5XCAc5R7hyphenhyphenWxoZsMkz-6sv3U-CvbvNb2TUgMIpb7vpr4tlBgGC2k8p6-RU8UVd6p26kSCFtWw7pxbg-o9nofGbEd2SRPuUMc04vhp5nX0xsdI/s400/DSC01192.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435543126040069122" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcJeNFM1x2_HWWiBib6zuhWb1Qvc0PoTZiB95IYBWPo4hUs7MDkYHPR7FHbJu6iz30z66Zh1I5JiSzpgbbI4uIRJaRkHwnbPfdhtSDryvszNjHQ_aJIBD9skQmbh8fXEevKxxOfviwOkg/s1600-h/DSC01191.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcJeNFM1x2_HWWiBib6zuhWb1Qvc0PoTZiB95IYBWPo4hUs7MDkYHPR7FHbJu6iz30z66Zh1I5JiSzpgbbI4uIRJaRkHwnbPfdhtSDryvszNjHQ_aJIBD9skQmbh8fXEevKxxOfviwOkg/s400/DSC01191.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435543119815221346" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ4RgPcMmGOBmW1wyCoYEQSXGunitJjKQuuntSG6zBPILInW-xywX0FC6aUCXD6Mh4KoTq7-kT113JjV8N_jrSKlewTR_7CP9X0VjtX13ChWMSTTulby-nukgvhvLSvhyphenhyphenU5Zwtta1ZjvY/s1600-h/DSC01190.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ4RgPcMmGOBmW1wyCoYEQSXGunitJjKQuuntSG6zBPILInW-xywX0FC6aUCXD6Mh4KoTq7-kT113JjV8N_jrSKlewTR_7CP9X0VjtX13ChWMSTTulby-nukgvhvLSvhyphenhyphenU5Zwtta1ZjvY/s400/DSC01190.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435543118331023970" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3EgQ9yuGFkPhkfYJAZS1F06Ylvf5WJnRq6WvobZjhaYOc4dnOqxr40JTSRlpDGRCDwW0xIGHSm7l1VSRujZiNHxh_3m8aSNchT6G6DiSHNI_6SJBtLH_CUN6MXJ3i9tsXxg9TyMpkOqA/s1600-h/DSC01195.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3EgQ9yuGFkPhkfYJAZS1F06Ylvf5WJnRq6WvobZjhaYOc4dnOqxr40JTSRlpDGRCDwW0xIGHSm7l1VSRujZiNHxh_3m8aSNchT6G6DiSHNI_6SJBtLH_CUN6MXJ3i9tsXxg9TyMpkOqA/s400/DSC01195.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435542822167817602" border="0" /></a>Oh and finally just two more from Neot Semadar :) (first is the tower by the infant school)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioBpAtrM9qt_QVShO3VdvwhL0M544V2vIy2DeHw-hlwGz-ehFPkZFvZFqT9bfWIfsK8pE4P_fDLXlQOlRPqX5_KwBZJZ3ECD5j69ZQ4T6OtMyZdfJVh94KDwAmq_2zu5nQd4NzIep9drc/s1600-h/DSC01214.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioBpAtrM9qt_QVShO3VdvwhL0M544V2vIy2DeHw-hlwGz-ehFPkZFvZFqT9bfWIfsK8pE4P_fDLXlQOlRPqX5_KwBZJZ3ECD5j69ZQ4T6OtMyZdfJVh94KDwAmq_2zu5nQd4NzIep9drc/s400/DSC01214.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435541875674823650" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvk3KFu1GZtjLCS4bgdLiQykHGvbk71tbPmQkJ7XE1ICHKpB42BAB9KP8PTKRUcOSTJrx-wlbTV5sc72kZ1oceaY6lw5NpCr3C8S4_98HfbzbdJlGRWD7zcnexpqDsWtVez3CCCetOLZU/s1600-h/DSC01213.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvk3KFu1GZtjLCS4bgdLiQykHGvbk71tbPmQkJ7XE1ICHKpB42BAB9KP8PTKRUcOSTJrx-wlbTV5sc72kZ1oceaY6lw5NpCr3C8S4_98HfbzbdJlGRWD7zcnexpqDsWtVez3CCCetOLZU/s400/DSC01213.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435541872434579890" border="0" /></a><span style="padding: 1px 4px; position: absolute; -moz-appearance: tooltip; color: infotext; z-index: 10000; cursor: pointer; left: 506px; top: 8623px;">save</span>Ayinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10120620659286171851noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462752563299701010.post-76886415221564542042010-01-17T08:42:00.000-08:002010-01-18T01:05:11.566-08:00African Hebrew Israelites: History and TheologyI'm about to leave the community, having been here for a month. I've enjoyed my time here a lot and have learnt a lot as well as had some fairly heated debates. In general I'm left with the impression of something really very good happening here, although I still have some misgivings about the accuracy of their historical narrative.<br /><br />I have been impressed by the holistic nature of the community. Indeed, everyone says that they are not religious - the lifestyle is completely integrated and not detachable into separate components. Ben Ammi's writings also have this quality. His vision encompasses every aspect of life and history and leaves nothing unexplained. I have been struck with comparisons to Muhammad's community - wrenched from a strife-ridden and unfocussed life and hammered into shape by a charismatic, dedicated and visionary leader who - crucial in the distinction between other cults which have met a sticky end - cares passionately about the salvation of his people from a short, vague and godless existence.<br /><br />The following I base on my month with the community, discussions and interviews with members, and seminars given during the Writers Conference 2009. I have also worked through 3 of Ben Ammi's texts: <span style="font-style: italic;">God, The Black Man and Truth</span> (1985), <span style="font-style: italic;">Yeshua the Hebrew Messiah or Jesus the Christian Christ?</span> (1996) and <span style="font-style: italic;">The Ascension of the New Adam</span> (2009). While there's plenty more that could be said, my own interests are in theology and history, so that is what I've chosen to focus on. It's also not a definitive assessment, as there are still interviews I haven't listened back to, but I wanted to put something down before I forget.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Foundational Narratives of the Community</span><br /><br />I feel that there are two different, but interlinked, ideologies at work in the community. One is very specific, and the other more general, but both deal with the nature and function of the community, providing a foundational narrative for the members. I hear these different ideologies being espoused by different people. The more common, as far as I can tell, is the specific: this ideology focuses on the historical narrative of descent from Israel, and enslavement (in America) as a divine punishment for forsaking the way of the Lord. There's an awful lot of literature out there already about the African American identification with Ancient Hebrews, and every author seems to have created their own set of categorisations to describe the spectrum of black interest and embracing of Jewish or Ancient Hebrew religion, culture, identity or history. These are to be understood as quite distinct from black Americans who have converted to mainstream Judaism. Instead, the spectrum covers a range of beliefs which share the focal root of direct ancestral lineage from the Hebrew or Israelite people of the Bible to African Americans today. As well as the sociological literature on the phenomena, there is a significant quantity of work attempting to substantiate these claims by way of analysing African traditions which show allegedly strong similarity to Hebrew culture, traditions and language. I have yet to embark fully on an analysis of this literature, but the first text I ventured into - Nana Banchie Darkwah PhD's <span style="font-style: italic;">The Africans Who Wrote the Bible</span> (2002), which I borrowed from the village's Institute of Regenerative Truth - was a singularly weak piece of research, lacking in basic knowledge of history, zero connection with the wealth of contemporary literature on Ancient Judaism, but replete with misunderstandings, defective logic, waffle and hyperbole. Aside from his personal knowledge of the African Akan tribe's language and history, his main sources were the Encyclopedia Britannica and a TV documentary called Who Wrote the Bible. I remain bemused as to how someone with a PhD could complete such a disastrously bad work of scholarship. I also skimmed through Rev. Ishkamusa Darashango's text <span style="font-style: italic;">God, The Bible and the Black Man's Destiny</span> (1970), from which I assume Ben Ammi borrowed the title of his own work as well as some theoretical bases. This was much better researched and argued, although his use of scriptural passages to establish that God is literally black left something to be desired theologically. He made good use of references to prophets having 'woolly hair' though, and this did make me stop and think. However, I do have difficulty taking completely seriously someone who made comments about caucasians being "the ultimate expression of evil", resulting from "a strange mishap of nature", and claimed that black holes are "pockets of black power in the cosmos...the dwelling places and operational base from which the spirit of our Black ancestors direct and supervise the struggle". It should be noted that while these texts are present in the library they are not the work of members of the community. Regardless, I nervously look forward to opening the next such title on my list.<br /><br />I heard Sar Elyakim Ben Yehuda, one of the elders of the community, give an impassioned speech at the end of a heated debate about modern perspectives on the slave trade, where he stated that the real crime was their own separation from God, their language and their traditions - and this is what must be repaired. This was also the line taken at a breakfast/youth seminar during the Writer's Conference. This was - obviously, though we were not informed - in fact a disciplinary session for half a dozen underachieving teenagers. A video was shown of the slave trade, and the speaker gave a strong berating based on Deuteronomy and claimed that the bondage was the result of the curse God had placed on His people lest they drift from righteousness. This curse, he argued, is still in effect today. As evidence he read from a recent HaAretz article on the dismal failure of the Ethiopian Jewish community's integration. I had also read this article while I was staying at the Port Inn in Haifa, and it was indeed quite damning of the situation. He quoted some statistics on the prevalence of crime, drug use and suicide among children of the immigrants. Shockingly, Ethiopians have a suicide rate of 10%. However, he laid the fault ultimately at the feet of the Ethiopians for not striving to keep the laws of God. As Hebrews, they had been entrusted with a duty which they had not worked on preserving. The same fate, it was hammered home, awaited these six children if they did not make the right choices about the direction of their lives. I was quite shocked by the force of the reprimand - but then I would be, given my upbringing. I don't know what effect it had on the children, but I can appreciate the determination in the adults, those who succeeded in escaping a situation in America very much like the Ethiopians' here, and spent decades establishing their community, to make sure their young don't slip into the decadent wastage they have tried so hard to leave behind. One quote I wrote down reads "I guarantee what awaits you if you don't make the right choice is suicide, alcohol, dope, jail, the crazy house...or back in Babylon with a chain around your neck." Like I say, quite strong considering they hadn't even failed their exams but had passed at 56% - a result which apparently made them "functionally illiterate". But then I'm English and unused to fire and brimstone sermons, or heavy-handed discipline.<br /><br />The second, more general ideology I have heard twice, but it has been implied by other people too. This states that the community has elevated itself to a holy way of life, Yah-mind it has been called, and exists to act as a 'light unto the nations'. This idea focuses less on the historical and more on the ethical principles which have been developed by the community. The difference in focus means a greater emphasis on their leadership role in salvation terms - the saving of humanity, of the environment, etc, and less on salvation of themselves from their own history. The priest I interviewed seemed to take this gentler viewpoint, claiming that although Ben Ammi was this community's messiah, other messiahs would rise up from other communities to guide them, and offer different insights which the Hebrews too would learn from.<br /><br />This division is even present in the writings of Ben Ammi. While he consistently claims that the Hebrew Israelites are the descendents of Ancient Hebrews, and their enslavement was a fulfilling of the Curse*, he also implies that Israel is not a historical community but a spiritual role which different communities can fulfill at different times. Both the early gentile Christians and early Muslims were attempting to "establish that nation which would be spiritually Israel and thus become the light of the world"; they knew that "the Magna Carter had passed from the hands of ancient Israel and that they were given a historical season to assume the role to become the children of the chosen by the Spirit of God." (God...p27)<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">*e.g., "Africans...were victims of a cruel plot to control us, an international religious plot that came about as a result of Blacks disobeying the laws and commandments of God." (God...p.7)</span><br /><br />The first notion of slavery as punishment is interesting, and serves several functions. In creating this historical narrative (I advise that all historical narratives are creations - ergo I do not intend this statement as a rejection per se of theirs), they have provided a crucial tool in justifying their mission and motivating the continuation and progression of the lifestyle. Without this anchor, it would be difficult to maintain the disciplined community-structure which comes with the firm knowledge of identity. The power of the narrative is obvious from the degree to which they have succeeded in overcoming their previous situation, and continue to attract recruits to their cause. The strictly regimented lifestyle, quite different from what people otherwise experience in western democracies, would likely have ossified quickly without this historical base.<br /><br />However, this narrative actively competes with another people's. In their attempt to redefine or rediscover history and the heroes of the religious narrative to refocus it on the needs (quite desperate needs in many cases) of the African diaspora, they cannot help but deny the traditional narratives of other sections of society, specifically the traditional Jewish one, a version of which is the one in place in Europe and America. The conflict with the traditional Jewish narrative has already caused controversy and some bad feeling toward the community - although these issues now appear to be resolved, more or less. Regarding the version in place in the west, it would be useless to create a narrative which still accepted or allowed for the validity of existing interpretations which were embedded in the culture and history of abuse. In order to achieve salvation for this community, the competing narratives which have been used by the oppressors have to be dismantled and demonstrated to be incorrect; they must be overthrown. In order to throw off the shackles of the last 400 years, these must be ideologically explained in a way that defuses and disempowers the oppressors' narrative. Hence it was the community's desertion of God which led to the divine punishment of enslavement - not (as the alternative states) the intellect and technological/cultural prowess of the European which allowed them to carry away millions of savages into bondage. It is no longer the white man who is responsible - they have been merely a tool of God's will, which was to punish his chosen people for their misdemeanour. This move places responsibility (and therefore power) in the hands of the Hebrew community instead of making them victim to the European. Their captivity is explained, perhaps even justified, and further utilised as a means to enhance their position now, propelling their community into the forefront of the cosmic drama. Further, it acts to neutralise bitterness towards the aggressors of the past who were also only enacting the divine mandate of the curse, and therefore allows the Hebrews to progress past the victor-victim model (and any implications of revenge it may provoke) and onto the issue of salvation for the entire human race. This is clearly a very powerful development on previous narratives of civil rights and black nationalism, and one which has served to propel the community far beyond mere escape of the past, forward into the creation of the future.<br /><br />As the people return to the righteous path, God's grace also will return to them. The justification for this is demonstrated in their overcoming of enormous opposition during the first twenty years in order to establish their community, and, now, the very apparent strength and progress of the group and the individuals therein. This argument is very difficult to disagree with - the holiness of the lifestyle is evidenced in their longevity, lack of disease, economic success, and a long list of other benefits they reap. This perhaps is something quite unique about Ben Ammi's community; while depending heavily on scripture, their innovations are not based on the will of the leader but on well-supported lifestyle changes. Any arguments that the community should accept a new revelation which would work against immediate physical health and mental calm would be rejected out of hand. Such is logically incompatible with holiness. The proof is quite evident in the pudding. This is intimately linked to the very immanent theology of the community, to which I will turn shortly.<br /><br />The newest development in the community's theology is contained in the title of a pamphlet by Ben Ammi: <span style="font-style: italic;">The Ascension of the New Adam</span>. Arguing that the Hebrew Israelites have succeeded in releasing not only the shackles of the last 400 years captivity in America (the 'new Egypt'), but actually reversing the fall of Adam, Ammi claims that we are now in a new historical-spiritual phase. By returning to Biblical precepts and adopting a holy lifestyle, the Hebrews have returned to the primordial state of Adam at creation. Whereas the entire past has been a process of descent, and all humans were considered descendents of Adam, the new phase is one of ascension: the Hebrews have constituted a New Adam, in harmony with the creator and His laws, who is ascending from this pure state into one that has never been known before, and of which no prophecy has yet spoken.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Immanent Theology</span><br /><br />I mentioned in the last blog that the praise of choice for God is Yah Khi - God Lives. This is not immediately obvious as a radical statement, but the thinking behind it is very interesting once unwoven. The notion of a living God acts to remove the divine from dry intellectual discourse or dogma. Evidencing this is the lack of interest in creation which the priest demonstrated. God is not thought about but felt - and felt as presence in the living of life. In the same way that Fergus Kerr claimed the phrase "God is love" expresses its intent better when translated into "love is divine", I feel that Yah Khi could be understood as "Living is Godly"; if God is the essence of life, and provides human vitality, then following His laws/acting to please Him is the same as living healthily, promoting ones own vitality, clarity and life-energy. One member told me that there is a significant divide between African and European spirituality. He used a Bob Marley quote to try and explain this: "You cannot understand, but a living God is a living man." Personally, I think I can understand this - to believe in a God who is equated with life and positive energy means that to live well is to praise God. The implication of this dichotomy (we did not reach this side of the conclusion but I think it's a safe bet) is that the European mode of spirituality is either (a) dryly philosophical or (b) impossibly diffuse with a hundred different pagan gods. Or, (c) both. I think Roman Catholic Christianity would easily tick both these boxes, if the full course of its history is taken into account. Of course, and I probably don't need to point this out but, if this is the case then he is fundamentally incorrect: there has always been a current of immanent theology within western religion, and if anything this is currently at its peak. The RAMP survey amply demonstrates this, where a substantial percentage of those polled in all western countries described their religious belief as being in a "God Within" rather than any more transcendent or classically theistic option. However, it could be that he is correct in a smaller way, that 'African spirituality' tends to have more to do with movement and energy than the mind, whereas 'European spirituality' is often essentially contemplative or intellectual. The first portion of this is not my assumption but is stated by Ben Ammi in his God, the Black Man and Truth (his first book) where he claims that "rhythm and movement are inherently in our soul." and that "At its inception, it (dance and music) was a magnificent expression of African creative genius; it was first and foremost a form of prayer through Divine and Holy movement." (God...p.28).<br /><br />Ben Ammi states emphatically that "The quest for God...has nothing at all to do with fantasy or mysticism or the so-called 'supernatural' world." (God...p36). Ben Ammi discusses satan and argues that he is only real when given bodily form, i.e. through the actions of human beings. The unstated corollary is that the same is true of God. Therefore, there is only the embodied. Purely metaphysical beings have no part of this cosmology. God is in life, in the living. Ammi argues that worship=work and work=worship. Everything we do is worship, and depending on the quality of our actions it is worship of either God or the devil. To act in accordance with the divinely ordained cycles of the universe is to worship God. To act otherwise is to create friction within the otherwise smoothly running cosmos, and this friction will lead ultimately only to one's own demise. Likewise, in order to find God not only must the individual be in tune with the cosmos, but "every aspect of a society must be ethical and righteous" (God...p39). Otherwise it is impossible to escape the impurities of profane living and the corruption which is inextricable from these.<br /><br />Priest Uzzi Yahu (which by the way is the best name ever for a Priest) told me that God is apparent in creation, but most specifically in human beings. Humans, he claimed, are the fullness of Yah dwelling in creation*. The spirit has its source in another realm, and this appears to be something mental. There is no doctrine of afterlife or an eternal soul - Ben Ammi states he has nothing to say about this, as no one has ever come back to tell us about it. However, the Kingdom of God is a quite realisable concept. It is precisely what the community is doing now: a community where God's rule is respected and his sovereignty brings the benefits it deserves. In fact the community explicitly regards itself as The Kingdom of Yah. Uzzi Yahu claimed that 'truth' equates to "life-giving teachings" (Likewise Ben Ammi states that "Truth consists of those words, doctrines, outlooks and visions which keep man in harmony with the processes that sustain eternal life." (Yeshua...p.39)). This is an interesting point of view, and one I am quite inclined to agree with: the function of theological teachings is to make human life better; to help us live in harmony with the fundamental principles of reality. The truth-value of any doctrine is assessable by how well they improve life, make it more harmonious, richer, and attuned. If the teachings are life-giving or life-enhancing, then they must be true, and if they are not clearly they are false. The teachings of Ben Ammi have demonstrably passed this test, and hence his status is undeniable within the community. He succeeded in not only bringing them to Israel and establishing a base here, but has improved their lives a hundred times over.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">* Ben Ammi poses the question how does God reveal Himself and answers with the passage Gen.1:26-27. "You were to see Him in those who were made in His image or likeness - His servants." (God...p24). Likewise, Heaven is demythologised, and cast as an immediately possible reality: "heaven is the reality of the righteous as they live, not a place for spirits after death." (God...p56). </span><br /><br />I can hear some of my compatriots grumbling that this is not what truth means (at least, those who have not studied a liberal arts subject to postgraduate level). Scientifically, truth is a literal concept - ideas are 'true' to the extent that they accurately mirror or represent objective facts in the world. To Ben Ammi, if the western 'Euro-gentile' world has pursued the course of literally understanding the world, they have done so to the destruction of all that is beautiful, positive and meaningful about life and humanity. In pursuing an agenda of materialist reductionism the west seems to have lost sight of the far more important meaning in living. A culture which has not "strengthened our families, increased our brotherly love or inspired our honesty" is self-evidently pursuing an incorrect agenda in regard to how humans should live, regardless of whatever other claims to "truth" its depiction of reality may have.<br /><br />Often, when someone has proposed a radically immanent theology, the religious establishments have condemned them as atheists. This was the case with Maimonides, Paul Tillich, Mordecai Kaplan to name just three. I began to feel much the same during the Sacred Visitation in Jerusalem. During a rigorous debunking of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and some of the traditions it claims, I imagined that Richard Dawkins would pursue similar points with much the same force. The guides delighted in finding inconsistencies and critiquing the narrative presented by the dominant religious institutions, in particular promoting their own claim that Jesus did not die and rise again, but was healed and resuscitated. I remember Sar Amadiel Ben Yehuda remarking to us that rather than believing that the Temple should be rebuilt, the community believes that the body of the faithful are the Temple.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Power to Define. </span><br /><br />A large part of <span style="font-style: italic;">God, the Black Man and Truth</span> is dedicated to reclaiming the Power to Define. This is understood as the ability or right to create the narrative, definitions, terminology, values, concepts and meanings by which a community orients itself and relates to the world. This has already been demonstrated in the community's willingness to rescind the dominant narrative of history provided by Europe-America. The desire does not stop at anything so simple though, it reaches far into the values implicit within society. Because the order of society "was established by men of evil purpose (who) have disdained His cycles, rules and guidelines...Everything in the present order of things must be called into question." (p.52). The Power to Define is crucial to Ben Ammi's project: it is "the essentiality of spiritual warfare" and "one of the greatest weapons that can be used to control men and nations" - in the wrong hands it is disastrous, in the right hands it is the key to salvation.<br /><br />Ben Ammi is highly critical not just of the lifestyle of the west, but also of its abstract theology. If the western Euro-gentile world is not of God, it therefore is of Satan - "Jesus said that satan was the father of a lie, but what has he been lying about? Since he is the arch enemy of God, we can presume that first and foremost he has been lying about God" (p223). The western metaphysical tradition which separates the divine and the profane into the spiritual and the material commits a fundamental error in isolating God from the action of living and the substance of the world.<br /><br />I appear to have been wrong about the community's use of the Enoch literature. Uzzi Yahu had not even heard of it when I mentioned it to him, and I have not seen any sign of it in either of the libraries. So why is it one of only half a dozen texts (aside from Ben Ammi's work) offered on their website? To be fair, the metaphysics of Enoch, particularly the eternal soul and judgment after (rather than in) life would be difficult to reconcile with their very immanent theology. However, there would be much they could draw on considering the strong ethical base, the demand to re-attune human actions with cosmic order, and particularly 2Enoch's emphasis on moral duty towards animals, something which it is difficult to find much justification for in the Tanakh. Both make significant comparisons between the ordered harmony of the natural world and celestial bodies, and humanity's refusal to follow the paths preordained for us. However, the Enoch tradition also provides an interesting precursor in terms of the New Adam concept. 2Enoch presents the patriarch Enoch as ascending to heaven and being brought infront of God where he is commanded to "serve in front of my face forever". Upon his 'return' to earth, he is able to mediate not only the redemptive grace of God but also provides an allegorical experience of divine presence through his own physical form. He is claimed to be able to 'carry away the sin of humanity', implying that his new role (and nature) can effect a reparation of the rift between man and God caused by Adam's sin. A similar concept is present in the New Testament, where Jesus is presented as the Last Adam, heralding a new phase in human existence. In all these traditions we see a similar powerful idea being promoted: that of a return to the state of grace which humankind occupied prior to our crucial error in eating from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.<br /><br />The Enoch tradition's clear division between the righteous and the unrighteous is also reflected in the Hebrew Israelite theology. "there are but two forces which vie for the mind of man – and which control his actions, influence his decisions, and inspire his creations/inventions: good and evil, righteousness and unrighteousness, Yah and satan." (New Adam p.2). However, the Qumran writings do figure relatively prominently in their thought - Ben Ammi utilises the War Scroll's end times prophecy of war between the Sons of Light and sons of Darkness in his argument that there is a coming struggle between the western Euro-gentile world and the righteous (Yeshua p.3). He further argues that because the modern world has ceased to believe in the presence of satan, his presence in the institutions is invisible. Because evil is no longer given form in the minds of men, evil's work is no longer perceived. Instead the rejection of godliness is understood as innocent secularism, and "all attempts to formulate good and evil will be categorized as authoritarian" (Yeshua p.5).<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Hebrew-Hellenic Polarity</span><br /><br />A crucial polarity, which is refered to repeatedly, is between Afro-Hebrew thought and Greco-European thought. The intention here is to separate the holy, God- and revelation-centred life from the pursuit of reason. The latter Greek tradition of enquiry has served to embolden man in his own thoughts, and separate him from the creator. However, while this philosophical and scientific approach may reap temporary rewards in material terms, its success will be (and has been) short-lived. Man now stands facing a chasm, where even the earth is rebelling and refusing to process the waste we produce. Because we have lost contact with nature and become trapped in a fantasy dream/nightmare of technology without thought to what effect this is having on the world or ourselves, we have been blind to the damage being inflicted on the environment until it is now impossible to ignore. In his presentation at the Writers Conference, Nasi Aharon ben Israel claimed that this is particularly due to the nature of the languages we are using. While Hebrew is a literal language, one authorised by God and whose essence is shared with the reality it depicts, European languages such as Greek and English are metaphorical and designed by humans, therefore can depict only human ideas. Thinking and communicating in these languages only helps to lead us away from God, and away from the true nature of reality. In order to heal the divide created by Adam's transgression, we should reunify our conceptual approach to the world, and unlearn the knowledge of Good and Evil: "We must move away from the language of dualism and the use of metaphorical language, the language of deception." The way to do this is via language, but also through focussing solely on Good, rather than the choice between Good and Evil. Ben Ammi also claims that "As we start the journey back, we will find our people clothed with ungodly lifestyles, symbols and perverted Euro-gentile wisdom. There has to be an undressing piece by piece until we arrive in Genesis naked (innocent) and pristine before God, that He may redress us in Holiness." (God...p.28). The problems inherent in understanding via languages other than Hebrew could be represented by the literalism with which many people take the religious doctrines. Nasi Aharon gave an interesting example of the term Holy Spirit, which in English appears to describe some kind of ontological being - a thing. Contrarily, in Hebrew the term Ruach HaKodesh gives a more clear understanding of a spirit which is imbued with holiness - not an object, but a spirit with which we approach life. If we imbue our spirits with holiness, then we will live in a godly way.<br /><br />Similarly, the Living God of the Hebrews is contrasted with the mythical Sky God of the Greeks. Regarding Jesus (or Yeshua as they prefer to call him), they argue that his message was corrupted by the Church, which blended pagan myths into the historical figure and translated him into a new version of the Sun God. While there is an element of truth in this, they appear to lack detailed knowledge of late Second Temple currents which had already begun developing many of the concepts, including the enthroned Son of Man/Youth tradition which fed into early Christology. Of course, these developments could be seen as already under the influence of Hellenism and so would be contrary to the postulated 'authentic' Hebrew theology*. Ben Ammi talks disparagingly of the Pharisees' proto-rabbinic innovations, claiming they "were fashioning a new religion which was in fact directing the Hebrews away from the three primary institutions that were to be the center of their lives: the Holy Scriptures, the Temple and Teaching Priests. The oral law was in fact making redemption impossible" (Yeshua p.27). When I asked Uzzi Yahu whether there was a specific historical point where Hebrew or Jewish religion had begun to go wrong, and prior to which they were attempting to restore the traditions, he answered that the Hebrews had never managed to stay on the true path for long - they slipped quickly into pagan ways at every opportunity. He claimed that "always when there has been a Judaism, it was already off-course". This is why messengers have been sent at frequent intervals - to attempt to guide the people back to God's prescribed way. My question was an attempt to find out which specific Judaism they were attempting to return to. His answer demonstrated that there is not in fact a historical authentic Judaism, but only an ideal one. The community is thus attempting to return to the perceived 'truth' of the Godly way, rather than a previous instantiation of it.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">* These doctrines are nascent in the Tanakh - most prominently in Daniel but also Psalms. Their development happened largely in the intertestamental literature - the apocalyptic, apocrypha and pseudepigrapha which were indeed composed during the Hellenic rule - as in fact was Daniel, a text which is repeatedly cited as authoritative.</span><br /><br />As I mused in a previous post, any attempt to interpret scripture is a creative act. By idealising the Hebrew faith the community is actively creating a new way to live, in which the resemblance to a previous historical state is largely irrelevant. New 'revelations' such as the dietary restrictions are implemented in response to contemporary issues which affect the people. I have long thought that source material can be bent in an infinite number of directions. In terms of biblical interpretation, people find the meanings to which they personally are attuned - effectively, they read their own psychology into the text. By rooting the community fundamentally in the scriptures, Ben Ammi has been able to creatively address the issues most pressing for his people and over the course of 40 years bring them from a desperate state in America, to one which it would be difficult not to call idyllic, while grounding them in a historical and spiritual narrative which provides a unique sense of identity and purpose.Ayinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10120620659286171851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462752563299701010.post-26412379980589132042010-01-01T04:02:00.000-08:002010-01-07T10:32:12.013-08:00African Hebrew Israelites, second thoughtsWow. This is going to be a blog and a half because so much has happened since I last shared my thoughts about being here at the Arfican Hebrew Israelite community in Dimona.<br /><br />I've now been here nearly two weeks. I've learnt a lot, talked to many people, and gone through lots of different feelings about the community. I've also been taking a hell of a lot of photos. Here's one from just before I caught the train in Tel Aviv.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja7Rm6GanQTDIQ4CM9GYA5ofTSZh5yomsoRv-1KZkKe1DnspLkLGUWbyUNcsorn37puWdGusrDdbrsq7TytdEFDAHd0iDEWWmwWF63DBPxEl7vwKX3ZrCWKTpzhaQdyGhzNvhluqOwrZ8/s1600-h/DSC01058.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja7Rm6GanQTDIQ4CM9GYA5ofTSZh5yomsoRv-1KZkKe1DnspLkLGUWbyUNcsorn37puWdGusrDdbrsq7TytdEFDAHd0iDEWWmwWF63DBPxEl7vwKX3ZrCWKTpzhaQdyGhzNvhluqOwrZ8/s400/DSC01058.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421757670262621618" border="0" /></a>This bird looked quite confused as to where it was.<br /><br />This is my room in the guest house:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoSX2Mv1T2I6mQR_vkHVNFerCr067T9LdMzzEHDZZpmmaQJ-6IOK9ciyL-thvHEEuINiEssmuGz3VDB0sKiFNvKUCY_1_dRgLj2tJttKkjU3MRzaDQuxAngnmgqUrmZUOM49Qq495BXPM/s1600-h/DSC01059.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoSX2Mv1T2I6mQR_vkHVNFerCr067T9LdMzzEHDZZpmmaQJ-6IOK9ciyL-thvHEEuINiEssmuGz3VDB0sKiFNvKUCY_1_dRgLj2tJttKkjU3MRzaDQuxAngnmgqUrmZUOM49Qq495BXPM/s400/DSC01059.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421757669250956866" border="0" /></a>Here's a close up of the picture on the wall.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIaDCTo0h_nKd-LDIdDLBIBU8XxkvTLpLo7-18U-GZVCH6TdegVheUJb3D9sdN59HbkaNhhXm1ymhiMa0afwNav-bbCjTLrp-wnY3VjZylMn85JDu_I2uYViZfAR599X4zUeW7-In02Qk/s1600-h/DSC01060.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIaDCTo0h_nKd-LDIdDLBIBU8XxkvTLpLo7-18U-GZVCH6TdegVheUJb3D9sdN59HbkaNhhXm1ymhiMa0afwNav-bbCjTLrp-wnY3VjZylMn85JDu_I2uYViZfAR599X4zUeW7-In02Qk/s400/DSC01060.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421757661674061954" border="0" /></a>And here's a few of the village:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI10ch5Iic4cHHhZ5Enwyk6M8kwi1Zx8NZZb-nqYtbvwjJcipTk6NAL6aDuGZLw7atBpKk8-1a_9b0E1W7PcuuqEMBz4KIanlOKHu_w3G-e1C6InvUktbGVuxNlH4mxbD-6VOFQSfhpZI/s1600-h/DSC01061.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI10ch5Iic4cHHhZ5Enwyk6M8kwi1Zx8NZZb-nqYtbvwjJcipTk6NAL6aDuGZLw7atBpKk8-1a_9b0E1W7PcuuqEMBz4KIanlOKHu_w3G-e1C6InvUktbGVuxNlH4mxbD-6VOFQSfhpZI/s400/DSC01061.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421757660541440386" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuWcBEC1hw3FyqNKv2vtDZRA15StI6tvl3R9zX1BAs9y9urT9-TznU0mb63jOSNV_hyphenhyphenvgBkPNRLVLbpRKopO5ADZoL59pJe1ukfQlcoCnuQCCUMqzHsRp9N8Z__coxRfhlM0nhfS5dqQY/s1600-h/DSC01062.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuWcBEC1hw3FyqNKv2vtDZRA15StI6tvl3R9zX1BAs9y9urT9-TznU0mb63jOSNV_hyphenhyphenvgBkPNRLVLbpRKopO5ADZoL59pJe1ukfQlcoCnuQCCUMqzHsRp9N8Z__coxRfhlM0nhfS5dqQY/s400/DSC01062.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421757653027588674" border="0" /></a><br />This Horus Eye is on the roundabout outside the village.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP13F_xnSY-KTKDJo4ynf0T4eBWM1yinFwCXZkkv1EJbz6ARFo12qXQ3ukx0zVDA1BoOw7eD327IpcJAWaS40QU5F7HXGbXc-d4WyBBNdGE8IL5pfNCVcEnawPVLXBY3Y0hb9VFC0_Pw4/s1600-h/DSC01063.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP13F_xnSY-KTKDJo4ynf0T4eBWM1yinFwCXZkkv1EJbz6ARFo12qXQ3ukx0zVDA1BoOw7eD327IpcJAWaS40QU5F7HXGbXc-d4WyBBNdGE8IL5pfNCVcEnawPVLXBY3Y0hb9VFC0_Pw4/s400/DSC01063.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421756665352313986" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuwRt3KDBeL5T_LtOZ70pgFI1xZwYmcpBVXOGLnrEpdLaGgal0iNbrxjNKaZBJI35L7ktSyQqHqSncUuprc-Oddn4dV1PnrWae3JNI-s6uVJiLPPKKE-91NXEQ5vVadyXnyMy7kzbbsG8/s1600-h/DSC01064.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuwRt3KDBeL5T_LtOZ70pgFI1xZwYmcpBVXOGLnrEpdLaGgal0iNbrxjNKaZBJI35L7ktSyQqHqSncUuprc-Oddn4dV1PnrWae3JNI-s6uVJiLPPKKE-91NXEQ5vVadyXnyMy7kzbbsG8/s400/DSC01064.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421756664400275122" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik-7o0LjO-47Kk_Wi5AbBqIuh1jMVVEQUPNTn3wzOPtOrlOVYPkFDV9FsurJgRA1cidIJfVAbnXw8QO3KrYet4dR1-yqCat71wgbgeuGhBgUil_yXKvHKPhAQQzgbRX9e3zfYbACjc2p0/s1600-h/DSC01065.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik-7o0LjO-47Kk_Wi5AbBqIuh1jMVVEQUPNTn3wzOPtOrlOVYPkFDV9FsurJgRA1cidIJfVAbnXw8QO3KrYet4dR1-yqCat71wgbgeuGhBgUil_yXKvHKPhAQQzgbRX9e3zfYbACjc2p0/s400/DSC01065.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421756658878460242" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3_UTiOBHwN1R5YWYqcRrpaK0fOs4MHR9kU1Vvzap_0gVKJvC7M6HDtYzmCnbEj5Q8pcfziEaeAd8VsXY_dNE7SjmLwiZWBFJEiCreM8-kNGTdnz0K_kwMl8UUwJ3meg0_gs_rSabqY1I/s1600-h/DSC01066.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3_UTiOBHwN1R5YWYqcRrpaK0fOs4MHR9kU1Vvzap_0gVKJvC7M6HDtYzmCnbEj5Q8pcfziEaeAd8VsXY_dNE7SjmLwiZWBFJEiCreM8-kNGTdnz0K_kwMl8UUwJ3meg0_gs_rSabqY1I/s400/DSC01066.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421756648703396786" border="0" /></a>This, I'm not sure about. The doorway is sort of incongruous with the nuclear bunker-like exterior.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEDffZJTCj1jk6vHvvlAyO-642LlLGjWnhFiKxXbz8EjboMUZzEtfoC33FIkjRPx8sgT9lfVm47yC28CQ2YfuJQBvnhhA5PoinnLAIowdeu8qsYuizy1nPsi2HgynUyYIKE667aS9b92s/s1600-h/DSC01067.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEDffZJTCj1jk6vHvvlAyO-642LlLGjWnhFiKxXbz8EjboMUZzEtfoC33FIkjRPx8sgT9lfVm47yC28CQ2YfuJQBvnhhA5PoinnLAIowdeu8qsYuizy1nPsi2HgynUyYIKE667aS9b92s/s400/DSC01067.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421756647310798338" border="0" /></a>This is a 'park', apparently. But I like it because you can see the desert behind the trees.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNpN5F71bkUTcfmRlNURDYRXluNHAoqfWuZW5I6c36eQAcvAYAv5v7cO-aXa0grZYW0Eu_HxncIJxgGtlRoGKXYG3p3oButCgr_-wzzn2QfKleB5wwN1cmfjmdheQWzJvkge_kH_WrxBo/s1600-h/DSC01068.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNpN5F71bkUTcfmRlNURDYRXluNHAoqfWuZW5I6c36eQAcvAYAv5v7cO-aXa0grZYW0Eu_HxncIJxgGtlRoGKXYG3p3oButCgr_-wzzn2QfKleB5wwN1cmfjmdheQWzJvkge_kH_WrxBo/s400/DSC01068.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421755706641478930" border="0" /></a>The basket ball net with the Yah Khi logo, and the banner which reads Welcome to the Village of Peace in English and Hebrew.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4C2Y_fm9TlC3G40t_5r4kdMIWgyQKitNrmB5apkUxEeIFi96cjDpxzeVdMdTcupq-a_b0ekpZ3-8YAuhnAUTrYtfNAXvU-cnfBs2ZxQalajjaY-f6gC6DtojOkL_J7PIlFvwLkjjUrYs/s1600-h/DSC01069.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4C2Y_fm9TlC3G40t_5r4kdMIWgyQKitNrmB5apkUxEeIFi96cjDpxzeVdMdTcupq-a_b0ekpZ3-8YAuhnAUTrYtfNAXvU-cnfBs2ZxQalajjaY-f6gC6DtojOkL_J7PIlFvwLkjjUrYs/s400/DSC01069.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421755701248774738" border="0" /></a>This was my first breakfast. Yes, <span style="font-style: italic;">breakfast.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG-xyUCeZvhdaV6WcL6GSiUbZH-Ur0jGz-wC9pvE1kzqndybFxLFRTvB8-B6IHVN18c0gCbPV-TBbsCtK_04q-LTxEkT9ml_c5fhUZdFccMv4IqlUG36iJEiNSD8WxriQwC-8CNXXVMQI/s1600-h/DSC01070.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG-xyUCeZvhdaV6WcL6GSiUbZH-Ur0jGz-wC9pvE1kzqndybFxLFRTvB8-B6IHVN18c0gCbPV-TBbsCtK_04q-LTxEkT9ml_c5fhUZdFccMv4IqlUG36iJEiNSD8WxriQwC-8CNXXVMQI/s400/DSC01070.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421755696219838130" border="0" /></a>Some of the decorations on one of the houses.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5CwILwdatiEulpDWXNH7trmO6TtLru5S2VxOOFpjd5-gQFHIeMhKgdMlxZRqhAYBK_Qe49pHDsb72vPyR6Qcvi3Sr5W872tiOgiCZeE1sMCy6oxqmFHKk82JUYQDjJW9Pu8GZxAXyS0Y/s1600-h/DSC01071.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5CwILwdatiEulpDWXNH7trmO6TtLru5S2VxOOFpjd5-gQFHIeMhKgdMlxZRqhAYBK_Qe49pHDsb72vPyR6Qcvi3Sr5W872tiOgiCZeE1sMCy6oxqmFHKk82JUYQDjJW9Pu8GZxAXyS0Y/s400/DSC01071.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421755693757998946" border="0" /></a><br />Some from outside the village, in the city of Dimona.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBdA_x1FIE-lHsJJF4VqpuzAegn-5stZhlwZH-9iMsV94DD6mZR0WUJgWatxXBiNKG7Ns7hDWjsa-9VLLWwKCGul_5dXvElimk0YkMEtC7sVqzgHjbCoPxNVMK4k7sFoGr7oJEiwabHY/s1600-h/DSC01072.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBdA_x1FIE-lHsJJF4VqpuzAegn-5stZhlwZH-9iMsV94DD6mZR0WUJgWatxXBiNKG7Ns7hDWjsa-9VLLWwKCGul_5dXvElimk0YkMEtC7sVqzgHjbCoPxNVMK4k7sFoGr7oJEiwabHY/s400/DSC01072.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421755687652484002" border="0" /></a>It's a very artistically designed city. I'm impressed, considering it's not very affluent, by how much effort has been put into this.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZJdyuxIiN0WK0y2SxzjAycOjmiZDajJ0I6m3fJWP9f_SpmpKQ92YZFgFM-k1VIJaTj1rwAbdgjgG5CiRxDJTopwLTLEvnBvWQo952P5Bf2ksstvy0nsUgvkArgH7dnuRtcTMWgHdegR4/s1600-h/DSC01073.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZJdyuxIiN0WK0y2SxzjAycOjmiZDajJ0I6m3fJWP9f_SpmpKQ92YZFgFM-k1VIJaTj1rwAbdgjgG5CiRxDJTopwLTLEvnBvWQo952P5Bf2ksstvy0nsUgvkArgH7dnuRtcTMWgHdegR4/s400/DSC01073.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421754902797783490" border="0" /></a>The Synagogue.<br /><br />The next few are from Ben Gurion University, where I went to meet Cara again. The University is right next to a massive canyon.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2tvtPDG3jyM-92w7D9368e7nQAPpdnYdaeiwgnksdu39Wv0Z2hT3QdBJUxy4Frx6Rn-dExr07yXsvQrKHDMfoH5QhZY0Pp8YN9qB-Bm7QS02uMsqaYK2bGb6t3oQREPzBotraOVjocl4/s1600-h/DSC01074.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2tvtPDG3jyM-92w7D9368e7nQAPpdnYdaeiwgnksdu39Wv0Z2hT3QdBJUxy4Frx6Rn-dExr07yXsvQrKHDMfoH5QhZY0Pp8YN9qB-Bm7QS02uMsqaYK2bGb6t3oQREPzBotraOVjocl4/s400/DSC01074.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421754897124372098" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZKmCBeh95s8wMv_RV3y9HqCfeDOzsty29PFNOgB29U0cJET-GNFLpGIvA82UU3S2zxG3OfY3GIrZgWRx-f2zKpgBx831vcI5x66Ke6ZyD5r5e_gNbKHabc1OCGn9ogGrZukcfAc8zx6I/s1600-h/DSC01075.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZKmCBeh95s8wMv_RV3y9HqCfeDOzsty29PFNOgB29U0cJET-GNFLpGIvA82UU3S2zxG3OfY3GIrZgWRx-f2zKpgBx831vcI5x66Ke6ZyD5r5e_gNbKHabc1OCGn9ogGrZukcfAc8zx6I/s400/DSC01075.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421754894472726546" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcjzcFJ8FfQ2SZMbpyzRTbZ_fFMOWHhCbme70zJ0BfdlruAraasphIAftfTDUvwGMVm5mTvA2MJwiNkGOZn6Wf6nzTwrF8jfLhCwMxpPAqBuxletUZc3CeNBG8YJQcLptwZPPPCiPgRqE/s1600-h/DSC01076.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcjzcFJ8FfQ2SZMbpyzRTbZ_fFMOWHhCbme70zJ0BfdlruAraasphIAftfTDUvwGMVm5mTvA2MJwiNkGOZn6Wf6nzTwrF8jfLhCwMxpPAqBuxletUZc3CeNBG8YJQcLptwZPPPCiPgRqE/s400/DSC01076.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421754888033390322" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW2cZo299A9fwc6Bn0y3ZTgHnVrVD8DnQTdS3hW0NcX1cl0R7PSKLr0D2r6rGY2hZF6lyvS2LhyhQIsntaJqLShIXbMNAa57gttpaBeyIAFrlVCxFmNSeSYyMCsLOhha43ZcAsatxNTQo/s1600-h/DSC01077.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW2cZo299A9fwc6Bn0y3ZTgHnVrVD8DnQTdS3hW0NcX1cl0R7PSKLr0D2r6rGY2hZF6lyvS2LhyhQIsntaJqLShIXbMNAa57gttpaBeyIAFrlVCxFmNSeSYyMCsLOhha43ZcAsatxNTQo/s400/DSC01077.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421754883410532514" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRLYnEfnNxe3cZi5bysts3kC2J11UDR-H0w3kI4VI7Xpwrk9cmWRqq2dW1yM55XemWqjGDor-5Z6glSrrQoxtt0ltqJZeRTBH17qeHtZNckAwRZjCU1IjnDFsqO2nAfAExl4c9IRJWrkI/s1600-h/DSC01078.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRLYnEfnNxe3cZi5bysts3kC2J11UDR-H0w3kI4VI7Xpwrk9cmWRqq2dW1yM55XemWqjGDor-5Z6glSrrQoxtt0ltqJZeRTBH17qeHtZNckAwRZjCU1IjnDFsqO2nAfAExl4c9IRJWrkI/s400/DSC01078.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421750969529802370" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQbdLLtEXz_kyEvaIod-fT-oEhQx1cnmrHQhkmXBJ4wjNRV6C790RoDVddgbBjBtPx2T_iIzK43xIrjzD_Uhv2bVXmfowZAkrq0SycMQtxVBEv8ahmXZ-QHKC3Z4r5vJ3dfMQImIzcSoE/s1600-h/DSC01079.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQbdLLtEXz_kyEvaIod-fT-oEhQx1cnmrHQhkmXBJ4wjNRV6C790RoDVddgbBjBtPx2T_iIzK43xIrjzD_Uhv2bVXmfowZAkrq0SycMQtxVBEv8ahmXZ-QHKC3Z4r5vJ3dfMQImIzcSoE/s400/DSC01079.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421750964886826882" border="0" /></a><br />On this one you can see something quite amazing: the night before there had been a huge downpour, and a flood began at one point on the canyon. The flood progressed quite rapidly, by the time this picture was taken it had moved more than 2km, and was still gushing. People were following it and some had driven to this point where it would cross over the road. It was a great site. Eventually the flow would end in the Dead Sea, having picked up plenty of minerals on the way.<br /><br />The next one didn't come out like I wanted, but it's accidentally quite cool. When I came back to Dimona in the morning there were dozens of pigeons using this fountain as a bath/swimming pool. Unfortunately you can only see the one who's flying away.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipGw9oGQnf38EJ-PUreo2dF_N5RRO02kMMStZfMWAzeB-_nNgtUmq0z26vpyoNpH4zxJytH-07MFcx-npkSFPGo5Vy2HugIYM7BNVyC0C79d-rnQZQ3zmy4r-CPiMHXUjRk01JqEtJPxc/s1600-h/DSC01081.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipGw9oGQnf38EJ-PUreo2dF_N5RRO02kMMStZfMWAzeB-_nNgtUmq0z26vpyoNpH4zxJytH-07MFcx-npkSFPGo5Vy2HugIYM7BNVyC0C79d-rnQZQ3zmy4r-CPiMHXUjRk01JqEtJPxc/s400/DSC01081.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421750954558210034" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif0vb9wd4wGX75oengWkHTTfSQ-o-p8JjvH7_lWJMvy6p3SCldDHm_loPa-5O4IqUbSwy8TSt4aoTztqG9S4OL-e69gkWwwc3obG6Gr4R5-mEpZCkcqjEXq6tIsgEBWLX83POgY07QUWo/s1600-h/DSC01082.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif0vb9wd4wGX75oengWkHTTfSQ-o-p8JjvH7_lWJMvy6p3SCldDHm_loPa-5O4IqUbSwy8TSt4aoTztqG9S4OL-e69gkWwwc3obG6Gr4R5-mEpZCkcqjEXq6tIsgEBWLX83POgY07QUWo/s400/DSC01082.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421750948175587762" border="0" /></a>Not sure why I took this picture.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF_E0Pub_WbaAJBP8990-18xnsrlZxsrnRlQssFOkT2bQueOOY-oS4_JdbFsdsVl3_-uG_X8hFvSPgxgNB5eEwNr8x70FwU9nmdlaD9pcuzcEs2VrrM1E3i8biMAbKxpoCq-9nqak28uI/s1600-h/DSC01083.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF_E0Pub_WbaAJBP8990-18xnsrlZxsrnRlQssFOkT2bQueOOY-oS4_JdbFsdsVl3_-uG_X8hFvSPgxgNB5eEwNr8x70FwU9nmdlaD9pcuzcEs2VrrM1E3i8biMAbKxpoCq-9nqak28uI/s400/DSC01083.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421750344114798610" border="0" /></a>This one was during the tour. We were in the gym and I liked the motivational poster on the wall (click picture to read it)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx3ehuj6l-KP5vcvw4GyP1y2cYuTrn1-2o2e6ACvkWUYvxsLbr7cL_ltybc9kNxuFM3itVsOSJJOvv2Su1KqxykxPk6M2nHwHnKInKh_jkufKPoTgJSBwgtohMO7ke5N8kQSeZlebwWfI/s1600-h/DSC01084.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx3ehuj6l-KP5vcvw4GyP1y2cYuTrn1-2o2e6ACvkWUYvxsLbr7cL_ltybc9kNxuFM3itVsOSJJOvv2Su1KqxykxPk6M2nHwHnKInKh_jkufKPoTgJSBwgtohMO7ke5N8kQSeZlebwWfI/s400/DSC01084.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421750338177840210" border="0" /></a>A lot of the houses have this black plastic lining - I don't know why, I'm sure it must make them hellish in summer.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-v8iXZHeVM5hb-b_d1s_skvFLS8tZsIv5xBpVE-arjiHpIG503JvnODgO4Yuy_psaMAUjyjEA1v4YxNKnL1ZvF6RjVyaFkmI2mJbkcVlFP5BMuInQJwfuzHRF516kiNM17dEQPLEoYFg/s1600-h/DSC01085.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-v8iXZHeVM5hb-b_d1s_skvFLS8tZsIv5xBpVE-arjiHpIG503JvnODgO4Yuy_psaMAUjyjEA1v4YxNKnL1ZvF6RjVyaFkmI2mJbkcVlFP5BMuInQJwfuzHRF516kiNM17dEQPLEoYFg/s400/DSC01085.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421750332486601570" border="0" /></a>Rather large for a bonsai tree, no?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDvShYtVnaahiEG77OVNtui__hi8mgdiI_kLo43C6xJgpF2C4FHqOb_NwFiQKLFTf5d-fDnXg7CWUhD0nh4FZNGwWrf5dQ0gvjQRhuAjWkk9Jq1JVNzfq1HhIaKVCoMqBrJRbi-tAM2qE/s1600-h/DSC01087.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDvShYtVnaahiEG77OVNtui__hi8mgdiI_kLo43C6xJgpF2C4FHqOb_NwFiQKLFTf5d-fDnXg7CWUhD0nh4FZNGwWrf5dQ0gvjQRhuAjWkk9Jq1JVNzfq1HhIaKVCoMqBrJRbi-tAM2qE/s400/DSC01087.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421750328061900866" border="0" /></a>An angel in the park.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGxUrSOTB5UJ5TBGA4NwrSfo1olaeYk0ZLH-KYxe_cmDhozISRJQOLOo49JnUHJxN_UPM-eeoYWLMpk4OFYSJwfEhjLKTPDLZ6ssQxj-y8Fb7H8sKxDTCFUbOUHysFFzGvuEhl2Eec2Zc/s1600-h/DSC01088.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGxUrSOTB5UJ5TBGA4NwrSfo1olaeYk0ZLH-KYxe_cmDhozISRJQOLOo49JnUHJxN_UPM-eeoYWLMpk4OFYSJwfEhjLKTPDLZ6ssQxj-y8Fb7H8sKxDTCFUbOUHysFFzGvuEhl2Eec2Zc/s400/DSC01088.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421750317104869554" border="0" /></a>I was trying to work out what this structure thing was. Dimona is famous for being the site of a nuclear facility, and I thought perhaps it was something to do with that. It turned out to be a shopping mall.<br /><br />A couple of Avraham and Negilla and their children. This week I am helping Negilla in the school, assisting the class with their English work. This has been quite good fun.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvHAuGhEx1Hpqyy16S8TucCaJBJd4WO-WYgS81Bj0GO6T8_ho8ZzN7oL3DS2Ma3N8poH4TvQdLRDAAjYwgrE7Io58psVyYWbCdmLLZKk-13rEWZVoReFSzbxMyp2V5RdgeYXaj7P-ks_w/s1600-h/DSC01090.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvHAuGhEx1Hpqyy16S8TucCaJBJd4WO-WYgS81Bj0GO6T8_ho8ZzN7oL3DS2Ma3N8poH4TvQdLRDAAjYwgrE7Io58psVyYWbCdmLLZKk-13rEWZVoReFSzbxMyp2V5RdgeYXaj7P-ks_w/s400/DSC01090.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421749784103139842" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxy52y_kBqtI4xyRYCJzexm8pnO1ypVazg7XfoJWlJ_AlNMZFuu-ACv4MjUZVNLzMeKVrr78e63w-R78lI8SjXJbQYh3wxcmOMTUm6HS0KX4am2QoIJmaC0IUw-gUvDMawnObrODUSxBU/s1600-h/DSC01092.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxy52y_kBqtI4xyRYCJzexm8pnO1ypVazg7XfoJWlJ_AlNMZFuu-ACv4MjUZVNLzMeKVrr78e63w-R78lI8SjXJbQYh3wxcmOMTUm6HS0KX4am2QoIJmaC0IUw-gUvDMawnObrODUSxBU/s400/DSC01092.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421749777553960962" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgspYb1Nqgnu59HZ5Njd7yC9mhnWT3cEYYSxatMc65OHsBZpxBYHfyH1oMbwOSrMxNEGX4BIWhXnp4HGmGRwGvCZ6tbqL63Lzq4u0kPOuO463JnQqJfKUf93j6CBck9wIC51B7n67MShpU/s1600-h/DSC01095.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgspYb1Nqgnu59HZ5Njd7yC9mhnWT3cEYYSxatMc65OHsBZpxBYHfyH1oMbwOSrMxNEGX4BIWhXnp4HGmGRwGvCZ6tbqL63Lzq4u0kPOuO463JnQqJfKUf93j6CBck9wIC51B7n67MShpU/s400/DSC01095.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421749774561286034" border="0" /></a>A Zionist roundabout decoration.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3UkmI7MOQQPFp7JZie1stHKAqC5GV6ADZ0LNxtm2DUt3LnzuVDO02KOCaD6I2aiTyCsKq6o8UwFb-H8xPhs1w97gHBgdIf_IhDXTLMPXcQnW7XBwZO-9qdI_pjIjg47YrnVp28TsQv0s/s1600-h/DSC01096.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3UkmI7MOQQPFp7JZie1stHKAqC5GV6ADZ0LNxtm2DUt3LnzuVDO02KOCaD6I2aiTyCsKq6o8UwFb-H8xPhs1w97gHBgdIf_IhDXTLMPXcQnW7XBwZO-9qdI_pjIjg47YrnVp28TsQv0s/s400/DSC01096.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421749767879736514" border="0" /></a>Modern art? I could do that.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhERiMC7APgY21knO8w2KrquzzXeCy0YZxJNv6IU9kxuNQVX2hlhlOhJjyjAafsdKNfJ7DqyRf5nMScijojMMfn39VRm9vkKgGyMvynP-oNxgnlDr9hL5SSsmP61-_c7H9hqHmikQdZGc4/s1600-h/DSC01113.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhERiMC7APgY21knO8w2KrquzzXeCy0YZxJNv6IU9kxuNQVX2hlhlOhJjyjAafsdKNfJ7DqyRf5nMScijojMMfn39VRm9vkKgGyMvynP-oNxgnlDr9hL5SSsmP61-_c7H9hqHmikQdZGc4/s400/DSC01113.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421747841169786146" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I had the honour of attending a Wisdom Hut - this is basically a bachelor party except without the rowdiness. Twenty of the elders sat and exchanged stories about the groom (on left facing the camera) and the early life of the community. I learnt a lot about how intense the struggle for acceptance was, and also came to understand the personal background of the founders a little more. For many of them, they had no father-figures and quite troubled personal lives before travelling to Liberia. Once there, many expected a paradise-like existence and were quite upset when required to work for their sustenance. The remaining were the committed hardcore who entered Israel. During this evening I developed a great respect for what they have achieved, and realised anew the sheer audacity of Ben Ammi's plan. Despite multiple run-ins with Israeli law and military, as well as Israel and US immigration and FBI, they never countenanced violence. This is something which speaks volumes I think.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEJinT2EBMVgNATagDa60WSs5U-_cTbIswBh3erQrAk5LCx1bf07_rxqCrZIPI3mbCrv8RcJoF0wMeb-cess4lAnzxghCfyLhWaj2oeay6xwuitDWGkeLW-eNgCx-9nAFiYwacEzEA6E8/s1600-h/DSC01097.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEJinT2EBMVgNATagDa60WSs5U-_cTbIswBh3erQrAk5LCx1bf07_rxqCrZIPI3mbCrv8RcJoF0wMeb-cess4lAnzxghCfyLhWaj2oeay6xwuitDWGkeLW-eNgCx-9nAFiYwacEzEA6E8/s400/DSC01097.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421749764268257330" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ1oV0nRRRwnY_ERv_IsiRHe6eSKGjzty0LwDBMpwbc1dwvRmSc570fam_Wlnuu6QgJkLkDg_u3j8E7y3J6pRGQBMsyss51j2_hnNWKSmrtys7qhHDKb8wVWl9ZJkV85dXjV1h0OU_exo/s1600-h/DSC01098.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ1oV0nRRRwnY_ERv_IsiRHe6eSKGjzty0LwDBMpwbc1dwvRmSc570fam_Wlnuu6QgJkLkDg_u3j8E7y3J6pRGQBMsyss51j2_hnNWKSmrtys7qhHDKb8wVWl9ZJkV85dXjV1h0OU_exo/s400/DSC01098.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421749260148793154" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8qlFw3sl74miXH9oFOCMdWVDBDgmqozsQcWBPfbs9oAOS1FhoQPSdXYuWivrsSwZ_kFwpX73ZEq7oIPCoI-_3qwWjoUON8DCJxn-jxXh2B5pIhrV2PtzyNbFap0Fvm22RjIrbTCt3CA0/s1600-h/DSC01100.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8qlFw3sl74miXH9oFOCMdWVDBDgmqozsQcWBPfbs9oAOS1FhoQPSdXYuWivrsSwZ_kFwpX73ZEq7oIPCoI-_3qwWjoUON8DCJxn-jxXh2B5pIhrV2PtzyNbFap0Fvm22RjIrbTCt3CA0/s400/DSC01100.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421749254341084626" border="0" /></a>Another of the village:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1h2rmZqJW7ztsF2cjwyqSWzYcyV4q4cZLSwAJ_WKK0jUhRWpvrxitAgfIPcAx5K5waVKUXVyG3Rx4gdwKfyP6-93Atnt5pZiz9cdcm2nFal-I5iYbc1Gao_ShYix0RXwxxUDRGNGAcQU/s1600-h/DSC01101.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1h2rmZqJW7ztsF2cjwyqSWzYcyV4q4cZLSwAJ_WKK0jUhRWpvrxitAgfIPcAx5K5waVKUXVyG3Rx4gdwKfyP6-93Atnt5pZiz9cdcm2nFal-I5iYbc1Gao_ShYix0RXwxxUDRGNGAcQU/s400/DSC01101.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421749247909704050" border="0" /></a>And the next evening was the wedding.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmmlBCJIzssxKqvM_PVrIJHhI1kjdg5vTYfgW8e-9cvLuFqd9KNhyRdVMjwvWLrBwetQ-Ugc-Ocwuf1CIUU7jYiB9xYFJlvNmU2BXiyQYqWawhu8FtQ0LLB0zFdojGu597cCXkNREDwYg/s1600-h/DSC01104.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmmlBCJIzssxKqvM_PVrIJHhI1kjdg5vTYfgW8e-9cvLuFqd9KNhyRdVMjwvWLrBwetQ-Ugc-Ocwuf1CIUU7jYiB9xYFJlvNmU2BXiyQYqWawhu8FtQ0LLB0zFdojGu597cCXkNREDwYg/s400/DSC01104.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421749240759446306" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi107tegsazUVbxosog4d15VZwNzdNqqS0tnbFRzNdpdifcx05Xb_9wTgql8Pe9IBmSltVs75RGF3x-EB8NqjvSIbkgGZr8rqy2A5S8XRAmPNwgSXL9agvpJMAzUD3OvypxG_6V0I4eqtw/s1600-h/DSC01105.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi107tegsazUVbxosog4d15VZwNzdNqqS0tnbFRzNdpdifcx05Xb_9wTgql8Pe9IBmSltVs75RGF3x-EB8NqjvSIbkgGZr8rqy2A5S8XRAmPNwgSXL9agvpJMAzUD3OvypxG_6V0I4eqtw/s400/DSC01105.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421749239667147842" border="0" /></a>(This is the altar I mentioned last time. This is used for all ceremonies)<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzGC1F2B0etXANGVM60boDKoSCQgYF0sEWBVd2YJQi2u7Jj6vb31VtkNgnmaP4ugvNYDD4VD864Xgnej49ZYtS5msyjLMlwtkBRZ4IwIddhL9PbNoGFo9T0ZoF7zYjKpLZB22rgIpTT2k/s1600-h/DSC01106.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzGC1F2B0etXANGVM60boDKoSCQgYF0sEWBVd2YJQi2u7Jj6vb31VtkNgnmaP4ugvNYDD4VD864Xgnej49ZYtS5msyjLMlwtkBRZ4IwIddhL9PbNoGFo9T0ZoF7zYjKpLZB22rgIpTT2k/s400/DSC01106.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421748884060856146" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihkvlUaE52S1XTlS5jVdPLX9as7n_49DlrA7GKszslhrnktz3Sd39yeu8WsCkd8eno8wmz5mcsTBxVBqSXbjPG08wQuARaOMRAscM0zmthf3FW0eb2di-wVjKj709UUMfvQYAgQ6hzbSQ/s1600-h/DSC01109.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihkvlUaE52S1XTlS5jVdPLX9as7n_49DlrA7GKszslhrnktz3Sd39yeu8WsCkd8eno8wmz5mcsTBxVBqSXbjPG08wQuARaOMRAscM0zmthf3FW0eb2di-wVjKj709UUMfvQYAgQ6hzbSQ/s400/DSC01109.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421748879714469938" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSM-fYIzyi_rBojDIqE-TACTp17kdW_jHlMFJdQ1Q2g3Sp8RKAX3pnqvcSTM73I044rfWt3Bc6dWx4epRRDya6MK6uLNmA9PMopUijHEaOPnHS_Yk6Cmd-_7GrjEI6MZKj2MTBc6Y7ye4/s1600-h/DSC01110.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSM-fYIzyi_rBojDIqE-TACTp17kdW_jHlMFJdQ1Q2g3Sp8RKAX3pnqvcSTM73I044rfWt3Bc6dWx4epRRDya6MK6uLNmA9PMopUijHEaOPnHS_Yk6Cmd-_7GrjEI6MZKj2MTBc6Y7ye4/s400/DSC01110.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421748875415180674" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGH-1nilEOl229VEsPQr8yqWPn0TXEsPmuS-3hKS9cZsT0JFwOx7b6gPOGxsOE1AHfx49ZiKj9uu-vyJ4AjiD2gVjwpBB3AWv_VnXY5Ojk5amhcBcU7EOLQ9wOmsoSXAbDYcyuK8VO9Ic/s1600-h/DSC01111.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGH-1nilEOl229VEsPQr8yqWPn0TXEsPmuS-3hKS9cZsT0JFwOx7b6gPOGxsOE1AHfx49ZiKj9uu-vyJ4AjiD2gVjwpBB3AWv_VnXY5Ojk5amhcBcU7EOLQ9wOmsoSXAbDYcyuK8VO9Ic/s400/DSC01111.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421748872775197106" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9k91F9QSqpnm9WxRhnz9bdo6LCpEyXh-caDb4O-88i1QmUXRXv7_r33an2WbF1UT3E7p0Y6avAPqU-69hcwD5ih35RkIgiAwwekKiXe_BHOHRtrM-meEHWGM8E_UEfozOTu12W0sEviU/s1600-h/DSC01112.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9k91F9QSqpnm9WxRhnz9bdo6LCpEyXh-caDb4O-88i1QmUXRXv7_r33an2WbF1UT3E7p0Y6avAPqU-69hcwD5ih35RkIgiAwwekKiXe_BHOHRtrM-meEHWGM8E_UEfozOTu12W0sEviU/s400/DSC01112.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421747844778461938" border="0" /></a>As you can see, there was much singing, dancing and celebration. This couple have been a 27-year potential romance in the making, so it was a big deal for them to finally tie the knot.<br /><br />The last week has been a Writer's Conference. These have been running anually for nearly 30 years now, attracting a number of delegates from around the world. I'm glad I was around for this - not only did I learn a lot about the community, their beliefs and ideas, but I also met several very cool people, including quite a few from England. Being at the conference has really helped me find my feet here in the past week.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRZVyOyKhhclvmZZeg97y9Vzq994obPA5FIv9Pe4jEIjYbGfZgSAHnWsDbeHFbaoF3acMWtIrkHm2Ul38nZoNbVdqSflLLV86AOV3U2hzkRLWlrAm59i3aeUBnff64ivcU9FbfQth-0go/s1600-h/DSC01114.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRZVyOyKhhclvmZZeg97y9Vzq994obPA5FIv9Pe4jEIjYbGfZgSAHnWsDbeHFbaoF3acMWtIrkHm2Ul38nZoNbVdqSflLLV86AOV3U2hzkRLWlrAm59i3aeUBnff64ivcU9FbfQth-0go/s400/DSC01114.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421747834508425042" border="0" /></a>This is a display of the artwork of one member.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir7CmJeZz4GLxWTtjEDQlbZ3DoV6RXfuWCGknA0yrNAV0B15FmmwtFgHJPzM2EfTWjRhCvnb597Dwup_EGYDcl81h-YChMjZI2fvnraLM_5kHxQOc5Y_ytbiiFtd1ZrXemVsk1kczyOkM/s1600-h/DSC01118.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir7CmJeZz4GLxWTtjEDQlbZ3DoV6RXfuWCGknA0yrNAV0B15FmmwtFgHJPzM2EfTWjRhCvnb597Dwup_EGYDcl81h-YChMjZI2fvnraLM_5kHxQOc5Y_ytbiiFtd1ZrXemVsk1kczyOkM/s400/DSC01118.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421747833977664450" border="0" /></a>This is Ben Ammi, presenting a speech in the hall of the local school (there was nowhere big enough in the village). I was impresed by what he said, but also by his manner - he was quietly spoken but with great passion and concern for the world and humanity. There was also some great music provided by one of the in-house bands - or rather two of the musicians. I've never heard xylophone sound so good. I recognise the sound and style of playing from Miles Davis, but actually watching him play with four sticks was really something. He was accompanied by a bassist.<br /><br />The next day we went on a 'sacred visitation'. This was a 2-day excursion to some of Israel's holy sites, but with a twist: our guides provided a very specific narrative, including a debunking of many irregularities and deceptions which they believe have served to obscure the truth both about the history of Israel and its inhabitants, and about the facts behind religious stories.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhERM29l23bXxfZ2ThRXBuL3XmeMTzDIsjTlilq_HTnmZVF6mm3C57py9_QLYRnlaRQnQZGqGiJwaJKbQP-TX251Ic5IgLZqjRGjcI-Nkonc1S2tlMDbVcNBFUK-eG-bVPssFGT_Kyav6U/s1600-h/DSC01119.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhERM29l23bXxfZ2ThRXBuL3XmeMTzDIsjTlilq_HTnmZVF6mm3C57py9_QLYRnlaRQnQZGqGiJwaJKbQP-TX251Ic5IgLZqjRGjcI-Nkonc1S2tlMDbVcNBFUK-eG-bVPssFGT_Kyav6U/s400/DSC01119.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421747826380238850" border="0" /></a>This is Sar Dr Amadiel, Minister of the People, talking outside Jerusalem's Old City. I really liked being back in Jerusalem again.<br /><br />I have been surprised by the constant references to Jesus (or Yeshua as they prefer). I had been under the impression that the group sought to identify more closely with Ancient Judaism than Christianity. However, I have come to understand that their's is quite a complicated and well-thought out theology/history. They reject traditional conceptions fostered by the Church regarding Jesus' divinity, as well as the idea that Jesus' coming marked a fundamental shift from the teachings of Judaism up until then. Instead they see Jesus as one of a long (and still continuing) line of Hebrew messiahs who came to try and bring people back to a more fundamental version of the faith, reminding the community what their society was supposed to be focused on. Ben Ammi is understood as being the latest in this line of messengers, having come at this crucial historical juncture to bring the lost children of Ancient Israel back to the fundamental precepts of the faith and lead them out of the land of their captivity. I am forced to admit, this he has done admirably. But wait, more photos.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUG8gaJCYFOVYdCh4vmKukstOhx6mjORVxSMsm87y-wP9nuYElc_TxTzz_coB0eC_UADREFX3uzEgW7Bnc_QVOPGelb25teEavVl35OBKHyNeT5x-3IdFfPCmQfQhj1ypDDD1aW0kKdDE/s1600-h/DSC01120.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUG8gaJCYFOVYdCh4vmKukstOhx6mjORVxSMsm87y-wP9nuYElc_TxTzz_coB0eC_UADREFX3uzEgW7Bnc_QVOPGelb25teEavVl35OBKHyNeT5x-3IdFfPCmQfQhj1ypDDD1aW0kKdDE/s400/DSC01120.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421747136898666994" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVmZnMoT6s0M7gipZO1d7CXsATC9GbGfbahT70SH7QYFJTgmMlvSE3E8n55iIj21I5PEsXONnStWjNb11amHaU61eE3EcuzP_G2D3jIoNzyXT3KNvxN4SoGcvv1tCCqG9WbIE0MflPU_I/s1600-h/DSC01121.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVmZnMoT6s0M7gipZO1d7CXsATC9GbGfbahT70SH7QYFJTgmMlvSE3E8n55iIj21I5PEsXONnStWjNb11amHaU61eE3EcuzP_G2D3jIoNzyXT3KNvxN4SoGcvv1tCCqG9WbIE0MflPU_I/s400/DSC01121.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421747133933335650" border="0" /></a>Sar Elyakim (left), Rose (a Canadian who, before leaving, gave me a really sweet speech about respecting my ability to come here to a place where I was a complete alien and open myself to all kinds of ideas which contradicted my own), Dr Lez Henry (a London academic/campaigner who is well known on the lecture circuit, and presented a very good speech at the conference), Monty (a Jamaican now living in the US, he was amazed by the community and life here), a brother from one of the American branches, and Immanuel, another Londoner who is a member of the community.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA8zLx108bv6XnYuZ_b-c8UXZoFCuuHAPjD-1tAWWzaxNMQkUX8Tlg7BqJ4bn3p1Qo-UdJTjHUGX7PFKI7HFgQh7Db3K6XtfAJx1nRe-gTR3TMUmgcJwWCCZFlpI0pk0P-A6tAluU0k_s/s1600-h/DSC01122.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA8zLx108bv6XnYuZ_b-c8UXZoFCuuHAPjD-1tAWWzaxNMQkUX8Tlg7BqJ4bn3p1Qo-UdJTjHUGX7PFKI7HFgQh7Db3K6XtfAJx1nRe-gTR3TMUmgcJwWCCZFlpI0pk0P-A6tAluU0k_s/s400/DSC01122.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421747122764102978" border="0" /></a>Crown of thorns on sale in the Old City.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQeq6CGolYvg-wOF7X_6fI9BRlSKvM2da2aOXUpDjuVNzr7aJEs7mYvYKtAgYOWQUE9yr0CP6QcQh8CiJ7DjP-nF4mtoviidBaqNaOaC6-4AwXUbLDCARlMYEjdpjPCM6jMHe7_in3UBs/s1600-h/DSC01123.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQeq6CGolYvg-wOF7X_6fI9BRlSKvM2da2aOXUpDjuVNzr7aJEs7mYvYKtAgYOWQUE9yr0CP6QcQh8CiJ7DjP-nF4mtoviidBaqNaOaC6-4AwXUbLDCARlMYEjdpjPCM6jMHe7_in3UBs/s400/DSC01123.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421747118928992130" border="0" /></a>Inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAi3uBl7mW74QGphtiiRWtiu_3bt20vweYhTcCMs-2TEI8w4TUhsH5fdAeNeTFBQ32NiBZ9QxiPb1vC_Q0z97U6mhLpRU3WhKlzM8usJT1gK2bwb4AAPtDZ_dR5tDnmm062S24AzJGiqE/s1600-h/DSC01124.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAi3uBl7mW74QGphtiiRWtiu_3bt20vweYhTcCMs-2TEI8w4TUhsH5fdAeNeTFBQ32NiBZ9QxiPb1vC_Q0z97U6mhLpRU3WhKlzM8usJT1gK2bwb4AAPtDZ_dR5tDnmm062S24AzJGiqE/s400/DSC01124.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421747113610212658" border="0" /></a>These pictures were remarked on because they are in a small unlit hallway in the Church. When Amadiel shone a torch on them it became apparent that most of the faces were black. Why had all the pictures, depicting black religious figures (including angels and even, it seemed, Jesus) been hidden away in the darkest corner of the Church, we were asked? It was certainly quite curious. There was a light bulb but it was turned off. Amadiel remarked that every time he had been there that bulb was turned off. Of course, I can't help thinking that if they really wanted to cover these pictures up they would have taken them off the wall entirely. Why leave them there at all, if we follow the conspiracy narrative?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijb7EXhCJWTtjVPiM9DlvOuvhkIlfd1Xrh1H9o1nlgnNEMnaIhmzuTKerkLvPPVUn70LdpdkmfcL6_k5t1wxnhO9AzZMf5TzAm58u0HKkRHCSCYX4nmRELuWFhkMjIWwIG_CYVAC26yjU/s1600-h/DSC01125.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijb7EXhCJWTtjVPiM9DlvOuvhkIlfd1Xrh1H9o1nlgnNEMnaIhmzuTKerkLvPPVUn70LdpdkmfcL6_k5t1wxnhO9AzZMf5TzAm58u0HKkRHCSCYX4nmRELuWFhkMjIWwIG_CYVAC26yjU/s400/DSC01125.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421746660449075746" border="0" /></a>Another one. So, throughout the trip one of the issues repeatedly given was that there had been a huge undertaking on the part of the European civilizations (Euro-Gentiles is the technical term) to cover up the essentially African nature both of Hebrew religion/people and of Jesus. I am familiar with the idea of the Hebrews being black - American rapper KRS-1 first brought this to my attention way back in my early teens, pointing out that if Moses passed for Pharoah's son then he obviously must have been black. It's a pretty self-evident point when you think about it. There has also been several books published recently (the past 20 years or so) providing further food-for-thought about the presence of Jewish traditions, language, ceremonies, etc throughout Africa. Without going in depth so far, I've been impressed by the wealth and depth of independent research into this idea. Of course what this means is something else, and something I will endeavour to reach my own conclusions about. Ten tribes were lost to history, and there's been no sign of them in Europe...whereas the continuity of the Judean people from the end of the second temple period is fairly well establishable, despite the oft-mentioned point about the Khazar-descent of the Ashkenazim majority.<br /><br />As far as Jesus being black, I haven't heard any evidence other than the black Madonna thing. This also is only circumstantial, and could depend on various other mother-cult traditions. I'm far from dismissing the claims, but I did feel like there were a lot of small holes in the narrative they were pursuing. Besides, I'm always very dubious about conspiracy claims. I think this vastly overestimates the organisational ability of groups of humans.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDDCPKv_3pkYIZB3IUh9uk86k-O8FrMjg9nloGD29XRzll1TyHjxn4z6d1QE_jgaamcKl1YkNuvVTKVbehDx92NKVYpKCvYwxoeoD5G14LK5HAXc5lRAkIFnjDP_iOg75fYATqpJ9YaA4/s1600-h/DSC01126.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDDCPKv_3pkYIZB3IUh9uk86k-O8FrMjg9nloGD29XRzll1TyHjxn4z6d1QE_jgaamcKl1YkNuvVTKVbehDx92NKVYpKCvYwxoeoD5G14LK5HAXc5lRAkIFnjDP_iOg75fYATqpJ9YaA4/s400/DSC01126.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421746654284090130" border="0" /></a>I really liked this knight.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUbP5VwvhQWQI6gUKqvSNDSN2a5-K4oH7rdW2WEAoUxG5qJZ8wa1K2aOc7QvJx3CRZ3HMGniBAD1C9FrjiukbHVPFOwCHuCTrfGUlLQEIQEvRTThXTZbmdLJSdTk7uNjdTKxCSrzG1QWY/s1600-h/DSC01127.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUbP5VwvhQWQI6gUKqvSNDSN2a5-K4oH7rdW2WEAoUxG5qJZ8wa1K2aOc7QvJx3CRZ3HMGniBAD1C9FrjiukbHVPFOwCHuCTrfGUlLQEIQEvRTThXTZbmdLJSdTk7uNjdTKxCSrzG1QWY/s400/DSC01127.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421746649296049522" border="0" /></a>From the Ethiopian Church. This crumbling ceiling image depicts a pyramidical halo. Worth thinking about.<br /><br />We drove to Tiberias, where a family lives who fed us. They had a really nice house and, even better, homemade grapfruit wine!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqi9ew4b0Fz3VVlAhm3eL4usAQLGVfhAIRDbl-ApsazdXmq1Uy1-Lj9WHnBieLXIH613oS5wq4IRhOZMOICj779jCsE-Dk8PYdB4XS0OhI2ULFWts5fnTFDgY_lQZUau5f_DZ9wfLfwts/s1600-h/DSC01128.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqi9ew4b0Fz3VVlAhm3eL4usAQLGVfhAIRDbl-ApsazdXmq1Uy1-Lj9WHnBieLXIH613oS5wq4IRhOZMOICj779jCsE-Dk8PYdB4XS0OhI2ULFWts5fnTFDgY_lQZUau5f_DZ9wfLfwts/s400/DSC01128.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421746647080004370" border="0" /></a>These are from the next morning actually.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMJY08HgYlQo3iJzbFwEdQ7aDpja3Gq2PjdmpugP_RI5TOfOeAE6gksIVGri3kWJmkCk-iZlDi7A1EokrLW5VUfiDNvmfID95ARPjBkQ96H6gwwe9_Y6_EEIhnyzbHLRg6_mxCPsiuSQ8/s1600-h/DSC01129.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMJY08HgYlQo3iJzbFwEdQ7aDpja3Gq2PjdmpugP_RI5TOfOeAE6gksIVGri3kWJmkCk-iZlDi7A1EokrLW5VUfiDNvmfID95ARPjBkQ96H6gwwe9_Y6_EEIhnyzbHLRg6_mxCPsiuSQ8/s400/DSC01129.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421746641346667730" border="0" /></a>All of us outside the host's house. l-r:the host, Sylvia (American now living in Germany), Sar Amadiel, brother who's name I forget, myself, Dr Lex, Susan (a Londoner), Dr Atur Khazriel, Steven (Susan's brother), Sar Elyakim, Monty, Rose, Immanuel, Sandra (another Londoner) and a sister whose name also escapes me. I should give special mention to Susan and Steve, who I spent a lot of time talking to, especially Steve who as a secular guy there on the advice of his mother, helped me feel slightly less like an outsider. Everyone was great though, and, despite slightly dubious beginnings as I tried to work out my own position on the information they were providing, I had a really good time.<br /><br />Some from the Jordan River.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjLWG5VziqKMB5Wjz0k90_aVYd2i7r59hhYGCPhbsaWW7mC1OApWfV2cJh91Qp3T8nz1vYCHr2P7EOEg8rVfd1L7TqzleYKb45UBS4rUx5EFTbfHx4MXkbI401eeZwmtBQ3Y59K1M3_Kg/s1600-h/DSC01130.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjLWG5VziqKMB5Wjz0k90_aVYd2i7r59hhYGCPhbsaWW7mC1OApWfV2cJh91Qp3T8nz1vYCHr2P7EOEg8rVfd1L7TqzleYKb45UBS4rUx5EFTbfHx4MXkbI401eeZwmtBQ3Y59K1M3_Kg/s400/DSC01130.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421746169954278306" border="0" /></a>These plaques are a verse from Mark presented in translation from various international communities.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG3p4rSm3-e0gtk6GoA8s5_KEokK2rT9kwjv1xw5fFzxeHjyPaXpIT5AUxQYCXS7h0gN6p8PE96t3O7ptmfUKOTd44obDu25xGHPfWfdtkZX6GwbemzEj-Xu5g2sz5Xa-truEfFTO4WXU/s1600-h/DSC01131.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG3p4rSm3-e0gtk6GoA8s5_KEokK2rT9kwjv1xw5fFzxeHjyPaXpIT5AUxQYCXS7h0gN6p8PE96t3O7ptmfUKOTd44obDu25xGHPfWfdtkZX6GwbemzEj-Xu5g2sz5Xa-truEfFTO4WXU/s400/DSC01131.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421746165375682418" border="0" /></a>The river was oddly green. Some people were immersion-baptising. We weren't sure this was very hygeinic.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHsWMbBV-2mbgIHFQZFWLvEj3LfRXiniecmHe8NAn_l29YtWTkBjRF2GGymEl3sjGqTKq2WryQpbUqqr7bNXOB78Dv3SfjZTaik8Ick40ZYlttV4NhIUZDmdqpWCfnqzKhPLiO942sOHI/s1600-h/DSC01132.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHsWMbBV-2mbgIHFQZFWLvEj3LfRXiniecmHe8NAn_l29YtWTkBjRF2GGymEl3sjGqTKq2WryQpbUqqr7bNXOB78Dv3SfjZTaik8Ick40ZYlttV4NhIUZDmdqpWCfnqzKhPLiO942sOHI/s400/DSC01132.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421746160332416226" border="0" /></a>We saw an otter. Several people of the international variety had never seen these before and had to be told what they were.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJmbWNqzqyqC6w25jmJ3ojWzRb1FTrzeXLvwZL28d47CkI1nYb-_8mRCbhV1iaYzeQ4kpfQE68H2UcNtIqIygVumZ-wcHcSWlPS24IkoRzoBAbugGo7H6uaSg9EKk53txBlMRu4WOXwOo/s1600-h/DSC01133.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJmbWNqzqyqC6w25jmJ3ojWzRb1FTrzeXLvwZL28d47CkI1nYb-_8mRCbhV1iaYzeQ4kpfQE68H2UcNtIqIygVumZ-wcHcSWlPS24IkoRzoBAbugGo7H6uaSg9EKk53txBlMRu4WOXwOo/s400/DSC01133.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421746156457225282" border="0" /></a>This next one is great - Mark 1:9-11 rendered in Hawaii Pidgin English!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyM5eA0mEzVUVAvYOCqKDyEKLZV5AZ4dMD2xDk_V_DD7y9kQJXsCk4yU8bUG4RtIy9mrz9esbyMov0Vm5g6DA9f_W9nBu29e40HzzvfcUQ5lJrYQztWVN21EZRU6-wMF3CteOda2RkAyQ/s1600-h/DSC01134.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyM5eA0mEzVUVAvYOCqKDyEKLZV5AZ4dMD2xDk_V_DD7y9kQJXsCk4yU8bUG4RtIy9mrz9esbyMov0Vm5g6DA9f_W9nBu29e40HzzvfcUQ5lJrYQztWVN21EZRU6-wMF3CteOda2RkAyQ/s400/DSC01134.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421746152664106162" border="0" /></a>And God said, You my boy!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWJSqQgHrbCsDfw8AwiLxX-9lSmxoe0UUZ6uoEK0WBIUwTSRa5QmCieaFb_gCXUggbV7xHXYgzLo4t3cwCY73VQOZszc-k0H0_Ag3nM7izkV8huBq-FEILCf_H3bfGZwHV8aMN2moAm4s/s1600-h/DSC01135.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWJSqQgHrbCsDfw8AwiLxX-9lSmxoe0UUZ6uoEK0WBIUwTSRa5QmCieaFb_gCXUggbV7xHXYgzLo4t3cwCY73VQOZszc-k0H0_Ag3nM7izkV8huBq-FEILCf_H3bfGZwHV8aMN2moAm4s/s400/DSC01135.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421744617436731026" border="0" /></a>Dr Atur preaching.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5pk0iYKilLU1ULA3vhIny0_CPo2pt_TLTFxzumHTc0xsHok0qFBQteyhIoEwUCh-zBZqf_cwRlJ0u0kqvIYfEnyy7_pSasBmuT0I3pkPXqXuDP1MbCSPoJumUAFXpMMp48tJNRpiy2r4/s1600-h/DSC01137.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5pk0iYKilLU1ULA3vhIny0_CPo2pt_TLTFxzumHTc0xsHok0qFBQteyhIoEwUCh-zBZqf_cwRlJ0u0kqvIYfEnyy7_pSasBmuT0I3pkPXqXuDP1MbCSPoJumUAFXpMMp48tJNRpiy2r4/s400/DSC01137.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421744610986475874" border="0" /></a>Dr Lez. These are from Jericho, were we climbed the mount of temptation to the monastery. I must point out, I've heard about the checkpoints going into the West Bank and how problematic the soldiers there can be. But all Amadiel had to say was 'Dimona' and they smiled and waved us through. I've heard a lot about the community's improving relations with Israel and this was clear evidence of it. They are very well respected now. Amadiel told us that Ben Ammi had arranged for the musicians to play gigs for the IDF and everyone had been complaining or expecting to get paid for their work. Ben Ammi told them good will would be their payment. He wasn't wrong.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj49ApXzlVdOeBp_nHd4L2-ZpLoIjkG-i3Zl5QYhHOQILHs7fUzVkqpjukmVH4q-O_NQfek7rGvk8w4lcMI19NLzR_wvi-1qAYYJL0mf4MoXJxhHBJ8EF2ZakJJ6IwOBeZ-AsLVKocofuM/s1600-h/DSC01138.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj49ApXzlVdOeBp_nHd4L2-ZpLoIjkG-i3Zl5QYhHOQILHs7fUzVkqpjukmVH4q-O_NQfek7rGvk8w4lcMI19NLzR_wvi-1qAYYJL0mf4MoXJxhHBJ8EF2ZakJJ6IwOBeZ-AsLVKocofuM/s400/DSC01138.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421744606200905458" border="0" /></a>To be frank, it didn't look very tempting from the bottom.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9HOoG2JXOE4otY-gvpY28nXXUXkxljPu7zBu6ablBDpNyH0KOR10aQUf-JPA6lou2zMD6ZjuzuNz5zheSC1rmXGQCG07gCZuQC3mlS5vwjl0zhMKltadb6_hzwlcsZVOI2cezJuDk-O8/s1600-h/DSC01136.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9HOoG2JXOE4otY-gvpY28nXXUXkxljPu7zBu6ablBDpNyH0KOR10aQUf-JPA6lou2zMD6ZjuzuNz5zheSC1rmXGQCG07gCZuQC3mlS5vwjl0zhMKltadb6_hzwlcsZVOI2cezJuDk-O8/s400/DSC01136.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421744615849129122" border="0" /></a>Although I love the monastery carved into the mountainside.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYhbVW5CaZ4MXbbIbXRXjqixjxvoOHyKeh3UQ6eLbxGJzivVq8ShNfAZeqTlmz9pMz9mIJejAVpHAw5qR-fbcUAHMqkMTtVdPEU90bTyq17Wui3k6A1R-4k8mqhvrdbArSYTk_wYMcbL0/s1600-h/DSC01141.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYhbVW5CaZ4MXbbIbXRXjqixjxvoOHyKeh3UQ6eLbxGJzivVq8ShNfAZeqTlmz9pMz9mIJejAVpHAw5qR-fbcUAHMqkMTtVdPEU90bTyq17Wui3k6A1R-4k8mqhvrdbArSYTk_wYMcbL0/s400/DSC01141.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421745400323537074" border="0" /></a>Steve was here.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZVM7ZdyKlFQScNGve5uMzNwEcIveNO3sG38mxch98NB-vlC13NtUXh1XsUrm_562YsjddBx2u_xidAhz8YX41Kp0Je5otPZ0tdP3iKxmaAVHgQqXeLNqEkE8kCKEwW4RojLbIDo2pKcE/s1600-h/DSC01142.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZVM7ZdyKlFQScNGve5uMzNwEcIveNO3sG38mxch98NB-vlC13NtUXh1XsUrm_562YsjddBx2u_xidAhz8YX41Kp0Je5otPZ0tdP3iKxmaAVHgQqXeLNqEkE8kCKEwW4RojLbIDo2pKcE/s400/DSC01142.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421745396631332162" border="0" /></a>Some views from the mountain.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs9RuRTzNNiYMlqbRfQgSWtaGnPzwVLVbqYb56hSRt-vvG9TcxobLHMqegblhSnLWaD1W_PC5BrZGiOAVQNo3x0fEFTWnPIzJq8woJIhE-ltizFHhkPpNJsFa-WBZCbgl0bcMGlwYUWdY/s1600-h/DSC01143.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs9RuRTzNNiYMlqbRfQgSWtaGnPzwVLVbqYb56hSRt-vvG9TcxobLHMqegblhSnLWaD1W_PC5BrZGiOAVQNo3x0fEFTWnPIzJq8woJIhE-ltizFHhkPpNJsFa-WBZCbgl0bcMGlwYUWdY/s400/DSC01143.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421745391970791762" border="0" /></a>Steve, Sandra and Lez.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcKm_EYP2PyWm9Y9wk6haGZlzgFb26KB74oej8fWJ39vcFDjUust7OXRWNrBVadFogxRbQe5c9UV9__p2PQzZ4DtOkX0425R7GA892HymOnv_7p37OuIE03U817PxXCzJI8huZox9vM38/s1600-h/DSC01144.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcKm_EYP2PyWm9Y9wk6haGZlzgFb26KB74oej8fWJ39vcFDjUust7OXRWNrBVadFogxRbQe5c9UV9__p2PQzZ4DtOkX0425R7GA892HymOnv_7p37OuIE03U817PxXCzJI8huZox9vM38/s400/DSC01144.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421745386308348354" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmWReMuyFfAVQozijiCNoSob6JadbgkctELflTOLt8jgWyhvJHpfyrZAJKZ1X2Ms8HylhvmNHnPVr-PdlwYsFGBBIJR0bekAfnhNqfERRgMDCRtdrNihXVAjdyVNbsmF30Jq4HFSAte0E/s1600-h/DSC01139.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmWReMuyFfAVQozijiCNoSob6JadbgkctELflTOLt8jgWyhvJHpfyrZAJKZ1X2Ms8HylhvmNHnPVr-PdlwYsFGBBIJR0bekAfnhNqfERRgMDCRtdrNihXVAjdyVNbsmF30Jq4HFSAte0E/s400/DSC01139.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421744607348581954" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy5O1L68_mpSQANSyPvxGgWltDUYhVgJ3bBcMuJJ8AGsa0q2ug8hrPcdpp1-8Qxz7p-XAkCvbEuFoXR1m9oWjBlKmaDSSggFrTTVWq3oQZsxUQx7ISfj78Sf2ggzah96JpVlIu0xRnMY4/s1600-h/DSC01146.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy5O1L68_mpSQANSyPvxGgWltDUYhVgJ3bBcMuJJ8AGsa0q2ug8hrPcdpp1-8Qxz7p-XAkCvbEuFoXR1m9oWjBlKmaDSSggFrTTVWq3oQZsxUQx7ISfj78Sf2ggzah96JpVlIu0xRnMY4/s400/DSC01146.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421743273607179906" border="0" /></a>Entry to the monastery.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8NjklvfGre3bYIkTu6OU8_KTMYX38cJSx3S2JtBxlf4eap_AsY9Gb1Y3WTcYp7a7vcuEtwJA3UtpUXl7sbNcwR9EcI7qMe-Tod9sDOzOhvW5HUhK0NVnhDVlr-gm7RywDVBywi6dhXJw/s1600-h/DSC01147.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8NjklvfGre3bYIkTu6OU8_KTMYX38cJSx3S2JtBxlf4eap_AsY9Gb1Y3WTcYp7a7vcuEtwJA3UtpUXl7sbNcwR9EcI7qMe-Tod9sDOzOhvW5HUhK0NVnhDVlr-gm7RywDVBywi6dhXJw/s400/DSC01147.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421743268856594002" border="0" /></a>On the wall outside.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Wvt6ReYQ66l-LobnYcPzEwWaCLuyDrqmrhuddbAzJB0qch60PnE5-S1K2XkodSUrhq_47gWB72eM1QevkHmLtkdJrMhQpiKaqsuR2E8PNjb8Sh4Ija95OGfQfL-4zGvGtA9YSlESpfo/s1600-h/DSC01149.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Wvt6ReYQ66l-LobnYcPzEwWaCLuyDrqmrhuddbAzJB0qch60PnE5-S1K2XkodSUrhq_47gWB72eM1QevkHmLtkdJrMhQpiKaqsuR2E8PNjb8Sh4Ija95OGfQfL-4zGvGtA9YSlESpfo/s400/DSC01149.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421743264100710002" border="0" /></a>In the holy seat.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjltIGxD3JxZnyFmPPRjv0rDzHYWc9ZVhhRcVPLKFgFfnMebrzPkXiS-3hVmD3dFAV457o2lisi3a4AQb9DFFA1FqP79yp0Not95Rx7uLp-y6pISZsq-6OCQDPDlE1TrUBjWKH3JmPA4KU/s1600-h/DSC01150.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjltIGxD3JxZnyFmPPRjv0rDzHYWc9ZVhhRcVPLKFgFfnMebrzPkXiS-3hVmD3dFAV457o2lisi3a4AQb9DFFA1FqP79yp0Not95Rx7uLp-y6pISZsq-6OCQDPDlE1TrUBjWKH3JmPA4KU/s400/DSC01150.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421743256807116930" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiEvfMZCluu6VANn1tWDuI148BxaJXS05-QNcTCutDaln_787bY80ZSdUzFP0Xk7KWVQp_34rwZFXTHKcKf0tlCfxplqg3H6zIICceo9GHCOhKk8COfLitSV-s-SGjNo9RjN_VLRX6J5w/s1600-h/DSC01151.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiEvfMZCluu6VANn1tWDuI148BxaJXS05-QNcTCutDaln_787bY80ZSdUzFP0Xk7KWVQp_34rwZFXTHKcKf0tlCfxplqg3H6zIICceo9GHCOhKk8COfLitSV-s-SGjNo9RjN_VLRX6J5w/s400/DSC01151.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421743254531222562" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhua-OVG6gwDyPQFFKk_5D3CJBc0gf7-r-RLom7ovfKiZffWnRDO86ld-ir8R-omuzKTIzGyuTVvzcLvcCNOE4hwsiP8I8HhFFptjqj5XKpUztuU41KODgzs_OilDBB0riblE9XoqrN5-s/s1600-h/DSC01153.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhua-OVG6gwDyPQFFKk_5D3CJBc0gf7-r-RLom7ovfKiZffWnRDO86ld-ir8R-omuzKTIzGyuTVvzcLvcCNOE4hwsiP8I8HhFFptjqj5XKpUztuU41KODgzs_OilDBB0riblE9XoqrN5-s/s400/DSC01153.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421742907286660498" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjymnVkx_ZMpdCxo_Ogzn-kCp4OzB9DS1GhJMlo7IpEDl7BvOnDE9guj1bep-ncz9xTBTBHkBxtDFtqRByVTEokbc14ik4fBuEfxLv7o6tRZI4LQRjS5xLChdthrKfTZGFKUYE1RXRVsaw/s1600-h/DSC01154.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjymnVkx_ZMpdCxo_Ogzn-kCp4OzB9DS1GhJMlo7IpEDl7BvOnDE9guj1bep-ncz9xTBTBHkBxtDFtqRByVTEokbc14ik4fBuEfxLv7o6tRZI4LQRjS5xLChdthrKfTZGFKUYE1RXRVsaw/s400/DSC01154.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421742901248382274" border="0" /></a>I really liked these images of angels.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJKdAiehwSJJzmeyCaoPm1E4FEuvzOG7sCA74Tyigt-RbMBaaaVD8s4PYZaq1jTbQOhyis50QVQ_-y6jS-V6y2yUbeFBscy9FI0D3apqO7tCBgWkNGVrxxEJNfcl6Is4rz_OyUoFBzerU/s1600-h/DSC01155.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJKdAiehwSJJzmeyCaoPm1E4FEuvzOG7sCA74Tyigt-RbMBaaaVD8s4PYZaq1jTbQOhyis50QVQ_-y6jS-V6y2yUbeFBscy9FI0D3apqO7tCBgWkNGVrxxEJNfcl6Is4rz_OyUoFBzerU/s400/DSC01155.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421742896543586178" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQPiMOIJVQ6nHXZfoyOWZwL-hABJ0Dl7wNW1TU-SIHZZ9nfmu3RT824Ilewng0JC6LolW29L0iyJHupPwKZobIubqzGIK03wecaCnVCpOlGigBSUxokJuIQFVyzAsQ7YGXLd5m1Ujte1A/s1600-h/DSC01156.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQPiMOIJVQ6nHXZfoyOWZwL-hABJ0Dl7wNW1TU-SIHZZ9nfmu3RT824Ilewng0JC6LolW29L0iyJHupPwKZobIubqzGIK03wecaCnVCpOlGigBSUxokJuIQFVyzAsQ7YGXLd5m1Ujte1A/s400/DSC01156.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421742893772799154" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNEKeKncT2sbRf3VEskCh5JEx4_a-3EgfJk1Orn9AbIBEJHy82pHMusu-I_iOYuMMJ_PiaH5-zIMxXNn9EfzAuELaek01Sj1NjBmaylQVirByVv62Vd-wsqAne9vPD-XeVoC10GEuf3T0/s1600-h/DSC01157.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNEKeKncT2sbRf3VEskCh5JEx4_a-3EgfJk1Orn9AbIBEJHy82pHMusu-I_iOYuMMJ_PiaH5-zIMxXNn9EfzAuELaek01Sj1NjBmaylQVirByVv62Vd-wsqAne9vPD-XeVoC10GEuf3T0/s400/DSC01157.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421742557726884706" border="0" /></a>More distinctly black figures<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHSZbmHlrXvYzUiuAiz-PvTtvDq_ckXZ7NXYHbrsS2hlHaugq7uGXN_96hu64zw63eskbJswjj9SyFuXV556P8c2KMfa32kXg2TCgQByd7TtZOhg6frYwr08oxDMe3ToPyToeIEzqr5xs/s1600-h/DSC01158.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHSZbmHlrXvYzUiuAiz-PvTtvDq_ckXZ7NXYHbrsS2hlHaugq7uGXN_96hu64zw63eskbJswjj9SyFuXV556P8c2KMfa32kXg2TCgQByd7TtZOhg6frYwr08oxDMe3ToPyToeIEzqr5xs/s400/DSC01158.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421742552655699202" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9QALK00TUUrOpuaMMqRc4YtcyFgD9hVtq8ngERTwDs1Gx7Yn9xlbeVgJdBYZ1qQyZqDn8KqmDxhhVaDFN7txaXEuf4ijA6bgwaHpDZ6XW5NgQ1ZfHQ_rk9-M0QQnhd_D8Aw-FPB-EqS8/s1600-h/DSC01161.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9QALK00TUUrOpuaMMqRc4YtcyFgD9hVtq8ngERTwDs1Gx7Yn9xlbeVgJdBYZ1qQyZqDn8KqmDxhhVaDFN7txaXEuf4ijA6bgwaHpDZ6XW5NgQ1ZfHQ_rk9-M0QQnhd_D8Aw-FPB-EqS8/s400/DSC01161.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421742547967336402" border="0" /></a>The ceiling.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjBfxJ_rSIA_BVVn47JrcjLg3kNyAhKqwCudVofZZ7dhOvR09I72Yl2Zn6feY__M5YeNooB1FciO_0qL6mJslfPl61lMV3GzkQQfBe4yB6QLolqYO4hA6TPXQItQo9alazUqBDMYDY2Vk/s1600-h/DSC01162.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjBfxJ_rSIA_BVVn47JrcjLg3kNyAhKqwCudVofZZ7dhOvR09I72Yl2Zn6feY__M5YeNooB1FciO_0qL6mJslfPl61lMV3GzkQQfBe4yB6QLolqYO4hA6TPXQItQo9alazUqBDMYDY2Vk/s400/DSC01162.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421742545050215554" border="0" /></a>Dr Atur discusses the above painting of Jesus being tempted by a very blackskinned devil. The monk became more and more concerned as we talked, eventually ejecting us (thoguh it was nearly closing time).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG9k_RTErqwcD6B_O2hwYEEoinpviqrdkA_JrEbUO0941zTHSZYtoX-JGCCKYP4eoLFO2-NiJF2_DkpH5CkDKrRh7XoCc6t3PXzlnUSSbybOF2CBM4x4o-FTY3c6hMT4Kvtz5LF4dK3kA/s1600-h/DSC01163.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG9k_RTErqwcD6B_O2hwYEEoinpviqrdkA_JrEbUO0941zTHSZYtoX-JGCCKYP4eoLFO2-NiJF2_DkpH5CkDKrRh7XoCc6t3PXzlnUSSbybOF2CBM4x4o-FTY3c6hMT4Kvtz5LF4dK3kA/s400/DSC01163.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421742539890966322" border="0" /></a>And the walk down again. Yes, that is our van.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtTfIfTNZXcRdJp-QuMW51ldxI8X3OMZvYIyZe80MUm-v3nPXyFBwOne44qrTgK3VRRn-7TYOZFqdGLXPKAaQnUbMXZpGjTes3GyaVl7vaCzahbshoa0kxqnSALRDLvhiZyoHmpd4wsdg/s1600-h/DSC01164.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtTfIfTNZXcRdJp-QuMW51ldxI8X3OMZvYIyZe80MUm-v3nPXyFBwOne44qrTgK3VRRn-7TYOZFqdGLXPKAaQnUbMXZpGjTes3GyaVl7vaCzahbshoa0kxqnSALRDLvhiZyoHmpd4wsdg/s400/DSC01164.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421741238222209458" border="0" /></a>We stopped briefly in the centre of Jericho to get some fruit.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkO9Ex19202XRYo7jtvfsWcDCrXwzXNHbOX2sja5ubGtsHFOQIbz7Z-RNxox8HjbSkOagrW_wBSqHe00ZQbEyFod-dwq-85fnSehbQ2ECoZt6mxVIg3L-8l0hfK8W5NFCqVVlMIGQ_p9o/s1600-h/DSC01165.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkO9Ex19202XRYo7jtvfsWcDCrXwzXNHbOX2sja5ubGtsHFOQIbz7Z-RNxox8HjbSkOagrW_wBSqHe00ZQbEyFod-dwq-85fnSehbQ2ECoZt6mxVIg3L-8l0hfK8W5NFCqVVlMIGQ_p9o/s400/DSC01165.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421741236011022402" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht12MPQ2uytJg3Hb7wff-3vWdwGQXYJs3E6evUxBdKO0hUgnImWAxbwwWQ8MnbvBZZ1kEFaO89r7fWA4A1YxBLeCqqLM7rWoEwQHjk3B2Rq2xN85KFW762HpUScU6y97Qng8IpmXv6Fog/s1600-h/DSC01166.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht12MPQ2uytJg3Hb7wff-3vWdwGQXYJs3E6evUxBdKO0hUgnImWAxbwwWQ8MnbvBZZ1kEFaO89r7fWA4A1YxBLeCqqLM7rWoEwQHjk3B2Rq2xN85KFW762HpUScU6y97Qng8IpmXv6Fog/s400/DSC01166.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421741229393282866" border="0" /></a>I wasn't repeatedly bugging Dr Lez for photos by the way, his camera had run out of battery so he was asking me to take these pics.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZjFKS3jS-Ndeej_mc03xzjkepaqMDMQHMpHKB1GMDW4qxKua_EBFT1coztdwlJHmvBXp0bFVSBx671evazzf6qT29pY7_j781j6JRywbeJwqHrqiPXxsbKmuAhHiJHo3VNIpMN28FpnA/s1600-h/DSC01167.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZjFKS3jS-Ndeej_mc03xzjkepaqMDMQHMpHKB1GMDW4qxKua_EBFT1coztdwlJHmvBXp0bFVSBx671evazzf6qT29pY7_j781j6JRywbeJwqHrqiPXxsbKmuAhHiJHo3VNIpMN28FpnA/s400/DSC01167.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421741227865741618" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmi05-5YtXINsYalpq-42anKR-IK0M0M_HjQSTl6HWp6z02Bqmzd4KjdxxJP9c1WHVx_oBanLexQgvhm7K7K5DOFY20qEwcCe-DQR-HsOXTgdd0BDe96QBV6jTtfDlWSol5kC3Eb36ZxU/s1600-h/DSC01168.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmi05-5YtXINsYalpq-42anKR-IK0M0M_HjQSTl6HWp6z02Bqmzd4KjdxxJP9c1WHVx_oBanLexQgvhm7K7K5DOFY20qEwcCe-DQR-HsOXTgdd0BDe96QBV6jTtfDlWSol5kC3Eb36ZxU/s400/DSC01168.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421741224934019778" border="0" /></a> And that's it. We went on to the Dead Sea but it was dark by then. The rest of the conference was very interesting. I'm trying to collate my ideas about the community into some kind of form, so I may do a more academic blog soon. I want to say though, that despite a bit of a rocky start as I and they got used to each other, I've really come to admire what they've achieved and the work they're doing globally. Especially in Africa, where they're providing leadership, work forces and conflict resolution, and also within Israel where they are growing in esteem as a people committed to peace, to bringing humanity back from the troubled-times we have created, and generally acting with compassion, respect and charity.<br /><br /><span style="padding: 1px 4px; position: absolute; -moz-appearance: tooltip; z-index: 10000; cursor: pointer; left: 456px; top: 8431px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">save</span><span style="padding: 1px 4px; position: absolute; -moz-appearance: tooltip; z-index: 10000; cursor: pointer; left: 456px; top: 17197px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">save</span>Ayinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10120620659286171851noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462752563299701010.post-6435577479112672692009-12-26T00:51:00.000-08:002009-12-26T01:15:24.348-08:00African Hebrew Community: Initial thoughtsI've been at the <a href="http://www.africanhebrewisraelitesofjerusalem.com/">African Hebrew Israelite Community</a> in Dimona for close to a week now. I wrote some of my thoughts about the community and being here last night. This is quite an academic entry, with no photos. It may be beneficial to read the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Hebrew_Israelites">wiki</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_Hebrew_Israelites_of_Jerusalem">pages</a> before this for more background on the community and history.<br /><br />It's 3AM on Boxing Day, and I've just been woken up by two cats doing the weirdest ritual meowing ever. I can't sleep now, so I'm taking the opportunity to write some of the thoughts I've had since being at the AHIC. I've had many different thoughts since being here. The principle feeling of the community is that it is very peaceful, very positive and forward-thinking. I've seen no negativity, not heard a single raised voice since being here. The people are always smiling, greeting each other and myself with shaloms and boker tovs as I walk around the village. Everyone here seems genuinely happy. The community is entirely vegan, something I find immensely comforting. I hadn't realised before how nice it would be to live in a community which shared and were committed to this single ideal - the need not to explain myself and then face judgment, criticism or debate. That said, I have been constantly asked my reasons for being vegan - they have all been surprised and impressed when they learn I've been vegan for 13 years. They usually ask me why I made the choice and I had expected some difference of opinion, as my own reasons are largely due to animal rights rather than any health benefit. However my response has been met with a respectful smile. It's really nice not to simply be told "Oh that's good but I could never do it because...", or even to face an insulted attempt to justify and argue for a different diet (the two most usual responses in the UK), but instead be able to talk about how easy and positive the choice is.<br /><br />The food has been great. Perhaps a little heavy on the tofu for my liking, and not as much carbohydrate as I'm used to but very tasty and filling. We get two meals a day - a big breakfast at about 9, and dinner at about 4. The food is always prepared by women. The cooks are very possessive over their kitchen, refusing to let me do anything and seeming quite uncomfortable if I even try to wash up a plate I've used. I was met with confused scowls when asking if I could boil some water for my coffee - this was both to do with the consumption of caffeine (an addictive stimulant they have no place for), and my apparent intention to use the kitchen myself. The first time they boiled some water in a pan for me, and the next day a kettle had appeared on the counter/serving hatch for me to use. My one criticism of the food (OK, two): it appears with no forewarning. The first day I got up, sat reading for a couple of hours then took a walk. People asked whether I had enjoyed the breakfast. I hadn't been told there was such a thing - surprising, as it was now 10.30, and I had been in the kitchen several times. I returned and found a plate on the side, now cold and wrapped in a plastic bag. I wasn't sure why no one had told me it was there for me (or even written my name on it so I might know once I had found it). This seems to relate to a larger issue about guests or volunteers which I'll return to. Secondly, depending on the day's cook we may at breakfast get either a big cooked plate or a plate of fruit salad. The salad is lovely, but very unsatisfying as a breakfast. Again, my dependence on stodgy grains and carb is unfamiliar here. To be fair, eating brocolli for breakfast is also unfamiliar to me.<br /><br />Yesterday I attended the Shabbat service. I was driven to the flat of a family where we ate a meal together before sundown. Avraham and Negilla and their two children live in a small apartment, beautifully decorated, and were very warm and friendly. Negilla is 33 and was born in Dimona, whereas Avraham came here from the US several years ago. He became vegan the day after finding a branch of the community in the US, and moved here not very long after. I wasn't sure what to expect but the meal was very pleasant (even if I still can't stand seaweed). They, like everyone here, are totally committed to the ideals of the community. Avraham in particular speaks with awe about his life now compared to what it was and would be in the states. He is a very gentle and sincere man. Like the guest house kitchen, roles are quite strictly stratified: Negilla cooked and washed the plates, leaving Avraham and I to discuss important matters. She joined the conversation occasionally, particularly to ask me if my studies had led me to conclude what constituted Jewishness. I answered that this question vexed even Jewish thinkers, and no one could really agree whether it was a race, a religion or a culture, or all three. During a tour provided for an American Jewish group of teenagers, it was explained that here marriage is seen not as an equal partnership - this was a western ideal which the community had attempted to divest itself of, seeking to return to the spirit of the Torah. In Genesis, Eve is described as a 'helpmate' to Adam, and this is what a wife should be. This did not engender a kind of oppression but is merely a system of ordering society. The guide explained that women can be whatever they want and do whatever they want, but in terms of marriage, the wife's role is to support and offer succour to the husband first and foremost. This is easy to criticise, yet I repeat that everyone here does seem very content within their roles. The guide further explained that there is no pressure to stay: if people are not happy here, they should leave to find another way of life, as the lifestyle can only be followed willingly. A few people do leave, some of those return.<br /><br />The service was mixed, men and women sit together in a hall with speakers at the front. Avraham and I (Negilla is on her "14 days" so cannot attend service) arrived slightly after it began, and more people filtered into the hall during the duration. The service was informal, and charismatic - not unlike pentecostal Christian services. Individuals in the crowd often called in agreement or encouragement with the speaker. The first speech was to do with Christmas - not unfairly - though I was amused to find it quickly become a deconstruction of the historical basis for the festival, and a hearty refusal to join in, or to accept that it has any validity for anyone, whether Hebrew or Christian. The speaker quoted a section from Jeremiah (I think) which described and condemned a winter festival where people cut down then decorated trees. He also had something to say about the celebrating of New Year in the middle of winter. Really this all amounted to a standard 'do not engage in pagan practices, follow the word of the Lord', found in most revealed religions. It was interesting to hear it from a charismatic black American though.<br /><br />We were provided a song by one particular gentleman named At-Tai (I think). This guy had twice represented Israel in the Eurovision song contest - 1999 and 2006. He had an amazing voice, plus a heartfelt story to tell about his journey into fame and glory but only finding happiness when he returned to the community and his family in Dimona. Standard fare again, really: riches are nice but the righteous and traditional life is best. He made the point that Israel had no problem being represented by him internationally, while denying him citizenship despite being born here.<br /><br />One element stood out in the service: at several points the speaker returned to the community's diet and lifestyle, citing the several scientific studies carried out with the community which have all supported the incredible benefits of their way of life. He contrasted this with the lives of black Americans, who in his home-state have an average life expectancy of 40. Here, people routinely reach twice that, and more. He noted that fresh pomegranate juice was something he would not have even been able to pronounce had he stayed in America, let alone drink on a regular basis.<br /><br />I've mentioned issues to do with citizenship and Jewishness. I've received mixed impressions from the community about their status as 'Jews'. The tour guide emphasised that they are Jews (hence their refusal to convert on entry to Israel), just not Halakhic Jews. They still claim descendence from the tribe of Judah. Their use of Jewish traditions however stops slightly before the end of the Second Temple period. They rely on the Tanakh and some apocryphal literature (particularly the first and second books of Enoch it appears, though I will dig into this more deeply soon), and celebrate the festivals and laws set forth therein. They read the New Testament sometimes but always defer to the Old in case of disagreement. They do not celebrate Hanukkah, seeing this as an invention of men. I did try to ask whether there was a historical point at which they see their way and traditional Judaism parting company, but didn't receive a satisfactory answer. I will phrase this question better when I talk to the Priests as I am interested to find if they see a specific point in time where Judaism began to stray from the correct path.<br /><br />After varying degrees of struggle with the state of Israel, the community were recently granted permanent residence status. This means they have all rights except the right to vote. I believe that now, new children born here are citizens of Israel. For eight years the post-school children have served military service in the IDF like all other Israelis. I was surprised to find this - the children of Dimona, the "Village of Peace" learning how to fire weapons and defend their country. I asked Avraham how he felt about this. He told me that it is an awful feeling for ones children to face the possibility of warfare. However, certain miraculous incidents where members have walked unharmed from buildings under rocket attack have given some pause for thought. He is glad - like everyone I think - for any greater integration of the community into the state, and proud of the ability to help defend the state. He touched briefly on the Palestine conflict when he claimed that the community's role as ambassadors of Israel to the world, and their ability to cut through the misunderstanding or demonisation of Israel in many quarters was valued immensely by the state, and something that the community was keen to promote. I have also been told that the community works as facilitators of dialogue between Arab and Israeli groups, perceived by both as being somewhat outside the issues of conflict. I wonder whether this will remain the case as their presence in the military grows.<br /><br />I still feel a little confused over the community's sense of its identity. Clearly, they class themselves technically as Hebrews and not Jews. They do not use the star of David as far as I can see. Explicit markers of Jewish identity are scarce or non-existent, apart from the Hebrew language. The scullcaps they wear are larger, in fact more like Islamic caps than the usual Jewish kippa. Their dress is partially western, partially African. When attending the Shabbat service everyone must wear a hat or scarf and only natural fibres with loose fringes, as described in the Torah. I was provided a gown and kippah. The men all wore these gowns, which appear somewhere between Arabic and African. Despite their keen insistence on the Levitical laws, they do not follow for example the commandment not to cut one's hair. I must ask them about this, although I suspect the answer will centre on the desire to follow the spirit and not the letter of the law. Negilla's question to me evidenced an interest in the parameters of Jewish identity - to what extent can they rightly claim to be Jews? I can see a political benefit to establishing this right, but am unsure why the issue would be pressed otherwise. The first wave of immigrants in 1968 entered under the Right to Return of anyone feeling a connection with the Jewish faith or people. The law was changed at some point shortly after, to require at least one Jewish parent. The community's desire to bring more people to the nation from its extended body in the States (as well as a growing presence in Africa) would certainly be aided by a cogent argument for actual Jewishness. However, I cannot see Israel ever accepting such an argument without a complete conversion of all members to Judaism proper. This won't happen. 'We are already Jews!' they claim, while refusing to accept the traditions of the last 2,000 years which Judaism has evolved.<br /><br />Regarding the language, Hebrew and English vie for precedence here. English is the most spoken, simply because the community is expatriot American. Everyone speaks with an American accent, even those born here and who have only visited America once or twice. Hebrew is the official school language. In everyday discourse, most switch fluidly between the two. When speaking English I often hear a slight hybrid flavour as certain Hebrew words are dropped into the dialect: Slikha (excuse me), yeledim (children), ba'it (house), khessef (money) etc. Children call their parents Abba and Ima. Avraham claims that there is a gradual process of Hebraicisation underway, so that eventually Hebrew will be the first spoken language.<br /><br />One thing in pargticular struck me about the Shabbat service, and that is the use of a divine name. While Jews equivocate the unpronounceable name of God and subtitute various reverential, or just plain obfuscatory, terms for it, the Hebrews have mutated and adapted it to their own theology. Yahweh is generally not used, instead Yah. This term is still far too close to breach of the commandment for Jews and verges on blasphemy, yet here it is shouted in unison and used in casual conversation. I am interested in how they, like the Rastafarians, have isolated the first half of the Name as the proper form of address. I cannot see any common tradition upon which they draw. Clearly both groups gain their original understanding of scripture from western Christianity, but nowhere here is the term Yah used. Perhaps a hundred years ago one may have heard the term Jehovah, but in faith circles this has usually been replaced with Lord, for the same reason as in Judaism.<br /><br />In particular there is one formulation of the Name used, and this is painted on the front of the altar and other places in the community, even - somewhat jarringly - on the board behind the portable basketball net (yes, the one the ball is bounced off of). This formulation is Yah Khi. This is translated as Yah Lives. This is used as a call and response during service, and frequently appended to particularly emotional passages. I find this interesting because the lettering - יה חי - clearly reflects the tetragrammaton, teetering on the Holy Name without being exactly mistakable for it.<br /><br />Points of contact with Rastafarian theology are interesting and, to my knowledge, as yet unexamined. Both groups have attached heavily to the Old Testament and sought identification with the community of ancient Israel. However, while some Rastafarians claim descent from one or more of the 'lost tribes' of Israel, the Hebrews claim descent from the tribe of Judah. The narrative of slavery, dislocation of the population, wandering and eventual reunification play heavily in both groups. I am of the impression that there were stirrings in this direction within the black American community prior to the Hebrew Israelite community's formation which served to influence this. Both groups draw on the thought of Marcus Garvey and his belief in repatriation to Africa, however I am unsure of his own perceptions regarding this issue of identity. The Hebrew Israelites identified Israel as the Zion to which their return pointed, while maintaining that Israel is in fact part of Africa. This of course is true in a geographical sense: prior to the creation of the Suez Canal one could literally walk from Egypt to Israel.<br /><br />The founder of the movement, Ben Ammi, is still alive (though I have yet to see him - he does not attend the Shabbat service, only the festivals) and is considered the community's messiah. When I first heard this I thought with a sinking feeling that it was a very contentious claim, and one that doomed this movement to the same fate as all other personality cults. However, it has since been explained several times that he is not to be understood as the messiah, but as the salvation of this community. They claim (rather disingenuously) that there have been many messiah figures in Israel's history, because the term simply means someone who is sent to save, or to return the people to the true path. I haven't yet disputed their use of the term messiah, but it seems to me they mean prophet. Considering their very detailed knowledge of Hebrew scripture, why then do they create this confusion? I suspect it may be because addressing the community's leader as messiah rather than prophet is much more powerful. I hope it isn't a case of hasty explanatory justification of intentionally more grand statements made by Ben Ammi himself. The principle figure of Rastafarian theology is Ras Tafari, the Duke Haile Selassie I, who is likewise claimed to be Messiah although in this tradition he is literally the reincarnation of Jesus Christ.<br /><br />My impression of the community has not been wholly positive. There are some personal issues which have ocurred to me over the first week here. The first is that as a guest/volunteer I have been left pretty much to fend entirely for myself. On the morning of my third day I still had no information about what I was supposed to be doing, had received no official introduction or tour, and was still trying to work out what the arrangements regarding meals were. This led to me feeling a little isolated and quite resentful. I went away for the day at the invitation of an external friend and was eventually phoned at 6PM to arrange a meeting to discuss plans. I returned the next morning and was placed in the fields, harvesting turnips. I enjoyed this immensely. However, further volunteer work has yet to appear, and I am only given the vaguest of information about future plans or meetings with various people in the community.<br /><br />I am also feeling that this lifestyle - while very happy and positive, and certainly something that the outside world could learn much from in terms of outlook and health (and respect for others) - could not cater to the full extremes of human life. I could not imagine great art or science coming from here. The life is very village-based, very community focussed and with seemingly little space for individuals to pursue the life of the intellect. I could be wrong - such individuals would necessarly exist hidden from easy view, however my intuition is that a community which fosters the good life so highly would fail to provide the motivation for transcendence (both positive and negative) which is usually mother to invention.<br /><br />Finally, back to veganism. The community has not always been vegan, but has undergone a gradual evolution towards this. The beginning point was in Liberia, when the sacred offering of a lamb for Yom Kippur (I think) accidentally hung itself before being slaughtered. The community interpretted this as a sign and stopped eating red meat. I believe this relates to kosher dietary restrictions which would make the animal unclean if it dies in any way other than the specific slaughtering method given in Torah. I do not know yet the mechanisms by which either vegetarianism or subsequently veganism were reach from here, but they have been vegan since at least the mid-80s. They are also implementing further changes to diet every year such as: three no salt days each week (in fact 3.5 because the soup eaten after Shabbat is salt-free); fasting for 24 hours every Shabbat; no sugar weeks; one no margarine day every week; and raw food days and weeks. These are brought in one at a time at Yom Kippur as part of a gradual restriction and improvement on the inherited American diet.<br /><br />Another similarity with Rastafarianism is in the reclamation of language. Just as Rastafarians reformulate words in order to advance an awareness of certain principles, the Hebrew Israelites do likewise. For the Rastafarians this means writing (and saying) <span style="font-style: italic;">over</span>standing not <span style="font-style: italic;">under</span>standing; <span style="font-style: italic;">down</span>pression not <span style="font-style: italic;">op</span>pression; etc. For the Hebrew Israelites this means saying not <span style="font-style: italic;">diet</span> but <span style="font-style: italic;">live-it</span>, in order to emphasise that the food eaten is source of life and a positive benefit rather than negative restriction on the community's lifestyle. I have heard other examples which for the moment escape me. I will try to record these as I hear them again.Ayinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10120620659286171851noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462752563299701010.post-47703237471557653982009-12-24T02:35:00.000-08:002010-01-04T01:47:40.402-08:00TiberiasI left Tzfat in a case of what the hostel-owners called 'English weather' - actually torrential downpours are unusual in England because we space our rain out over 75% of the year, not just a few isolated days. But I gladly accepted the offer of a lift to the bus station from them. I had arranged to meet a South African-born German woman, who I had met at the Fauzi Azar in Nazareth, and visit the Ancient Galilee Boat Museum. I got drenched walking from the bus stop to the restaurant by the entrance, so had a cup of coffee while I read my biography of rabbi Akiva. Cara arrived and we made a hasty walk to the museum.<br /><br />This museum is in a location named Ginosar, next to the Sea of Galilee. Its main exhibit is a boat found by two kibbutzniks in the Galilee which has been dated to 2,000 years ago. So, roughly from the time of Jesus. The boat was very carefully extracted from the bed of the Sea, and underwent a ten year preservation process in order to protect it from deterioration due to exposure.<br /><br />This is an interesting fact: the 1st century boat was essentially <span style="font-style: italic;">pickled</span> to prevent the new environment destroying it. This pickling is in fact a process of <span style="font-style: italic;">embedding</span> and integrating the boat into its new home, the 20th century (and its atmosphere). Therefore the boat as it exists now is a chimera. It is as much an artifact and demonstration of 20th century technologies, procedures, attitudes and beliefs, as it is of those from the 1st century.<br /><br />As I mulled this over I realised (remembered?) that I and other undergo a very similar process, because it is inescapable in textual or historical studies. There is no such thing as stasis: in reading and talking about religious scriptures, or even modern philosophers, we are reintegrating them into our own present environment, preserving as much <span style="font-style: italic;">our own</span> beliefs as theirs. While the form of the text is preserved, handed down to us by posterity, to rediscover the interpretation is impossible. We can only hope to create a way in which the artifact now makes sense, can be demonstrated as valid/meaningful in the contemporary atmosphere. To interpret is always, in a sense, to destroy for it perspectivises, annihilating other possible aspects or understandings. It creates a mongrel hybrid of the past and present, demonstrating as it does so that the past never existed. Only the past-in-relation-to-the-present, whichever specific present that is. I recall also that the archeaologists at Bet Guvrin all those weeks ago decided to excavate only what they deemed enough; leaving some evidence for the future, giving it the chance of not being corrupted by 20th century techniques and attitudes soon to be supplanted.<br /><br />Here is the boat.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5cUNXW3hyphenhypheniQSRtL3_WZ1Q3s45N7Nl_3vZnzMwbyD3-OhCAodSziv1zqFCGBbFjnuijxGfpYlIvUwnEanUgtCJH2Xlgs7DiYRdMZj-2Myt04L1LkhsvWnzq0OQKP4nYSuos8A4991VA9s/s1600-h/DSC00985.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5cUNXW3hyphenhypheniQSRtL3_WZ1Q3s45N7Nl_3vZnzMwbyD3-OhCAodSziv1zqFCGBbFjnuijxGfpYlIvUwnEanUgtCJH2Xlgs7DiYRdMZj-2Myt04L1LkhsvWnzq0OQKP4nYSuos8A4991VA9s/s400/DSC00985.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418758076093292946" border="0" /></a><br />The rest of the museum, about human history in the Galilee region, is also very interesting. There are plenty of displays, information and films, including some on the recent history of Jewish Israel. Cara and I talked about perceptions of the Palestinian conflict, distortions in the European media and some other issues.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgke8cmrZ1RqulqtLEYxl3xbWY6EJQxNky9QUdTpxP3U2-PiHWco2bAmMWIc-HoytbBjiaZOhpyWuOejwcyrxyTPjuKIpmA2RJGksI0rQ3HEUxZu2YiAHeWVE8ebqNjUtKHnXkdUpY3osY/s1600-h/DSC00987.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgke8cmrZ1RqulqtLEYxl3xbWY6EJQxNky9QUdTpxP3U2-PiHWco2bAmMWIc-HoytbBjiaZOhpyWuOejwcyrxyTPjuKIpmA2RJGksI0rQ3HEUxZu2YiAHeWVE8ebqNjUtKHnXkdUpY3osY/s400/DSC00987.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418758072283540194" border="0" /></a>This is a pre-Common Era Egyptian-style carving in Ivory.<br /><br />We left, it had stopped raining and we went to Tiberias where we drank beer, ate onion soup and talked about dualisms. And astrology.<br /><br />The next day we met by coincidence at the bus station. The only reason I had come to Tiberias was so I could travel to Hula Park Nature Reserve, which I was now doing. Cara decided to join me.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggiq8XVNMN-DGdk7YseLG-qRg2pr5PfZcz9y9mt6CqPGMRCGQp5eVq0rm-dVyRoiBVENvlvBVvw7vGrB7aLXXrEq195cIjCuB3NxnHgLv7uRDmr9mmqvWupj-8JYTTuu_SMoiRQLxJ7gg/s1600-h/DSC00989.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggiq8XVNMN-DGdk7YseLG-qRg2pr5PfZcz9y9mt6CqPGMRCGQp5eVq0rm-dVyRoiBVENvlvBVvw7vGrB7aLXXrEq195cIjCuB3NxnHgLv7uRDmr9mmqvWupj-8JYTTuu_SMoiRQLxJ7gg/s400/DSC00989.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418758068131301586" border="0" /></a>This is quite a wonderful place. When the state of Israel was created, a program of intensive agriculture and development was undertaken, which included drying out of the marshlands in the north. Hula Park is a fraction of the original, preserved by some forward-thinking naturalists in the 60s.<br /><br />Here we saw water buffalo,<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZGNkUiYm-L_x3RwgX6HV4TADoruf1qTK_k7YvepgZQCIi4pXeI7PkA7i8R9ftrA-kqyZ9eUjBZmaJOzNHFsh5hr2_qAdSiG1chQLeDYt-NVShZcItq2AMY2MJDAoO7sIaBLe-Kjmm1Gk/s1600-h/DSC00990.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZGNkUiYm-L_x3RwgX6HV4TADoruf1qTK_k7YvepgZQCIi4pXeI7PkA7i8R9ftrA-kqyZ9eUjBZmaJOzNHFsh5hr2_qAdSiG1chQLeDYt-NVShZcItq2AMY2MJDAoO7sIaBLe-Kjmm1Gk/s400/DSC00990.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418758056637421090" border="0" /></a>Ducks! Alas only mallards, but they still made me very happy.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfEowC22mv4epOdtPwaalBvL7soVLKvWEFt2k4_w4CC2Pu2U1FQEs0g66tZD1fblXeV7COQe6_XBGEn6CmGt6DDnYj2eOj7FAzHY-xiS0IijjBWNV15LVCFtZICIjtTfTRFeQ_Ub2aobY/s1600-h/DSC00991.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfEowC22mv4epOdtPwaalBvL7soVLKvWEFt2k4_w4CC2Pu2U1FQEs0g66tZD1fblXeV7COQe6_XBGEn6CmGt6DDnYj2eOj7FAzHY-xiS0IijjBWNV15LVCFtZICIjtTfTRFeQ_Ub2aobY/s400/DSC00991.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418757407112023586" border="0" /></a>Glossy Ibis<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR9UvWe3PxwTFYQJ3N3c1QEovbp-c1nlZJMy2OmxMN9UubIRHz6o5YRG6YVst7Eh0y-xMaNTK1e4GlQj9TSLApydwJsQvMTtoxPiWiXtuoItJvJFGqlVZLyW6WckHLJQQtExlYtmVlE9E/s1600-h/DSC00992.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR9UvWe3PxwTFYQJ3N3c1QEovbp-c1nlZJMy2OmxMN9UubIRHz6o5YRG6YVst7Eh0y-xMaNTK1e4GlQj9TSLApydwJsQvMTtoxPiWiXtuoItJvJFGqlVZLyW6WckHLJQQtExlYtmVlE9E/s400/DSC00992.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418757400991075346" border="0" /></a>And dozens of Eurasian Coots. More coots than I've ever seen together before. I'd thought they were solo creatures.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBW4S5g2owXDZqg1fv2IuOWwRcug7QH8HMMicUct7g9-YH9poAHnpqJxISSsyVDHe8f4N6mfdW7RH7OxPbUAHA_8u8fjdxaORhUkjYMM5VG1Z9aN_hV1hZysj4GRhN4sLdezZiGCdfXr4/s1600-h/DSC00993.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBW4S5g2owXDZqg1fv2IuOWwRcug7QH8HMMicUct7g9-YH9poAHnpqJxISSsyVDHe8f4N6mfdW7RH7OxPbUAHA_8u8fjdxaORhUkjYMM5VG1Z9aN_hV1hZysj4GRhN4sLdezZiGCdfXr4/s400/DSC00993.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418757392817958210" border="0" /></a>And turtles<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwGfnhMU9GrBEOKdbJ48MT2Lcd7SQUxIIvRaznQCFenBU06S3jP9zEBz0P6mv0Y2LT4tR8R4jjbxgJYh618CJn2tYyFD2fhLWDhWSbJSxuM249YUnceMJAG063jFeytFRP8c_oYrQjqr4/s1600-h/DSC00995.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwGfnhMU9GrBEOKdbJ48MT2Lcd7SQUxIIvRaznQCFenBU06S3jP9zEBz0P6mv0Y2LT4tR8R4jjbxgJYh618CJn2tYyFD2fhLWDhWSbJSxuM249YUnceMJAG063jFeytFRP8c_oYrQjqr4/s400/DSC00995.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418757387076365010" border="0" /></a>And these archaic-looking Catfish, who are 2-3 feet long and have several tentacle-like facial protrusions.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuubsgy7PPWogDcm4rBXnkwCljXclMJ7SP8KFpZeMMOAc6wIltwjTHxqoqfteVghNoEpYNp_LFCQ5Cbn4KEfGdXwd979whrDdvIQBlI6CFMlMrpxy3EPwtU_9UFeotPhg_8xjkaqzn2XU/s1600-h/DSC00996.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuubsgy7PPWogDcm4rBXnkwCljXclMJ7SP8KFpZeMMOAc6wIltwjTHxqoqfteVghNoEpYNp_LFCQ5Cbn4KEfGdXwd979whrDdvIQBlI6CFMlMrpxy3EPwtU_9UFeotPhg_8xjkaqzn2XU/s400/DSC00996.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418757383518185890" border="0" /></a>So, this was cool. She went on to, er somewhere else while I went back to Tiberias.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQnfsSNTdcJt9wIdxO8vcCHJBOHYSgxdc8fJ85AvP84JkKCo7z5B1Z-ede3JhA1pBr-fXG_GBeRztx8Bm09LdedJqXW1r-ED7XKsx_VTL5IDEWB4H4JK9yP3rJka_8t71LAg0IBrPXSlQ/s1600-h/DSC00998.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQnfsSNTdcJt9wIdxO8vcCHJBOHYSgxdc8fJ85AvP84JkKCo7z5B1Z-ede3JhA1pBr-fXG_GBeRztx8Bm09LdedJqXW1r-ED7XKsx_VTL5IDEWB4H4JK9yP3rJka_8t71LAg0IBrPXSlQ/s400/DSC00998.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418756632649551650" border="0" /></a>...and visited the tomb of Moses Maimonides. I liked this place. It wasn't very well looked after but I think that added to the charm.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijiCRIdt-P7YUCskxzH9a0G3b_Mj05O-LbhYhHyxggBk3AP-mwb-RuL6GISBmZGi_4Iwsw-R0P1BMvyTTPj9apzErEgLgZO4JtfyMAJqrGbc6lT_oGOgeNWJjWC_wSs_N-Mn9BXrCng6w/s1600-h/DSC00999.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijiCRIdt-P7YUCskxzH9a0G3b_Mj05O-LbhYhHyxggBk3AP-mwb-RuL6GISBmZGi_4Iwsw-R0P1BMvyTTPj9apzErEgLgZO4JtfyMAJqrGbc6lT_oGOgeNWJjWC_wSs_N-Mn9BXrCng6w/s400/DSC00999.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418756624385768866" border="0" /></a>Then I went back to my hostel where I met a scouser called Tom. He invited me to join his tour around the region tomorrow - I said I'd think about it. A couple of hours later I bumped into him enjoying the Goldstar (one of Israel's 3 native beers) at Big Ben, the pub Cara and I had visited last night. We proceeded to get hammered and I decided I would join him tomorrow after all.<br /><br />I'm glad I did. We were driven around the Galilee region by an elderly gent who chainsmoked and drank coffee gthe whole time. He knew his stuff though, and didn't impose himself upon our hangovers too much. First we went to a church and monastery. I don't remember the name but it was quite cool, including these little birds who fluttered constantly around the building.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaSoKXHK91hqjm51qZRnzygQsBeeMgRYZZVx_ZxB8-6cIfZoG3ta7lBm5R_Y8vpeszQeSp2mU-V77QI1OoZ4KVS9Dj6RB_HD1x9cFDUouLoWR1EJ1dvsonNJAa5jGC1UkUtQdTXykT3aE/s1600-h/DSC01001.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaSoKXHK91hqjm51qZRnzygQsBeeMgRYZZVx_ZxB8-6cIfZoG3ta7lBm5R_Y8vpeszQeSp2mU-V77QI1OoZ4KVS9Dj6RB_HD1x9cFDUouLoWR1EJ1dvsonNJAa5jGC1UkUtQdTXykT3aE/s400/DSC01001.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418756618013776578" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEileyOHhxV6T4ELCQ5QDLkWNiMrnfWcsUWZzeGp3Hm1_2GkiwvhdF2d8MH38VUBYg7vOTPKPFszvMf_MbsfJ6prBDFO6cAM9oJyT1euNLBzNfgiKG9q2bGiLWWcqZEyH2nqBdn6luXIqLY/s1600-h/DSC01004.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEileyOHhxV6T4ELCQ5QDLkWNiMrnfWcsUWZzeGp3Hm1_2GkiwvhdF2d8MH38VUBYg7vOTPKPFszvMf_MbsfJ6prBDFO6cAM9oJyT1euNLBzNfgiKG9q2bGiLWWcqZEyH2nqBdn6luXIqLY/s400/DSC01004.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418756607251118146" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfQjXLNS2dqI2RQLUig8vrxwYUBb8vZiwSB50PW3nznyrYElJZLiMlvbdmuCW0AWYH2PGZPNUaCbW_gDYqDza9eVn-IXk0cy-diclhHH_yhEO9biH52exuEg_Hs9kubcfouvYsQYwu-E8/s1600-h/DSC01005.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfQjXLNS2dqI2RQLUig8vrxwYUBb8vZiwSB50PW3nznyrYElJZLiMlvbdmuCW0AWYH2PGZPNUaCbW_gDYqDza9eVn-IXk0cy-diclhHH_yhEO9biH52exuEg_Hs9kubcfouvYsQYwu-E8/s400/DSC01005.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418756599838461666" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJDLq7GIMGHQo8JLYSm9z7EuGEXLSD9crftf0jriHVJIZQXcEeQH9Dz76-Hn7kiFJ1NfdvQ_XwcGwyQQzL0Ku6tS-kSSwD3yAk3ndIhKb-7IXPSTh-e5tPjnNYuOD8u6Ajp8W3eHIcz3M/s1600-h/DSC01007.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJDLq7GIMGHQo8JLYSm9z7EuGEXLSD9crftf0jriHVJIZQXcEeQH9Dz76-Hn7kiFJ1NfdvQ_XwcGwyQQzL0Ku6tS-kSSwD3yAk3ndIhKb-7IXPSTh-e5tPjnNYuOD8u6Ajp8W3eHIcz3M/s400/DSC01007.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418756036073551986" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCMc57jtTOYnGSQMhY0sqxxFFPc4nWFEZm-PLM6xzj69MwUZbNHrPSwN35TIhRhxAMcj5fF7PKvav-Y3BJP0CsyjvXdi7B1voEZm2-4Yn9C65QqRCImw4rGGYpVN7IDydUlYV4QApEv-w/s1600-h/DSC01008.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCMc57jtTOYnGSQMhY0sqxxFFPc4nWFEZm-PLM6xzj69MwUZbNHrPSwN35TIhRhxAMcj5fF7PKvav-Y3BJP0CsyjvXdi7B1voEZm2-4Yn9C65QqRCImw4rGGYpVN7IDydUlYV4QApEv-w/s400/DSC01008.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418756029675354386" border="0" /></a>Actually now I think about it, this church preserves the stone which Jesus did something on. It's in the second from last picture. What was it? Perhaps it was the feeding of the five thousand. This is the stone where he multiplied his loaves and fishes. That may be it.<br /><br />Then we went to Capernaum. I can't remember why this is important either (hey, I was hungover). It was cool though.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgR4UF5lZBGnsU0t6A_tT22ZUX6S_U3m609qlf-dhVxLPl6I_FMdR-j1E5EjiNnODGgEYxI8CbtvfrpRr6613boTXJ4Bs6w5-qmPM27wxtNLuNlPlitUjgJ8EL3NBTj4nOGdmrz6lNth8/s1600-h/DSC01009.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgR4UF5lZBGnsU0t6A_tT22ZUX6S_U3m609qlf-dhVxLPl6I_FMdR-j1E5EjiNnODGgEYxI8CbtvfrpRr6613boTXJ4Bs6w5-qmPM27wxtNLuNlPlitUjgJ8EL3NBTj4nOGdmrz6lNth8/s400/DSC01009.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418756026923554738" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipHqMDD4rNMATGBWffyujXvUVT-ERzwnZVBycARTmZdG_aAgfQs_2nZqIYviPeSy_MZie3Rs2Zc1Xgu046VL8b-zmHA87u9qMn06bBTEEHDuLBGSDFfWd3Q_kNBiFQcKnltGLWK93eJRY/s1600-h/DSC01010.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipHqMDD4rNMATGBWffyujXvUVT-ERzwnZVBycARTmZdG_aAgfQs_2nZqIYviPeSy_MZie3Rs2Zc1Xgu046VL8b-zmHA87u9qMn06bBTEEHDuLBGSDFfWd3Q_kNBiFQcKnltGLWK93eJRY/s400/DSC01010.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418756021639879378" border="0" /></a><br />I met this kitten who was tiny but had the hugest of miaows.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQtNHYIJsjoJLc1rP8UAIyT1ueNyphX1q5lxy3Xu-9JJhg4vkiWnZooT3rNETjhHw7Rjjqzz2yUp2bCw0vCr28tULiR-38nP260QT3WUanqh3ssLLU5itjAVLh_J5FwKeHg34LvPjYJBo/s1600-h/DSC01011.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQtNHYIJsjoJLc1rP8UAIyT1ueNyphX1q5lxy3Xu-9JJhg4vkiWnZooT3rNETjhHw7Rjjqzz2yUp2bCw0vCr28tULiR-38nP260QT3WUanqh3ssLLU5itjAVLh_J5FwKeHg34LvPjYJBo/s400/DSC01011.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418756015737149506" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjggj_ft4E3uggiA9ZVy8D8_ONN-50DlCPQrkqfbzsilVXLZcdQPvg56jY9K4gQYHztSEpZAHEyUw4I5VZ_WexgSQmLliz0KCkRBMGVnDcOW_kaDLcvZxkogrhLcRmy4Bofv_p3d6Sq3F0/s1600-h/DSC01012.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjggj_ft4E3uggiA9ZVy8D8_ONN-50DlCPQrkqfbzsilVXLZcdQPvg56jY9K4gQYHztSEpZAHEyUw4I5VZ_WexgSQmLliz0KCkRBMGVnDcOW_kaDLcvZxkogrhLcRmy4Bofv_p3d6Sq3F0/s400/DSC01012.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418755557524408722" border="0" /></a>She joined us while we walked around.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk1B0TWce70ElPeamdi85NHLtYinC88-XlXtQYLu0nePQXCGz3LHmim_9aI2iyutCai6nRe628SRNfFEflfv3e94au9H1mcIkSMDmRhIQMn7P5BBPHOAmx2ozexuCyvLP7jVonHtTf33E/s1600-h/DSC01013.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk1B0TWce70ElPeamdi85NHLtYinC88-XlXtQYLu0nePQXCGz3LHmim_9aI2iyutCai6nRe628SRNfFEflfv3e94au9H1mcIkSMDmRhIQMn7P5BBPHOAmx2ozexuCyvLP7jVonHtTf33E/s400/DSC01013.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418755554100047522" border="0" /></a>This is the ruin of an ancient synagogue.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisMcuIi02EnFuuPqjkhXleDzRZ8ekpm-8PUI5ne82rXryjP0_MCuhGwwp32qBPFBkSXavyc67hX0VrGzwkHGAg_MtPitacfWAbyEatsBLOssVytmVkzaXXDOl0gVyjoirDsYFlCYtx2cg/s1600-h/DSC01014.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisMcuIi02EnFuuPqjkhXleDzRZ8ekpm-8PUI5ne82rXryjP0_MCuhGwwp32qBPFBkSXavyc67hX0VrGzwkHGAg_MtPitacfWAbyEatsBLOssVytmVkzaXXDOl0gVyjoirDsYFlCYtx2cg/s400/DSC01014.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418755551454910594" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUCk3TNazWa6exBhD8088D8EfqoyCJuSz6nxaJGeM8WFL2JtusFixtMaibteD-tFPqROKrg8gm5xW5kXHcCYqryHd0oSNAgJVoB0ckxj6egQNi0j8IclXD2LTtjTitVH8n2-7iSZ-ktpM/s1600-h/DSC01016.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUCk3TNazWa6exBhD8088D8EfqoyCJuSz6nxaJGeM8WFL2JtusFixtMaibteD-tFPqROKrg8gm5xW5kXHcCYqryHd0oSNAgJVoB0ckxj6egQNi0j8IclXD2LTtjTitVH8n2-7iSZ-ktpM/s400/DSC01016.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418755544485029010" border="0" /></a>I found this stone quite unusual. It was oddly shaped but balanced very well on the top of the wall.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMsS1MiDww5eMynnShFIelaiFF__LIh1kKzzO3Me0lk7cv96aN3_JfokLzQNcmhYoVmRxEKWg_3_O4ugVJShqQi-VqKXttW8jvkrN5oL3ljDIkB9qBTKCqpuljEzWrPf-RHEX9BnJ6vCQ/s1600-h/DSC01017.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMsS1MiDww5eMynnShFIelaiFF__LIh1kKzzO3Me0lk7cv96aN3_JfokLzQNcmhYoVmRxEKWg_3_O4ugVJShqQi-VqKXttW8jvkrN5oL3ljDIkB9qBTKCqpuljEzWrPf-RHEX9BnJ6vCQ/s400/DSC01017.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418755536180157778" border="0" /></a>(You need to click these pictures)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9UgswDzeGwWBk6P-Z0knLeYCUhzmk2vAKvUTiCvVsI4iMLqF9kiU-i_epDBpc9ydwQgatgfSrMF57gaLteOl3qim39_Aq4c70bpSM9oc2rfA1HdtssUpVuofJSQhSpsCD3xGpHkcfV8o/s1600-h/DSC01019.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9UgswDzeGwWBk6P-Z0knLeYCUhzmk2vAKvUTiCvVsI4iMLqF9kiU-i_epDBpc9ydwQgatgfSrMF57gaLteOl3qim39_Aq4c70bpSM9oc2rfA1HdtssUpVuofJSQhSpsCD3xGpHkcfV8o/s400/DSC01019.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418755032717394514" border="0" /></a>Then it turned and looked at me! I couldn't tell what it was, the only animal I could align it with was a wombat.<br /><br />Inside the church at Capernaum.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlCznCRq_40pR2eKaghnYHOMAyaMo2KgGm5TX4bxGjf-K7TP38XcZ_IIApKD9OzbSnnPdNgCgZPRm1J6OfBvgfV16BKz0afJrSa2T-LmVciEG1A9W6INFeOQm_bItTB9zStKEFxhRdsJ0/s1600-h/DSC01021.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlCznCRq_40pR2eKaghnYHOMAyaMo2KgGm5TX4bxGjf-K7TP38XcZ_IIApKD9OzbSnnPdNgCgZPRm1J6OfBvgfV16BKz0afJrSa2T-LmVciEG1A9W6INFeOQm_bItTB9zStKEFxhRdsJ0/s400/DSC01021.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418755030777441522" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6fGERLMTLqmMSZfa4EbvH17lpAFgt84kyernV2nDpUkFyk0rWyiyWMo1KKtHVBfCaN2LPhcp5eH94v23OKHfkJiAQ9bpMATU5s75RLOOOQ_YrplTyU2BX42F9ofWbVnDHFIM2ARoDw-s/s1600-h/DSC01022.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6fGERLMTLqmMSZfa4EbvH17lpAFgt84kyernV2nDpUkFyk0rWyiyWMo1KKtHVBfCaN2LPhcp5eH94v23OKHfkJiAQ9bpMATU5s75RLOOOQ_YrplTyU2BX42F9ofWbVnDHFIM2ARoDw-s/s400/DSC01022.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418755024260386706" border="0" /></a>This is the rudest plant I've ever seen.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBTc1Q3U2tCphPUaGIw8hcdjEnAZqxD0TFhtLiBTsVyevgWOgZ1X2ymdDaxxO9wHTW_XyGsUPLPZiRucKgE9uI-2ynKSUALvb95NYz2X_VRQHxlnW0eyuUy-WBTUNvCxkBBYKoqxORofc/s1600-h/DSC01023.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBTc1Q3U2tCphPUaGIw8hcdjEnAZqxD0TFhtLiBTsVyevgWOgZ1X2ymdDaxxO9wHTW_XyGsUPLPZiRucKgE9uI-2ynKSUALvb95NYz2X_VRQHxlnW0eyuUy-WBTUNvCxkBBYKoqxORofc/s400/DSC01023.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418755023114401154" border="0" /></a>The church is built on stilts and with a glass floor.<br /><br />We found some more wombat-things and I examined them with my binoculars. They appeared to be herbivorous, and quite ungainly. They have the oddest little faces. My binoculars were coming in very useful over these few days for examining wildlife.<br /><br />We tried to see the Syrian border.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghQCiS8aBpPS8z5m1rYVDlmlcjA2lxSvXgaySehAwsfNoX0YN1-JFZt8DjytFEvFTyYVFM2qvrV9HaOnqRlPq18JNZ9NU6_2MJeHD5piIoMaY2uDbMiJiAZUcHl95t0dkikvCd_K5uk9A/s1600-h/DSC01024.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghQCiS8aBpPS8z5m1rYVDlmlcjA2lxSvXgaySehAwsfNoX0YN1-JFZt8DjytFEvFTyYVFM2qvrV9HaOnqRlPq18JNZ9NU6_2MJeHD5piIoMaY2uDbMiJiAZUcHl95t0dkikvCd_K5uk9A/s400/DSC01024.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418755015571637138" border="0" /></a>And then we stopped for lunch.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFt5pZIjoxtuahfke29YwzXmzNiPIMaeVbWBZX6WbN6Ma5P-4FT9XQTS98GJQsCCcPZUN3k_VjkDwgh5LEftMgIM_p7siwH_MVk9TcrPJOP4Y-TXwu3sDEwoDc53eh7RXZAT5nf_iT5cw/s1600-h/DSC01025.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFt5pZIjoxtuahfke29YwzXmzNiPIMaeVbWBZX6WbN6Ma5P-4FT9XQTS98GJQsCCcPZUN3k_VjkDwgh5LEftMgIM_p7siwH_MVk9TcrPJOP4Y-TXwu3sDEwoDc53eh7RXZAT5nf_iT5cw/s400/DSC01025.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418754484764346898" border="0" /></a>I'm really enjoying the Arabic coffe-with-cardamum.<br /><br />Then we went to Nimrod's Castle. This castle was actually built in the 13th century by the Muslim rulers, before changing hands several times including Mamluks.<br /><br />The castle is huge and has some amazing views, as well as more wombats.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_WfGxp9PaaBJzusqGp-3hIxpuF3ydQZ0uoibaLoeOQmSUVqJvu1m-_sHE1jZkOPymWOF1mLcbYKfnqtm0m8Phv2kIJNc2nXsW4ns0_qITmbzg1rABCC4JLOvwq2QlvkSzuEW-l6sfCf0/s1600-h/DSC01026.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_WfGxp9PaaBJzusqGp-3hIxpuF3ydQZ0uoibaLoeOQmSUVqJvu1m-_sHE1jZkOPymWOF1mLcbYKfnqtm0m8Phv2kIJNc2nXsW4ns0_qITmbzg1rABCC4JLOvwq2QlvkSzuEW-l6sfCf0/s400/DSC01026.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418754479075508754" border="0" /></a>Okay, they're not actually wombats. We found out later they are hyraxes. The name doesn't seem to fit - a hyrax should be much more sleek or feline, and less like an overfed rabbit with a silly face. They should really have saved the name wombat for these things.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnnnCNphnO_vLUQ8qImz5EvuoWW8wI-cCvm975Ru3o4-4xmJTEZaORZRvAWcRtgLUjFrb7_3WdIABOHhIELACzVTmINEtej49ZTp_3i9mZxJb7guOtABwjUdeTn5gwAYHxlaTNftVmHuM/s1600-h/DSC01027.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnnnCNphnO_vLUQ8qImz5EvuoWW8wI-cCvm975Ru3o4-4xmJTEZaORZRvAWcRtgLUjFrb7_3WdIABOHhIELACzVTmINEtej49ZTp_3i9mZxJb7guOtABwjUdeTn5gwAYHxlaTNftVmHuM/s400/DSC01027.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418754476332600562" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQF3VJ26hCg20EoR3PemrNe-BMi47CObvJt8e-lLZXfp5GMep498FOjW9BIEln7rCr-UUpR2lf5tRW8eASxrF_0XZT0MLqb116s8KIEFCuhykPhzqV2XmkPnjuV0fceJiIFQ3DY1pqfkM/s1600-h/DSC01028.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQF3VJ26hCg20EoR3PemrNe-BMi47CObvJt8e-lLZXfp5GMep498FOjW9BIEln7rCr-UUpR2lf5tRW8eASxrF_0XZT0MLqb116s8KIEFCuhykPhzqV2XmkPnjuV0fceJiIFQ3DY1pqfkM/s400/DSC01028.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418754463052136674" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJbKdJujQQxqyeMZrGOsoK8tT50P8vVNlOOx0CH64kH4wzc_p_txVxIWGTr5Jvxdtti93SPyvd_TnKKoKbPIJ9hFCx1bqyI0sR5AuRoCuA5Gtn7TQIpjE7bZ7_uH9gLSpbwFh-XMXsDXE/s1600-h/DSC01030.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJbKdJujQQxqyeMZrGOsoK8tT50P8vVNlOOx0CH64kH4wzc_p_txVxIWGTr5Jvxdtti93SPyvd_TnKKoKbPIJ9hFCx1bqyI0sR5AuRoCuA5Gtn7TQIpjE7bZ7_uH9gLSpbwFh-XMXsDXE/s400/DSC01030.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418754459193032386" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQpwfX7v-8WtBgVBTWSuzh3T_6zvFqQxjPF4UBYOWdOFDbCMl_ezmLHuWyKtuNF2ATpOFj6G9r1ixBZ8ef7EPfIjCDMAcXKcKRXqwi3D4G7YckK2dmMGbBQLNOoaaImeXVAmWS8aMnA-E/s1600-h/DSC01031.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQpwfX7v-8WtBgVBTWSuzh3T_6zvFqQxjPF4UBYOWdOFDbCMl_ezmLHuWyKtuNF2ATpOFj6G9r1ixBZ8ef7EPfIjCDMAcXKcKRXqwi3D4G7YckK2dmMGbBQLNOoaaImeXVAmWS8aMnA-E/s400/DSC01031.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418753129255669250" border="0" /></a>Another hyrax. You need to click this picture.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9lIdg1-GRTwBnxRYwBGqDUqScltgMTTnMaps_0ZON4Xz7-9nPWo2SQzn4yjQ2kotGPHmQptIsdKnaTEJkm5i4Zqe51g2qL4x89VdVOWYJF-N8O7M0vHjF7Yg5rkEqRCPcxbh8jaOWXts/s1600-h/DSC01032.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9lIdg1-GRTwBnxRYwBGqDUqScltgMTTnMaps_0ZON4Xz7-9nPWo2SQzn4yjQ2kotGPHmQptIsdKnaTEJkm5i4Zqe51g2qL4x89VdVOWYJF-N8O7M0vHjF7Yg5rkEqRCPcxbh8jaOWXts/s400/DSC01032.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418753121547297346" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxqAt3CI-i9WB5KtuvZdUlA61BvpjryS9n-XtAo4nPwCAAiOMC7k-xyQPGX0Avpj9lKMhzTm5wJspbGb7em8oRk8FPINrEMmxH9AhDc-_XBvgqEB51eb4sHT8RGKBa2stk-CCZ8VQNGQE/s1600-h/DSC01033.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxqAt3CI-i9WB5KtuvZdUlA61BvpjryS9n-XtAo4nPwCAAiOMC7k-xyQPGX0Avpj9lKMhzTm5wJspbGb7em8oRk8FPINrEMmxH9AhDc-_XBvgqEB51eb4sHT8RGKBa2stk-CCZ8VQNGQE/s400/DSC01033.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418753113540249842" border="0" /></a>The well of the castle.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLLwd5ORza8VlLiKYLzZ12NKue3DkjYeUIZ8fBq9xum6RSZSN9AHhhsaPm39GvC5OmJxHEP-cNSjjOg_n1QhbRf_kwydAMa41FztZDqN3UsqImjaSpOT5Q6QPjHy4y3aZoOWIUtTqbgWg/s1600-h/DSC01034.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLLwd5ORza8VlLiKYLzZ12NKue3DkjYeUIZ8fBq9xum6RSZSN9AHhhsaPm39GvC5OmJxHEP-cNSjjOg_n1QhbRf_kwydAMa41FztZDqN3UsqImjaSpOT5Q6QPjHy4y3aZoOWIUtTqbgWg/s400/DSC01034.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418753110152317874" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmnVs2TfgikZ1aBsqdKjbmppKtSHBN9yxjJT4R1Hl-8D0F4vH9u-48uQHk6jBQ0y6TiTOYLFL5xeEFMRwAQeHP7EppUdJnDvurDSgrFphDRaNvQ1vrybjnV75H-ZDCCGhAU_t1doP0GbI/s1600-h/DSC01035.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmnVs2TfgikZ1aBsqdKjbmppKtSHBN9yxjJT4R1Hl-8D0F4vH9u-48uQHk6jBQ0y6TiTOYLFL5xeEFMRwAQeHP7EppUdJnDvurDSgrFphDRaNvQ1vrybjnV75H-ZDCCGhAU_t1doP0GbI/s400/DSC01035.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418753105242941538" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3fSA7dgibAcNpM-tDsHUdd2gVtEQc_bd_a6TDTa_66OF9m61vlGI_UTWR2kY1vcY18bcBA-ys1EFRKv__cDgLQhcBDcuFit_8Vj2B08IvSx9u8G55EX8hHkKP0Wd83Y1f6He5E3M12nk/s1600-h/DSC01036.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3fSA7dgibAcNpM-tDsHUdd2gVtEQc_bd_a6TDTa_66OF9m61vlGI_UTWR2kY1vcY18bcBA-ys1EFRKv__cDgLQhcBDcuFit_8Vj2B08IvSx9u8G55EX8hHkKP0Wd83Y1f6He5E3M12nk/s400/DSC01036.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418752161089161890" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhayjH4Al3Tj5H80oKE3hTlFOI-Ry4OTnvDvp6s0paHQ6b7Lsa2P_9XD5x7ENWU7AE23X-r7KnSiBO71utpfywBr8RGB2cKrD2GJcTNel6jPQ7oFxyEkb1weYLtFWRP-qYhXG_Xbouu1po/s1600-h/DSC01037.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhayjH4Al3Tj5H80oKE3hTlFOI-Ry4OTnvDvp6s0paHQ6b7Lsa2P_9XD5x7ENWU7AE23X-r7KnSiBO71utpfywBr8RGB2cKrD2GJcTNel6jPQ7oFxyEkb1weYLtFWRP-qYhXG_Xbouu1po/s400/DSC01037.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418752157810791778" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr5BF7CR5l3GItyG-JPHDX0XcFJb9u-TNojw_7hIhAGnLqd3eT93eK4juBngPYs0TiYzF4c8OIjY5TArQc7gr3lMllekOMuxOL3EIcYxdD93xvWJqypjtHCAhuLa4nYi0sTHwA-Kx98Qs/s1600-h/DSC01039.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr5BF7CR5l3GItyG-JPHDX0XcFJb9u-TNojw_7hIhAGnLqd3eT93eK4juBngPYs0TiYzF4c8OIjY5TArQc7gr3lMllekOMuxOL3EIcYxdD93xvWJqypjtHCAhuLa4nYi0sTHwA-Kx98Qs/s400/DSC01039.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418752153002379250" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPB1nuFa1wqimEMwLtaPFrfJ3GFoXyEB-iC7TbE2-y5Ooik5eBL4429Fyd5wPzUIt1m8-UfkZ6UEzSCEEAOCCzhaAJ74blsJZlbzG0VjBUkortz3ejOnEBS-0lUeLjterVpYssKg97OxE/s1600-h/DSC01040.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPB1nuFa1wqimEMwLtaPFrfJ3GFoXyEB-iC7TbE2-y5Ooik5eBL4429Fyd5wPzUIt1m8-UfkZ6UEzSCEEAOCCzhaAJ74blsJZlbzG0VjBUkortz3ejOnEBS-0lUeLjterVpYssKg97OxE/s400/DSC01040.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418752148405427442" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhntPWq3jnIz6HloMrzKwu-2mpASArBo1KdfNf_PpNqlByMdxzsoLYIgRPs6wAtkb-UzTftISPuFX8DZs3fkSoROzLwImbFXi-lJPpSpGz1rPBzFM4prmUpaJz4hX0U5vKLpwa4hjqxM9c/s1600-h/DSC01041.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhntPWq3jnIz6HloMrzKwu-2mpASArBo1KdfNf_PpNqlByMdxzsoLYIgRPs6wAtkb-UzTftISPuFX8DZs3fkSoROzLwImbFXi-lJPpSpGz1rPBzFM4prmUpaJz4hX0U5vKLpwa4hjqxM9c/s400/DSC01041.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418752143786264514" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_WBKxJlbKa48s7JZWIdF7pHCwVfiI1d_sOSvdbhH7Og5-3WIN0ZhGq3WXhW1wvljUcNyAsJrRghrqWn1FsTUtQUAG6S_So6fa34WHM61HqjBfRnXe2fVcGM1cVg8Bzo9uxCcSaxQECOI/s1600-h/DSC01042.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_WBKxJlbKa48s7JZWIdF7pHCwVfiI1d_sOSvdbhH7Og5-3WIN0ZhGq3WXhW1wvljUcNyAsJrRghrqWn1FsTUtQUAG6S_So6fa34WHM61HqjBfRnXe2fVcGM1cVg8Bzo9uxCcSaxQECOI/s400/DSC01042.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418751531685452162" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjra_umqKvPKmsXhIJIFXR6J3Y5bIxZwDHpIxxzwk_TyalNg9o78OZwxsjeMgcbr4sqAa2E7Q-gLkGruMsI3SSR8ek1hhAroF83UqEdDYINsoGlE8QlgDDITnIgmA2HX5hGMop825dy8m0/s1600-h/DSC01043.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjra_umqKvPKmsXhIJIFXR6J3Y5bIxZwDHpIxxzwk_TyalNg9o78OZwxsjeMgcbr4sqAa2E7Q-gLkGruMsI3SSR8ek1hhAroF83UqEdDYINsoGlE8QlgDDITnIgmA2HX5hGMop825dy8m0/s400/DSC01043.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418751522988076882" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS6LdUFqoUNoxGXcKuXEYrpl6YXiqJFN_UHo5xxw10obfRbMODklLeimO9uBcIQyMfIet4it5IfiEM-SR38dXECR1NCWAIkNVyIq8LUblO98_C6Pb7iSl_VZAAJYHSV2S4PgsYrggDO7k/s1600-h/DSC01044.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS6LdUFqoUNoxGXcKuXEYrpl6YXiqJFN_UHo5xxw10obfRbMODklLeimO9uBcIQyMfIet4it5IfiEM-SR38dXECR1NCWAIkNVyIq8LUblO98_C6Pb7iSl_VZAAJYHSV2S4PgsYrggDO7k/s400/DSC01044.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418751519086712274" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmWknZ2H1I5BhfStuHSHuts3RrhWQ2yaMzEbwa2pVBiZmtgYMYQf4z1aUFv-Ah-E1WonR8ZsfFJ7fSdq76rbPk1o8g1Ul981VoDhcGXdkZPDAjIPs9O1rM2rFlLskNMNDLj-4Ns0B669M/s1600-h/DSC01045.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmWknZ2H1I5BhfStuHSHuts3RrhWQ2yaMzEbwa2pVBiZmtgYMYQf4z1aUFv-Ah-E1WonR8ZsfFJ7fSdq76rbPk1o8g1Ul981VoDhcGXdkZPDAjIPs9O1rM2rFlLskNMNDLj-4Ns0B669M/s400/DSC01045.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418751510499835794" border="0" /></a>Really liked Nimrod's castle. Was very glad I'd joined this trip.<br /><br />Next we went to Banias.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF5zWe4KXLr9RPBtCZnj2PPEh6jV7HLLtlajMP22kO0gd1TDS6cZneYWABOh7v6h2CWgMTQz8A1OtOPvE2T-8-irLMAq2pM5C6-Pejfb80m0MZQ6fCFwPtjCmk8sOcsncgqE5jaPfEG0I/s1600-h/DSC01046.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF5zWe4KXLr9RPBtCZnj2PPEh6jV7HLLtlajMP22kO0gd1TDS6cZneYWABOh7v6h2CWgMTQz8A1OtOPvE2T-8-irLMAq2pM5C6-Pejfb80m0MZQ6fCFwPtjCmk8sOcsncgqE5jaPfEG0I/s400/DSC01046.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418751505928237954" border="0" /></a>This is Pan's den. The area is an old pagan site, it's name deriving from Pan-ias.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAWHiS5DMyYi2GK_j8HRGIbRb86JT67sDAFxjN8hpR1mT8S6zqMT88rQgj5DjDyWsrQ-acAMJlw6cN8BGhhOqPC3opmmEDlx8Lb0l_KWtzaw736ssNSoKWsjJyAN659gNjzWr6H9QIN4g/s1600-h/DSC01047.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAWHiS5DMyYi2GK_j8HRGIbRb86JT67sDAFxjN8hpR1mT8S6zqMT88rQgj5DjDyWsrQ-acAMJlw6cN8BGhhOqPC3opmmEDlx8Lb0l_KWtzaw736ssNSoKWsjJyAN659gNjzWr6H9QIN4g/s400/DSC01047.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418750715235854242" border="0" /></a><br />Then we went to see the waterfall.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyBMjZifhyphenhyphen7Mr4z85TeF6NC9Mu9TSKJeECwYcZQgAkCAGCqtUkPJgXq9AaGE_gECTPB0BPoJbXMm4xGk8mahpH0qkSc8HB29ikYHdKPqk3wJo_IVYjrm_XaINDtlMXPKK34zUlWN6k0g/s1600-h/DSC01048.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyBMjZifhyphenhyphen7Mr4z85TeF6NC9Mu9TSKJeECwYcZQgAkCAGCqtUkPJgXq9AaGE_gECTPB0BPoJbXMm4xGk8mahpH0qkSc8HB29ikYHdKPqk3wJo_IVYjrm_XaINDtlMXPKK34zUlWN6k0g/s400/DSC01048.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418750708991478226" border="0" /></a>I don't know what this jeep means.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNY7GCv67WhIrhbHaQ6LjvanBE7bV1iSMp8hw70sDeGdEjsOX3s9MqpWXjKl9Zs8Gb7_OTFh3fqbhGqxzc7d0yapg75LTdX-JnGXWlDOE5zgOf_gjcqrL2OgJwvub7RVlIaU-1ePpU27g/s1600-h/DSC01049.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNY7GCv67WhIrhbHaQ6LjvanBE7bV1iSMp8hw70sDeGdEjsOX3s9MqpWXjKl9Zs8Gb7_OTFh3fqbhGqxzc7d0yapg75LTdX-JnGXWlDOE5zgOf_gjcqrL2OgJwvub7RVlIaU-1ePpU27g/s400/DSC01049.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418750706729491522" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7S6_bvuNCBSlS6sjSal4vJSubVvIDqxyN-Vqd89J2iISDMEQJHUmIwFK7A_STbAChatx_vlYbbqZlKGYkJz9QMfcP2N2LRqIrTuSLtQsy9KPiZa-wn6OLbgH-dPsvmpzKz7l3PnZHPAM/s1600-h/DSC01050.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7S6_bvuNCBSlS6sjSal4vJSubVvIDqxyN-Vqd89J2iISDMEQJHUmIwFK7A_STbAChatx_vlYbbqZlKGYkJz9QMfcP2N2LRqIrTuSLtQsy9KPiZa-wn6OLbgH-dPsvmpzKz7l3PnZHPAM/s400/DSC01050.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418750697476984466" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE2OOU2Hb33bUiiQ86hhu13VKxPMHROJzMSM2C35zinwRMTO_K_W4FAfnxQY8LyIRTX5A8yKIl8tFdWSaXlfQm4JoOPw9EpgDzRJaYYmyTSE9J6LKHdKjR9PutjfN30VrQoiaqdFT5jPc/s1600-h/DSC01051.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE2OOU2Hb33bUiiQ86hhu13VKxPMHROJzMSM2C35zinwRMTO_K_W4FAfnxQY8LyIRTX5A8yKIl8tFdWSaXlfQm4JoOPw9EpgDzRJaYYmyTSE9J6LKHdKjR9PutjfN30VrQoiaqdFT5jPc/s400/DSC01051.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418750690906943890" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMZCLTyKQrJDNsZP4rtEK8wXBSEl0nJLOY6o6gQ9hJsHn2V63WzpOOLf4t84og5OOlVOTPeDh4JTlmYZs_0tg2CqZUK3t5x6fmqEh3kiZUgfk98Fii4mDNyOd_XYUagwZS0gx5k4DmYV0/s1600-h/DSC01052.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMZCLTyKQrJDNsZP4rtEK8wXBSEl0nJLOY6o6gQ9hJsHn2V63WzpOOLf4t84og5OOlVOTPeDh4JTlmYZs_0tg2CqZUK3t5x6fmqEh3kiZUgfk98Fii4mDNyOd_XYUagwZS0gx5k4DmYV0/s400/DSC01052.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418750160151342978" border="0" /></a>The water is ferocious. I couldn't go any further without being soaked by the spray.<br /><br />Finally we went to the place where Jesus did the sermon on the mount.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT1RBo1Y7FtdXrI6jn3FfdB5GryitEwTqoB1yepA57SlLHb8v46FqLaTNQvyuEGWGOBxZ890KpFFko7KTT8nB5BquX4HkdubYug_8K5ItBwN6N1TE_TuHn88t2BbsDFggTytdwTRnKhFQ/s1600-h/DSC01053.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT1RBo1Y7FtdXrI6jn3FfdB5GryitEwTqoB1yepA57SlLHb8v46FqLaTNQvyuEGWGOBxZ890KpFFko7KTT8nB5BquX4HkdubYug_8K5ItBwN6N1TE_TuHn88t2BbsDFggTytdwTRnKhFQ/s400/DSC01053.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418750154244646322" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsQ9nkCDUiRibYJiQopel3H3vkEpupCMbeY_sAMZnoYWImXs0s2BpeCuw7wQak7-n5YEl342MLQ3dEvoThd5fJy42fz2HUO7_goMfVrM2mumky4zLFTLdQbxg9-4b-yOOzlMVQS6ltFyU/s1600-h/DSC01054.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsQ9nkCDUiRibYJiQopel3H3vkEpupCMbeY_sAMZnoYWImXs0s2BpeCuw7wQak7-n5YEl342MLQ3dEvoThd5fJy42fz2HUO7_goMfVrM2mumky4zLFTLdQbxg9-4b-yOOzlMVQS6ltFyU/s400/DSC01054.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418750148636459666" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_0sUCG8lzDMSBtgec3vFi-ZY_BtNi4SxN3n0iU8OntCFckXt4Qh3jJwtzdc5CeleYu61UbHbXhrNL_gQ7M9c_e58CS9FIiY64Euv0t6RNWTKVH_jlIcwDQj1VxH7XE1Ntf-_hL3RwY40/s1600-h/DSC01055.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_0sUCG8lzDMSBtgec3vFi-ZY_BtNi4SxN3n0iU8OntCFckXt4Qh3jJwtzdc5CeleYu61UbHbXhrNL_gQ7M9c_e58CS9FIiY64Euv0t6RNWTKVH_jlIcwDQj1VxH7XE1Ntf-_hL3RwY40/s400/DSC01055.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418750143276292866" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8zKX_hWSBzzvvh_As9bioPcOP2L-Hq_Eu5Sp_mwhtO8FhhrYibOCw60WEKV6sirzXcSMySiPisPLUfBS9b5v3DBBL11eM-QYYmUoVXSYM3gPCbNFhd0t7anCE3FQMQ15btPoq5LmBXjY/s1600-h/DSC01056.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8zKX_hWSBzzvvh_As9bioPcOP2L-Hq_Eu5Sp_mwhtO8FhhrYibOCw60WEKV6sirzXcSMySiPisPLUfBS9b5v3DBBL11eM-QYYmUoVXSYM3gPCbNFhd0t7anCE3FQMQ15btPoq5LmBXjY/s400/DSC01056.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418750132543768178" border="0" /></a>Inside the chapel they had the stations of the cross - but 14 of them. The last two were when he was taken of the cross, and then buried. This is unusual and I don't know why they do this.<br /><br />After this trip, again I must iterate very worthwhile, we jumped on a bus to Haifa. Tom went on to Akko and I went to the Port Inn. I was glad to be somewhere I knew and felt comfortable. Tiberias was a city I didn't like. There was something bad in the air there. Pretty much from the moment I arrived to the moment I left I was feeling tense. Anyway, from Haifa I was due to travel south to the African Hebrew Israelite Community in Dimona, in the Negev desert.Ayinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10120620659286171851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462752563299701010.post-63487089609941608772009-12-21T07:42:00.000-08:002009-12-23T07:27:20.866-08:00TzfatSo, I got to Tzfat bus station after my connecting bus from Tiberias. Tzfat (also called Safed) is widely known as home of Kabbalah. Many famous rabbis settled here after the Spanish expulsion of 1492. There was a pitched battle between Jewish and Arab Israelis from the moment the British pulled out in 1948. Eventually the Jewish faction prevailed and the city is probably the most exclusively Jewish place I have visited in Israel. Okay, except Sedot Micah, the Jewish Moroccan settlement I stayed at initially. Tzfat anyway is crucially religious - religion stands at the heart of the city, which is full of yeshivas, ancient synagogues and haredim. The other drawing factor in Tzfat is the thriving artist community. Here, intermingled liberally with the synagogues and religious institutions, there are probably two dozen galleries, working artists' studios with displays and prints on sales, as well as a number of smaller souvenir and tat shops.<br /><br />I was being picked up by the woman who runs the hostel, the Safed Inn. I thought this was a great touch - and I was very glad of it, not only because of my numerous bags and feeling of real dislocation after four cities in two days, but also because it gave me a chance to appreciate the drive there and ask questions about the city. The manager herself (I don't think she ever told me her name) is Israeli, but speaks perfect English with a strongly drawling American accent. I had to withold a laugh everytime she ended a sentence with 'Mmkaaay?', as she often did, in the manner of South Park's school teacher.<br /><br />For some reason I didn't photo the hostel, but I had a twin room to myself - the dorm was full, and she had agreed to rent me one bed for NIS150 (roughly twiced the price of a normal dorm bed, but halfway between Safed's dorm and private prices). So, I had a bedroom, lounge, coffee and tea with kettle, private bathroom and cable TV. Stunned doesn't describe my state, I was quite sad that I was only in Safed for 2 nights and would be spending most of that in the city (3km away, at the bottom of a very steep hill). But her advice that buses stop at 9 meant that I would have to return before then, so at least my confined evenings would be very comfortable.<br /><br />I unpacked and caught the bus.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZhs6KxURPI9FjIP74JiR0ZnKEE4JvzbE4wsaPcxbGAp6QhB0tjE3zOrTXsiv-Zh-iGq7pZHD5s24uAygAmUoZOzDVCmCo9A-mEerpG8ElkzRksAgYpfHcTahQ3hr1cy09gttFRd4NA7U/s1600-h/DSC00941.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZhs6KxURPI9FjIP74JiR0ZnKEE4JvzbE4wsaPcxbGAp6QhB0tjE3zOrTXsiv-Zh-iGq7pZHD5s24uAygAmUoZOzDVCmCo9A-mEerpG8ElkzRksAgYpfHcTahQ3hr1cy09gttFRd4NA7U/s400/DSC00941.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417728274850611890" border="0" /></a>This is one of several designs on the wall outside the bus station.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuyxhGXFgTbFywRM-JRE5Lgx2WBjMM1w4ubsyb2qrBMSGmM1m1wIrgmsuAgWOJDd_0fO8oSighPybLYpCcdaH-qwqEbMo9BUhu1Ttus8zVTDoKEtk30DquFwGXiWV3dD0kq8ZuIv_b-Vc/s1600-h/DSC00942.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuyxhGXFgTbFywRM-JRE5Lgx2WBjMM1w4ubsyb2qrBMSGmM1m1wIrgmsuAgWOJDd_0fO8oSighPybLYpCcdaH-qwqEbMo9BUhu1Ttus8zVTDoKEtk30DquFwGXiWV3dD0kq8ZuIv_b-Vc/s400/DSC00942.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417728269421737314" border="0" /></a>This is one of the views from by the wall<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcwGALSfC6lTHIyY1TbAsWNSp9XlKy-uBa_AAjKWbLACWp5p13eASUg14Si8Ofl1Kqk9A9QeIhqLkeMCoBjzd7Sm8F25cj9xs94hBwVyIWG3ZAw1dgyoXkBJeoQsPzkeWIwvi2IvL2p-A/s1600-h/DSC00958.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcwGALSfC6lTHIyY1TbAsWNSp9XlKy-uBa_AAjKWbLACWp5p13eASUg14Si8Ofl1Kqk9A9QeIhqLkeMCoBjzd7Sm8F25cj9xs94hBwVyIWG3ZAw1dgyoXkBJeoQsPzkeWIwvi2IvL2p-A/s400/DSC00958.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417726516936474674" border="0" /></a>And this is an ostrich!<br /><br />I don't think I've ever seen a real ostrich before. They're huge. I suspect that this ostrich has seen humans before, but still took a keen interest in me as I approached its fence.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4WLRlm5-YirB-EsAplgkrRkLv8Am0k0wFKR8lUIxwqCmhfGlfdbza-EtvJelZDUYL0o1kQRMgbWZLDkvcoadtZukuqOnEWevdqcfZy-bUIU_uWbIVRmvtyX0WJbxL5B1ZrOzGlwg4hAY/s1600-h/DSC00959.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4WLRlm5-YirB-EsAplgkrRkLv8Am0k0wFKR8lUIxwqCmhfGlfdbza-EtvJelZDUYL0o1kQRMgbWZLDkvcoadtZukuqOnEWevdqcfZy-bUIU_uWbIVRmvtyX0WJbxL5B1ZrOzGlwg4hAY/s400/DSC00959.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417725211108756802" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8O7WHM7uJN3wqmunmVzrlRzTtZYQaT3UdonnQmE0MgYmXg_QT2fN3uqf2mw1CgvhyphenhyphenBex2I6gvn1jSkLJBtJPfnTiqeSkUSMAdJKUMfvhi6HXcmuxiwpc81dGIKLVPxJmnFY1P_OJNAaM/s1600-h/DSC00962.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8O7WHM7uJN3wqmunmVzrlRzTtZYQaT3UdonnQmE0MgYmXg_QT2fN3uqf2mw1CgvhyphenhyphenBex2I6gvn1jSkLJBtJPfnTiqeSkUSMAdJKUMfvhi6HXcmuxiwpc81dGIKLVPxJmnFY1P_OJNAaM/s400/DSC00962.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417725210623851122" border="0" /></a>Cor!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifuwYl1lR-P7y9Sbu94tBfRSz7pWhG-wHtXXP5tRIvb5KCRmsbs5pShA3ZIh0KYUoAopzPaxSRNe2WfNe1BpXKKBqow_2aRYyFU9HflOLFYqxH_fvtAB0pdEdiD5v3tbZe19Zu_wAx3Y8/s1600-h/DSC00944.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifuwYl1lR-P7y9Sbu94tBfRSz7pWhG-wHtXXP5tRIvb5KCRmsbs5pShA3ZIh0KYUoAopzPaxSRNe2WfNe1BpXKKBqow_2aRYyFU9HflOLFYqxH_fvtAB0pdEdiD5v3tbZe19Zu_wAx3Y8/s400/DSC00944.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417728263089187474" border="0" /></a>This is a view from the other side of the road. My hostel was on the top of that hill.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM9Go253FKGEM45dDQehvHfMnCzNI2rTSfclcD9CTAJNGa_7Rb7Z5_GRU40WvrR111Q36NtwYlpdQVkLg_sk3OWUl4OKx-UwEwvN0p_fiiDEwxmFWuuIHxBc5v5zVm7M0WVmV_f-TxOjg/s1600-h/DSC00945.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM9Go253FKGEM45dDQehvHfMnCzNI2rTSfclcD9CTAJNGa_7Rb7Z5_GRU40WvrR111Q36NtwYlpdQVkLg_sk3OWUl4OKx-UwEwvN0p_fiiDEwxmFWuuIHxBc5v5zVm7M0WVmV_f-TxOjg/s400/DSC00945.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417728254805283938" border="0" /></a>Hanukkah had begun while I was in Haifa. There was really very little to indicate it there (apart from getting a free donut at the local cafe, and the candles being carefully lit at the Port Inn every night). But in Tzfat it was inescapable. Not only were these candles everywhere (outside homes, in shop windows, even electric ones on top of cars and outside supermarkets) but the whole city is in a state of heightened festivity. Regarding the candles, the taller <span style="font-style: italic;">shamash</span> is lit first everyday, and then used to light progressively one more candle each of the eight days of Hanukkah. This is the festival of lights, and it occurred to me that it's really very similar to both the Christmas tree and the advent calendar.<br /><br /> I ate some lunch at a vegetarian diner called (ha) Tree of Life. This is run by a woman from Dorset - funnily enough. She was very nice, though she made a rather stupid comment about "Arabs" regarding their bulldozing of ancient archeological matter from around the Temple Mount - 'but they don't like it when you mess with their stuff'. I was too busy eating the quinoa stuffed pepper to get into an argument about it.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9MXnIdyf-ig7narXcen5iNW-SJDgeNp6nNX-2iq0otgZbaufeXMxHbVABDEjyDaRd-3LLmdylAt7_QvJ6VukbGEIAp-QGCja7pj24hkEYbNqKkYL7llalJqoEqKGcQcd1x9gQnghZpas/s1600-h/DSC00946.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9MXnIdyf-ig7narXcen5iNW-SJDgeNp6nNX-2iq0otgZbaufeXMxHbVABDEjyDaRd-3LLmdylAt7_QvJ6VukbGEIAp-QGCja7pj24hkEYbNqKkYL7llalJqoEqKGcQcd1x9gQnghZpas/s400/DSC00946.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417727149410843298" border="0" /></a>John Peel moment - I thought I'd corrected all the photos but I'm not going to reupload it now. Just turn the screen (or your head) sideways, this will solve the problem. This is an alleway in the artists' colony.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir4zODgaRNx5pQ0BhwEItLeEo7ae8Se9NMOHqDbERM1biUYis0dufg3y3heI3vPyl4FQK1q09DaTeKLNrpxNvRcTC9ouYATRZRNbXrlpROoTlH_Glieu88vNri6PxCdSNu1rEBvb_nKuM/s1600-h/DSC00947.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir4zODgaRNx5pQ0BhwEItLeEo7ae8Se9NMOHqDbERM1biUYis0dufg3y3heI3vPyl4FQK1q09DaTeKLNrpxNvRcTC9ouYATRZRNbXrlpROoTlH_Glieu88vNri6PxCdSNu1rEBvb_nKuM/s400/DSC00947.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417727146187447218" border="0" /></a>This klezmer two-piece provided entertainment as sun set - they had quite a crowd, and gthe music was very good. I assume this is just for Hanukkah.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs9Xf2qsPalF42QB0pAtSSzD0JG-wrWw4Ojxf3WzVZt82lo2m83G1wYvFCLyZaiqdSPYUFkiDooZcW41HWqshZvUWvrUg5hhdpZEyQAVjeSjHgsUggliBYyZfcP7pCaD-TIKTWsO1Zem8/s1600-h/DSC00949.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs9Xf2qsPalF42QB0pAtSSzD0JG-wrWw4Ojxf3WzVZt82lo2m83G1wYvFCLyZaiqdSPYUFkiDooZcW41HWqshZvUWvrUg5hhdpZEyQAVjeSjHgsUggliBYyZfcP7pCaD-TIKTWsO1Zem8/s400/DSC00949.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417727140040354098" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdtN8h6CGH3AQReYb21Udu09UIR1dERgKeY8CTBADGmbe3OprSfgJu-EDlnpoj0XMnQ1XAqwfI77hmZsP2TBF2T2aQaycBSIwt8zmilfMbdarMpfd8JT2xGK44lu8M-S0i4bFXDvFXWyU/s1600-h/DSC00950.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdtN8h6CGH3AQReYb21Udu09UIR1dERgKeY8CTBADGmbe3OprSfgJu-EDlnpoj0XMnQ1XAqwfI77hmZsP2TBF2T2aQaycBSIwt8zmilfMbdarMpfd8JT2xGK44lu8M-S0i4bFXDvFXWyU/s400/DSC00950.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417727134450623650" border="0" /></a>More bits of the city, including an old mosque which is now the main art gallery.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3IVTp3Nss1_-ipGl-h0FZrhwt-uEvtuY6AJuXNREPir6Y2fB_sdPaC9iftkkV7xzivtzFz6yjjE0vp_EQNLpE56NCjJP3S2mhyiWmdapW-Gcp9sjpFlkdNqWBHZI_WU2RJMnZx0vP_RI/s1600-h/DSC00951.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3IVTp3Nss1_-ipGl-h0FZrhwt-uEvtuY6AJuXNREPir6Y2fB_sdPaC9iftkkV7xzivtzFz6yjjE0vp_EQNLpE56NCjJP3S2mhyiWmdapW-Gcp9sjpFlkdNqWBHZI_WU2RJMnZx0vP_RI/s400/DSC00951.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417727127415505890" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYmVl36yn0qyziS4Eu9Xx87F7r5fDIjNFtc4bNe55GM0NxkdTOQCoTdMq7jJ1xGZVKG1xD3hh4-pGN2ER5ESAETH7FdQOSk1P2nrKAD8ZyB0sk_73eckcAL9p9gEf1bP3r1JM24W46Hbg/s1600-h/DSC00953.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYmVl36yn0qyziS4Eu9Xx87F7r5fDIjNFtc4bNe55GM0NxkdTOQCoTdMq7jJ1xGZVKG1xD3hh4-pGN2ER5ESAETH7FdQOSk1P2nrKAD8ZyB0sk_73eckcAL9p9gEf1bP3r1JM24W46Hbg/s400/DSC00953.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417726545456612514" border="0" /></a>I went to the Avuyah Synagogue. The lady in Tree of Life had told me it was the best in Tzfat, to which I think I may agree. I stood outside watching people happily congregating and preparing for the evening Hanukkah prayers, wondering if I could go in when a dishevelled and intense middle aged man wearing a kippa grabbed me and blurted "Avuyah Synagogue! You want see? See?" OK, I told him. He took me into the courtyard, which held an ancient "Etz Rimonim" (pomegranate tree - the pomegranate is said to have 613 seeds, the same as the number of commandments in the Torah). Then he showed me the toilets - he couldn't explain why the womens' toilet was shut; though to be fair he couldn't explain much, knowing only about 30 English words. I could sort of follow his Hebrew, including his pointing to the three "Siphrim Kodesh" (Holy Scrolls). The service began and he grabbed me a kippah, then joined in with the rabbi's text - the rabbi looked round confusedly at this man shouting behind him.<br /><br /> The service was very good, though quite short. He sidled up to me and smiled nervously: "Synagogue charity - fifty shekhels". Oh. Wait - he was expecting to be paid for a five minute tour conducted mostly in a language I don't understand? I could tell what most things were (including the toilets) without it being told to me in a language I don't understand. The things I still didn't know I could have happily not known<span style="font-style: italic;"> in my own language</span>. Was it naive of me to think he was simply enthusiastic about his religion and wanted to share it with outsiders? OK yes, it was. Idiot. But I still wasn't going to pay him. As I walked away he ran around the courtyard trying to find someone who spoke English so they could explain to me that I had to pay for the tour. The only person who answered yes to the first question just laughed as he explained, which made me feel a bit less bad - I was feeling quite awful now, but not awful enough to part with £10. I asked this second gentleman to pass on my thanks and explain that he needs to arrange - or mention - a fee before providing <b>Sde <b style="color: black; background-color: rgb(255, 153, 153);">Boker</b></b>his, uh, service in future.<br /><br /> I didn't feel like to going to any more of the synagogues that evening so I ambled and photographed random things.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrduPP3fSvsPGgjcdK6pIey40emlfJToalAIxyIKx3YDZspufgJP64vEhyphenhyphenNVyhijJq0VxABzltpgJrOonQRyKqZdATafMP15NuR-9i-SQK-3E1q8eqIZ58dL4zacQXwM0prHS1cr60h7Y/s1600-h/DSC00954.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrduPP3fSvsPGgjcdK6pIey40emlfJToalAIxyIKx3YDZspufgJP64vEhyphenhyphenNVyhijJq0VxABzltpgJrOonQRyKqZdATafMP15NuR-9i-SQK-3E1q8eqIZ58dL4zacQXwM0prHS1cr60h7Y/s400/DSC00954.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417726541321973890" border="0" /></a>A tiny house.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEMg1XL0tTd6s0DxdNfC8WXJqfU22IQ6MaIwJI3hgR3mJzz1vFycZxwhOtvL2_Gv5xSjB7DYO9tBaUqvT6tqq2B3jAO5HjbFxxlx8pQ29wRsA03VEhcitnGd7TmrB0n2nQvkWq8JlZQqA/s1600-h/DSC00955.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEMg1XL0tTd6s0DxdNfC8WXJqfU22IQ6MaIwJI3hgR3mJzz1vFycZxwhOtvL2_Gv5xSjB7DYO9tBaUqvT6tqq2B3jAO5HjbFxxlx8pQ29wRsA03VEhcitnGd7TmrB0n2nQvkWq8JlZQqA/s400/DSC00955.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417726525208226850" border="0" /></a>Hanukkah candles.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL8HFdHjehazP37HYbJA703DVTh113MywPDTaCy_DkOdd9oMYweSpVME7KGx9_6f_Xl3QrANMK9NSys4bfK41kV11-gjyrHPT_BH0MKBpLeftMbhzsI_PbmetPhRfJAHJ_N5Sbp6e2M8U/s1600-h/DSC00957.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL8HFdHjehazP37HYbJA703DVTh113MywPDTaCy_DkOdd9oMYweSpVME7KGx9_6f_Xl3QrANMK9NSys4bfK41kV11-gjyrHPT_BH0MKBpLeftMbhzsI_PbmetPhRfJAHJ_N5Sbp6e2M8U/s400/DSC00957.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417726523860430514" border="0" /></a>As I walked back to the bus station I saw this group of young yeshiva students (I presume - or perhaps just Haredim) dancing in a circle. I know it's not a great photo, I just didn't want to stand taking snap after snap of them.<br /><br />I bought some junk from a shop: pot noodle, mushrooms, some wholemeal pittas, chocolate spread (this is very popular here...have my instincts just stopped me noticing such things in the UK?) and something I presumed was Hummus. I made this presumption because the hebrew said hummus <span style="font-style: italic;">something</span>. I couldn't tell what the second word was, but left hoping it didn't have some dairy constituent. At the hostel it taste very creamy, so I took the precaution of googling my rough transliteration of the second word, which I made to be msabbha. To my surprise, this is an arabic variation on hummus, made from overboiled chickpeas (see <a href="http://humus101.com/EN/2007/09/26/everything-you-need-to-know-about-msabecha-plus-recipes/">here</a>). It was nice, but I think I prefer standard hummus, which has slightly more of an edge.<br /><br />The next day I went straight into the city.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP3AZT0-KSICJDOkb4KPselAVbJtnX4Wp2KdzsxSn4LpRGY7iDwl_9jXXkz_ogLgdktjTDrWMZLntau2JhWf6GwItUD8HIg9AiJz2whpD_ykfl75xXcK9X1iLoD6CF7mtsbhTvVSlYC9U/s1600-h/DSC00963.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP3AZT0-KSICJDOkb4KPselAVbJtnX4Wp2KdzsxSn4LpRGY7iDwl_9jXXkz_ogLgdktjTDrWMZLntau2JhWf6GwItUD8HIg9AiJz2whpD_ykfl75xXcK9X1iLoD6CF7mtsbhTvVSlYC9U/s400/DSC00963.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417725205813259746" border="0" /></a>This monument preserves some of the war damage from the 1948 struggle for the city. I'd be interested to hear some other versions of the story, though the official one does cite an English officer's vocal concern for the lives of the Jewish population as the British withdrew.<br /><br />Here are some more of the city streets and views.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvygssdNrmoOQkq_A88KrruSs1m1O3YJcoiiYkq6tsTVNBdN8pvIkPr-ZEeEuSgHJ8_iyjPW1DlfVAMXmoai4rFzYg1I89MQ_G0fv3LnUwBOA6eBMtwrVd2AzSfs4PnMTPlp6dbkJcw4M/s1600-h/DSC00964.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvygssdNrmoOQkq_A88KrruSs1m1O3YJcoiiYkq6tsTVNBdN8pvIkPr-ZEeEuSgHJ8_iyjPW1DlfVAMXmoai4rFzYg1I89MQ_G0fv3LnUwBOA6eBMtwrVd2AzSfs4PnMTPlp6dbkJcw4M/s400/DSC00964.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417725198735606802" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWoN5C_BPA0BrGSKRsxUccuSyrUe9JdxkE6BfwAKUhlN0w2K7oyizSQRygSXgLWVmnXUkrTGBlC_S7BG4dSykblKB1apmC2B1kitB4GkIV9YtZbdKd3jkNZWm4Rw-UPm7q4o7f7C1shN0/s1600-h/DSC00965.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWoN5C_BPA0BrGSKRsxUccuSyrUe9JdxkE6BfwAKUhlN0w2K7oyizSQRygSXgLWVmnXUkrTGBlC_S7BG4dSykblKB1apmC2B1kitB4GkIV9YtZbdKd3jkNZWm4Rw-UPm7q4o7f7C1shN0/s400/DSC00965.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417725191000183794" border="0" /></a>Check out the guard dog on the roof<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg4RTqglZbyl9L4inyyHeAETwIVyJpHxChLawfhz1oke__4Zk_vqvweAOV3Dt7GNTSPqIcvWOoWqzzrKwHUNEoQ3SvlTEbAXIMbYd5eHuaIlgl2puF9hHrPm6Bul36w5_PzuBaKfsEzLo/s1600-h/DSC00967.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg4RTqglZbyl9L4inyyHeAETwIVyJpHxChLawfhz1oke__4Zk_vqvweAOV3Dt7GNTSPqIcvWOoWqzzrKwHUNEoQ3SvlTEbAXIMbYd5eHuaIlgl2puF9hHrPm6Bul36w5_PzuBaKfsEzLo/s400/DSC00967.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417718173667827090" border="0" /></a>This is outside the main gallery. Peculiar.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRZRR7uvrqcf03m3Wv2mrNgMj_P4SWKVaGAsSACZktzVziRPXAuyjF0ZXL-Gbrgq1yV3PRhh8I2VDGqntX8FznyevW7pPqR50ka058NMCF2G0ffIIGGSaGyaRxTUH8pNvVdLSBhzzs7ec/s1600-h/DSC00968.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRZRR7uvrqcf03m3Wv2mrNgMj_P4SWKVaGAsSACZktzVziRPXAuyjF0ZXL-Gbrgq1yV3PRhh8I2VDGqntX8FznyevW7pPqR50ka058NMCF2G0ffIIGGSaGyaRxTUH8pNvVdLSBhzzs7ec/s400/DSC00968.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417718169240929682" border="0" /></a>This is just one sculpture by <a href="http://www.halvani.com/">Victor Halvani</a>. He has a sculpture graden outside Tzfat, and his work is internationally regarded. He now lives in the states, but a gallery here displays models of his fantastic work. This is Adam, Eve and the apple. Unlike most of the artists working in Tzfat he rarely works with biblical themes, preferring universally human ideas. I like this.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB6JdlicHcl8Xx2Q1kQ7TLJNIVGkqWuop-oOZzgSJq__0V9ZmaF7S9lxB4HGwrLr4NFu3hBnla1KHDqp4y_zwftow7iFjpKzqMSYNDB0fRMBfPiHLhDeDc1ZJ48Fz7RdPadkZMYPoLezA/s1600-h/DSC00969.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB6JdlicHcl8Xx2Q1kQ7TLJNIVGkqWuop-oOZzgSJq__0V9ZmaF7S9lxB4HGwrLr4NFu3hBnla1KHDqp4y_zwftow7iFjpKzqMSYNDB0fRMBfPiHLhDeDc1ZJ48Fz7RdPadkZMYPoLezA/s400/DSC00969.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417718163920924402" border="0" /></a><br /> I went to the Ashkenazi Ari Synagogue. This is reputed to be the location that Isaac Luria prayed, although the previous synagogue was destroyed in a huge earthquake about 150 years ago.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoVZ5Vqlo-q73xpNdwkRkdf5-y4z-EfEmpQx8Buie996HA3bmS2WAzuTmYYbJd8tEFWR0QBOrx0AyCyMk24hDcJWNhFmcsS08IaxDYmCuO5rfzfXpBsPsjntQpDReH22Qro0QJ9IS6xZ4/s1600-h/DSC00970.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoVZ5Vqlo-q73xpNdwkRkdf5-y4z-EfEmpQx8Buie996HA3bmS2WAzuTmYYbJd8tEFWR0QBOrx0AyCyMk24hDcJWNhFmcsS08IaxDYmCuO5rfzfXpBsPsjntQpDReH22Qro0QJ9IS6xZ4/s400/DSC00970.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417718158844525858" border="0" /></a>The housing for the Torah scroll.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ7DX84x_3BTcmH8biO_2wVaAt-kusl7SSkOFsYZgJ6b3qsSKVjthZpI0OksDSINbDpKULqcs3BLNqfuCPgrpvIE3Wh_PvFlh9wyEYbxemraFGEPyqrEc0jug7aXxzccCu-vWoXyJVH_A/s1600-h/DSC00971.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ7DX84x_3BTcmH8biO_2wVaAt-kusl7SSkOFsYZgJ6b3qsSKVjthZpI0OksDSINbDpKULqcs3BLNqfuCPgrpvIE3Wh_PvFlh9wyEYbxemraFGEPyqrEc0jug7aXxzccCu-vWoXyJVH_A/s400/DSC00971.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417718155116730242" border="0" /></a>The altar<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt517ju1BcXAr1ELTMyyydMtKa17i-hiAKAIFzV_vGeTH_l4eYRw7MG8n1rNXkbo6ZOEHed7DFpSQ_0M_IY-h67h-t2EgpbVkan5vSau1HH12QFT5gF0zuVOlgv33pXnILxiaQDri3lh4/s1600-h/DSC00972.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt517ju1BcXAr1ELTMyyydMtKa17i-hiAKAIFzV_vGeTH_l4eYRw7MG8n1rNXkbo6ZOEHed7DFpSQ_0M_IY-h67h-t2EgpbVkan5vSau1HH12QFT5gF0zuVOlgv33pXnILxiaQDri3lh4/s400/DSC00972.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417717351582610978" border="0" /></a>These wonderfully decorated things are made of olive wood.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7wmCbEy36bWEbhCuwOWKC2vYOwV8sm651NwDk5Pza3a7py2TN9e2NR2GVlqdehsJjv2CZA05uImJYj421LiXuQ3gFpx5XcguCJpTkxsCPu_IX0LDfnj4Zb4FvEE4VARqobAe5I56-fXI/s1600-h/DSC00973.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7wmCbEy36bWEbhCuwOWKC2vYOwV8sm651NwDk5Pza3a7py2TN9e2NR2GVlqdehsJjv2CZA05uImJYj421LiXuQ3gFpx5XcguCJpTkxsCPu_IX0LDfnj4Zb4FvEE4VARqobAe5I56-fXI/s400/DSC00973.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417717348980088770" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwirygQtSxRnsxlTU0OubBUgsjJH4PfzmoTs60BRpw5wsVuN4aVaDEn4U0Z57xNLYajhDX938eXWOCBWTyEIwXeSJDFiFzoDmODIuYmgw3MNUMGFa_vg-Aw_2AWWhhl9d1CnQnK72aiRg/s1600-h/DSC00974.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwirygQtSxRnsxlTU0OubBUgsjJH4PfzmoTs60BRpw5wsVuN4aVaDEn4U0Z57xNLYajhDX938eXWOCBWTyEIwXeSJDFiFzoDmODIuYmgw3MNUMGFa_vg-Aw_2AWWhhl9d1CnQnK72aiRg/s400/DSC00974.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417717345695401410" border="0" /></a>This is the outside. The rabbi is actually a Londoner, which made me smile. He looks a bit like Tony Robinson. He showed me around (without asking for fifty shekhels after), and enquired after England.<br /><br /> I went to a store promoting a particular brand of Kabbalah - one that I'm not in favour of, all new agey pseudo-science bullshit about the effect of wearing tefillin on ones' aura, and the physiological differences in blood flow between kosher and unclean animals. I did like this diagram on tefillin use though.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5k3NuaBnhR_3dAN333yzlTvqfPd_T5_u_FPFMszkEjhqhAUedciTDNHZyhf4GqBVebcf-t_PGoeds7ejGrmktP8R1s6VHbsbLDJk4Y2C1H3ckwL2oMZrRvj8IR6hq3JcSofqHYezJNlw/s1600-h/DSC00976.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5k3NuaBnhR_3dAN333yzlTvqfPd_T5_u_FPFMszkEjhqhAUedciTDNHZyhf4GqBVebcf-t_PGoeds7ejGrmktP8R1s6VHbsbLDJk4Y2C1H3ckwL2oMZrRvj8IR6hq3JcSofqHYezJNlw/s400/DSC00976.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417717338453830354" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ-hr2W6Lr060MXszzZ-nR06kqf0hXJBUc2Oyi-eiyChbxV5jL5GWqD7KQg07uoGJ-SoC_TkREEbgYcZnm3jrCeZdvJIB69U0hpfJaD45Wz4JkkONWbflab16HqE1-PnrknFN2XSqh2UU/s1600-h/DSC00977.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ-hr2W6Lr060MXszzZ-nR06kqf0hXJBUc2Oyi-eiyChbxV5jL5GWqD7KQg07uoGJ-SoC_TkREEbgYcZnm3jrCeZdvJIB69U0hpfJaD45Wz4JkkONWbflab16HqE1-PnrknFN2XSqh2UU/s400/DSC00977.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417717337083707394" border="0" /></a>And I think this is by Alex Grey, but I could be wrong. He's actually someone else I come to have a mild distaste for. But anyway.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyoRB5lKtQ4a3YiJZZoogtfWgIeKWGgdkSgtF4hqWSMYVzyIdDiYaJ9go2hcBRgSZl9P4i012Da2zifgQWZcd9t3BvkWaiA3Ff-RBwY0Gg-FGAv3OEBqUlEni0rvUa6iu0fhj6yRvdFXs/s1600-h/DSC00979.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyoRB5lKtQ4a3YiJZZoogtfWgIeKWGgdkSgtF4hqWSMYVzyIdDiYaJ9go2hcBRgSZl9P4i012Da2zifgQWZcd9t3BvkWaiA3Ff-RBwY0Gg-FGAv3OEBqUlEni0rvUa6iu0fhj6yRvdFXs/s400/DSC00979.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417716743471809154" border="0" /></a>A lot of places in Israel you see monuments, sculptures, interesting things like this in parks, on roundabouts, on walls etc. It's not a great photo but click to enlarge and see the sculpture.<br /><br /> I went for an amble, vaguely looking for the shouq (market) and the old cemetery. I'm aware that my sense of direction is worse than terrible, but still I persist in attempting to find things by ambling in the direction I think they should be. Needless to say I found neither, but I walked for a few miles in a twisting path downhill, and saw some things that were still very interesting.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsXULBqHQtrgcEXOGLx47X5R2Jgx_c9gFJb9940NUhQyRL4N16ReBEMb4HR-G0qwy6r7zxabwXmraGClDpnwqer0BKe7TNs1ssrup5-pf8O7FH4R-90I8J5Mdx5EUlNy4i-htHlpPMiF0/s1600-h/DSC00980.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsXULBqHQtrgcEXOGLx47X5R2Jgx_c9gFJb9940NUhQyRL4N16ReBEMb4HR-G0qwy6r7zxabwXmraGClDpnwqer0BKe7TNs1ssrup5-pf8O7FH4R-90I8J5Mdx5EUlNy4i-htHlpPMiF0/s400/DSC00980.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417716742344886626" border="0" /></a>Like this martial arts centre.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlVt75jrbcL9HqDHuZOevBHaXold_tEgjl39B43euhy6vpPFvoZZRBot0Yi_jzwGOlNdd2MqeFRWuLpgXCnrUBr6sXn8w-JpotCmiHA7AsFPp1oY2IWIJ-5tYxH-VwtDA97W3OqTHOiVg/s1600-h/DSC00981.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlVt75jrbcL9HqDHuZOevBHaXold_tEgjl39B43euhy6vpPFvoZZRBot0Yi_jzwGOlNdd2MqeFRWuLpgXCnrUBr6sXn8w-JpotCmiHA7AsFPp1oY2IWIJ-5tYxH-VwtDA97W3OqTHOiVg/s400/DSC00981.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417716740387266674" border="0" /></a>And this largely orthodox neighborhood. I felt very conspicuous here and not entirely comfortable, but I'm glad I saw how people live away from the usual tourist trails. So this is the other side of Tzfat, where the real ones eek out an existence.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRGaCBk0hPax_gAOgbiL0nO0KCtzMUKdMmsePiiTBxcbwsCAyMnJeg0qPyrWYK9l85myzkh6NLxFAxU3on1UgMYSlKsqHZzqof1Tr3krhJu0CF_caAFLqos4OVO8wLd-RlAudEnU9okNk/s1600-h/DSC00982.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRGaCBk0hPax_gAOgbiL0nO0KCtzMUKdMmsePiiTBxcbwsCAyMnJeg0qPyrWYK9l85myzkh6NLxFAxU3on1UgMYSlKsqHZzqof1Tr3krhJu0CF_caAFLqos4OVO8wLd-RlAudEnU9okNk/s400/DSC00982.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417716730643042610" border="0" /></a>I don't think this picture shows it, but you can see the Sea of Galilee from Tzfat. I've seen it from a few different angles now and it always looks amazing - shimmering and still, capturing the sunlight so beautifully you could watch it all day.<br /><br /> A few days ago in Haifa I had an impulsive desire to get a new piercing. I haven't had or wanted a piercing for more than ten years, so this surprised me but the desire was very strong. I failed to find an open in Haifa, but discovered a small studio on Jerusalem St in Tzfat. Highly incongruous, that a city without a record shop or even a single bar should have a piercing studio. Still, just before leaving the centre I went in and got a scaffold piercing. This (known internationally as an industrial) is a bar between two points on the rim of the ear. I've had it a week now and it's healed nicely - I'm very pleased, and it was at a price favourable to UK rates. It made me think about childbirth though (in my typical, condescending male way) because it hurt so much during the process (especially the second hole at the top) I couldn't imagine ever wanting to go through it again. But now I'm so happy with it I'd gladly have another one, if I had the overriding urge again.<br /><br /> So that's Tzfat. The next day I left for Tiberias.<br /><br /><span style="padding: 1px 4px; position: absolute; -moz-appearance: tooltip; color: infotext; z-index: 10000; cursor: pointer; left: 506px; top: 16793px;">save</span>Ayinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10120620659286171851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462752563299701010.post-83970261885091647172009-12-20T11:28:00.000-08:002009-12-21T07:37:17.511-08:00NazarethAfter a morning of running around in Haifa, doing all the things I hadn't managed to fit in to the rest of my stay, I caught a bus to Nazareth. I didn't have any plan really to visit Nazareth - my lack of foreplanning is really becoming an issue here, and when I discovered that nowhere in Tzfat (my next intended destination) had vacancies for that night, I made the choice to go somewhere I'd heard good things about.<br /><br />The journey was quite pleasant. Generally I enjoy travelling on bus more than train, as the scenery is much more interesting. Nazareth itself has no train station, so my decision was made for me anyway.<br /><br />I got off my bus into a crowded and bustling high street - attempts to orientate myself failed (as usual), and I spent about twenty minutes ambling and feeling confused before (1) asking someone. This was pointless. I was already at the gates to the 'old city', and all the young chap next to me could say was "inside, inside, everything in old city". Yes, but where was the specific place I was looking for? OK, (2) I phoned the hostel. On hostelbookers.com they had sounded amazingly helpful, even offering to pick up travellers if that helpled. An arab lady answered the phone and entirely failed to speak sense to me. What advice I could glean from her seemed to amount to "try walking".<br /><br /><br />I think I probably would have done this anyway. Happily, it was the correct plan because as soon as I was inside the old city the Fauzi Azar Inn was signposted. Then signposted again - and again, and again and again. Finally, I arrived at this door:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5hfbLThN7Bcehn3TBth5rg5LLkQx1Wqjw21sLpqe0lgX__jkxNFInXKHYs0PfEH3hmjjSPbs4nkhocslCzzUqfZZ7zv7NgRICJ3LEhaFN9-1O8BvvEWmuw_LLaJP_uIQglcwaVkqEJNU/s1600-h/DSC00892.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5hfbLThN7Bcehn3TBth5rg5LLkQx1Wqjw21sLpqe0lgX__jkxNFInXKHYs0PfEH3hmjjSPbs4nkhocslCzzUqfZZ7zv7NgRICJ3LEhaFN9-1O8BvvEWmuw_LLaJP_uIQglcwaVkqEJNU/s400/DSC00892.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417410094344533330" border="0" /></a>Am I wrong in thinking this is like something out of Alice in Wonderland? This four-foot tall entrance was obviously not made for backpackers. It took me three attempts before I was inside.<br /><br />But hey! I was here. This is a wonderful place. Here's the dorm:<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKQKZRsDkiwGQiBvEnRkPKoYvVknJw43JVaC9R6ovqpnuYsOKB26QdI3HeVANAX8z8QLDOEHnzvk1h1RINr3k7lOyQiRRICq51cAPuHA0cDAkl8792CH3Xgq7fdrduGETgnWRUunmrpgU/s1600-h/DSC00891.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKQKZRsDkiwGQiBvEnRkPKoYvVknJw43JVaC9R6ovqpnuYsOKB26QdI3HeVANAX8z8QLDOEHnzvk1h1RINr3k7lOyQiRRICq51cAPuHA0cDAkl8792CH3Xgq7fdrduGETgnWRUunmrpgU/s400/DSC00891.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417410101019110722" border="0" /></a>Cool, huh? It's an old arab family mansion - owned by Fauzi Azar two generations ago, who died trying to save it from a fire. It is now owned by a Jewish couple who turned it into a hostel, and employ the granddaughter of Fauzi Azar as front of house staff (yes, that was her on the phone). Many people were unhappy with the arangement, accusing pretty much everyone involved of selling-out to the wrong people. However, the new owners made such a success of the establishment, respecting the heritage and bringing people into the centre of Nazareth to the great benefit of the local economy, and generally being nice that now everyone loves them. Well, this is the gist of the second-hand report I heard. I remain impressed though, it's somewhere I'd definitely recommend - and further, everyone I've mentioned Nazareth to has asked if I stayed there.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibdj8gb0SQgyhfgW51IN8MRnkeVKBlIYgpX6oybJM_MQiCWLMTYAHTnGdqYHnq4APXV4LN63rznzRr3wjRhVS4K3nWUPIm-fPoJFHu_WLmnjaaGvQC_ez6YZ2yIFv_AhsIHbZdSf84iKM/s1600-h/DSC00929.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibdj8gb0SQgyhfgW51IN8MRnkeVKBlIYgpX6oybJM_MQiCWLMTYAHTnGdqYHnq4APXV4LN63rznzRr3wjRhVS4K3nWUPIm-fPoJFHu_WLmnjaaGvQC_ez6YZ2yIFv_AhsIHbZdSf84iKM/s400/DSC00929.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417405871461589554" border="0" /></a><br />And this is the external social area (there's also a big kitchen and huge lounge/reception)<br /><br />Right, so I had about sixteen hours to explore the city before travelling to Tzfat, having managed to book the next two nights there. First stop is the Basilica of the Annunciation, just outside the old city.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQQTM4lQ71HC1mi2yp1uOxIBnEsXrjPWsD4aKVuVQckNi0thwX-dOyJhYZH8IgIj6G6iNIruEWGe-eWR2J28Nih4TnDRZKZeQ_Ocb_W8orhWnZOzPsrudwxQKK33e-tBflAbMJ4PpauTk/s1600-h/DSC00893.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQQTM4lQ71HC1mi2yp1uOxIBnEsXrjPWsD4aKVuVQckNi0thwX-dOyJhYZH8IgIj6G6iNIruEWGe-eWR2J28Nih4TnDRZKZeQ_Ocb_W8orhWnZOzPsrudwxQKK33e-tBflAbMJ4PpauTk/s400/DSC00893.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417409565390410946" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp7bV9qqmojdZh1S7nJXRBSuenLiGHwZu_EIattoS9k1jFJGp4MQGUmYZzu8_WCIEQgggiQSlpHm30Zkt8G0VpaX1eqTnYkMhL1ixOlWLKcs3bEmIHPOHv4KNI5a92G9mhBt3tMVAARRM/s1600-h/DSC00894.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp7bV9qqmojdZh1S7nJXRBSuenLiGHwZu_EIattoS9k1jFJGp4MQGUmYZzu8_WCIEQgggiQSlpHm30Zkt8G0VpaX1eqTnYkMhL1ixOlWLKcs3bEmIHPOHv4KNI5a92G9mhBt3tMVAARRM/s400/DSC00894.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417409562792293554" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfbntP1fhneTbw_J3G0x0g8_9o8X9yDGU0B6-fHVrmlHPpA-1ecAC5EDnY87cJo4rMauVFKKzBpyflTM8F8DUROnxAErRdCyO6dyEdN9O_hUvuiqpU4OB1iFRQlpXGiJCU5y4ux2lGL8Y/s1600-h/DSC00895.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfbntP1fhneTbw_J3G0x0g8_9o8X9yDGU0B6-fHVrmlHPpA-1ecAC5EDnY87cJo4rMauVFKKzBpyflTM8F8DUROnxAErRdCyO6dyEdN9O_hUvuiqpU4OB1iFRQlpXGiJCU5y4ux2lGL8Y/s400/DSC00895.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417409560298424594" border="0" /></a><br />Check out these doors. If it weren't for the Fauzi Azar, I'd say these were my favourite doors ever.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKML6jVznTjpc1eOKOlfjTLajnvHNm_ap4zTrTjsvlnv9fZmZpLpl9-_x_QGJ6Oiz0eUKVLsUq_WFdckGLJNIbJcRXeSvKgeSr2CBHiGzJhslh0Y91cfZS2VroHtSA0WgHWF5LfAbrWFQ/s1600-h/DSC00896.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKML6jVznTjpc1eOKOlfjTLajnvHNm_ap4zTrTjsvlnv9fZmZpLpl9-_x_QGJ6Oiz0eUKVLsUq_WFdckGLJNIbJcRXeSvKgeSr2CBHiGzJhslh0Y91cfZS2VroHtSA0WgHWF5LfAbrWFQ/s400/DSC00896.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417409554615536290" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0WIra5bOXF263700QtLOHlHtA_OF8m4TpT5NvO5hHxnwdmKfPsR0jm4idBy5GHfMQtopntQoivUO2ObboYmfai0lUiIzpxuGUQ0TeIYlEgZdDs-cpGw1p1HX3gjqOfptUxW1TL_074K8/s1600-h/DSC00900.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0WIra5bOXF263700QtLOHlHtA_OF8m4TpT5NvO5hHxnwdmKfPsR0jm4idBy5GHfMQtopntQoivUO2ObboYmfai0lUiIzpxuGUQ0TeIYlEgZdDs-cpGw1p1HX3gjqOfptUxW1TL_074K8/s400/DSC00900.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417409548088176322" border="0" /></a><br />Inside was very quiet. There were two other people when I entered, and while I was there only two more came in.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhncdYofQXqJO3dg3NECAvBMNweTDpHAZTvbJFxtwajPkQE26lccR9oCQkR6uFXvjaVCYnAvmAxy2MvTBl2QkgD-BElEixvUvWHt_J4rhq2TeWZ9bEiPqTlfjdr6bwd4JCwOLGysQMroLU/s1600-h/DSC00901.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhncdYofQXqJO3dg3NECAvBMNweTDpHAZTvbJFxtwajPkQE26lccR9oCQkR6uFXvjaVCYnAvmAxy2MvTBl2QkgD-BElEixvUvWHt_J4rhq2TeWZ9bEiPqTlfjdr6bwd4JCwOLGysQMroLU/s400/DSC00901.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417408921627686770" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVAdqRklTQscRBT9vNLOvx61RWrhaVV2k7jFxHk5Z3eHETjrQFIx3E05Q1P09P40N__dbgGXM-2Y7STY820ZskbCHyi6S6_Q4Jg1bJSO31yvLwEJDm6XyBxhDy2NOro6ndagvdQgNx6dQ/s1600-h/DSC00902.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVAdqRklTQscRBT9vNLOvx61RWrhaVV2k7jFxHk5Z3eHETjrQFIx3E05Q1P09P40N__dbgGXM-2Y7STY820ZskbCHyi6S6_Q4Jg1bJSO31yvLwEJDm6XyBxhDy2NOro6ndagvdQgNx6dQ/s400/DSC00902.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417408914775955794" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj37SVuwYUj8mqpX4r1ILnVShb9qr8jVBVo-1A4986AA4PFOKw-00zYgvL0z-qJm-a0c7j-44FLZ348s8TNdq8yv9U8uZuJn9INwAW6vqBM5F2FujUTjgzePUhSffCe8-E0o44o1_VeGVE/s1600-h/DSC00903.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj37SVuwYUj8mqpX4r1ILnVShb9qr8jVBVo-1A4986AA4PFOKw-00zYgvL0z-qJm-a0c7j-44FLZ348s8TNdq8yv9U8uZuJn9INwAW6vqBM5F2FujUTjgzePUhSffCe8-E0o44o1_VeGVE/s400/DSC00903.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417408911534134962" border="0" /></a>Gabriel annunciating to Mary.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Y-rikayx-WvvYlguQ3sCoHQau8BczV6ex7SwC0F-lw_1qcpbJ58s-MZJKxwy3pu_yoHGoNtDx9IXsHgcYk2JJE1LKQ7a29e2VYaLRc6iDEKqw2wMXBFHbdHqXcA8jnpNoSE4zhE72SY/s1600-h/DSC00904.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Y-rikayx-WvvYlguQ3sCoHQau8BczV6ex7SwC0F-lw_1qcpbJ58s-MZJKxwy3pu_yoHGoNtDx9IXsHgcYk2JJE1LKQ7a29e2VYaLRc6iDEKqw2wMXBFHbdHqXcA8jnpNoSE4zhE72SY/s400/DSC00904.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417408902500957666" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8EUvzlE0WoJKEx6w0NnBaVw2rknE8av5mU-i7Aamw2RLxXdfxtYOyZVDnsZiqBV1F7DNfVoFkm7vYQ_jRWKyvpAp0YwZ3XVJwBMuwNOPoih6I_Cp4pB-Fs9gD5tYL6iNudr1Kpttty-E/s1600-h/DSC00905.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8EUvzlE0WoJKEx6w0NnBaVw2rknE8av5mU-i7Aamw2RLxXdfxtYOyZVDnsZiqBV1F7DNfVoFkm7vYQ_jRWKyvpAp0YwZ3XVJwBMuwNOPoih6I_Cp4pB-Fs9gD5tYL6iNudr1Kpttty-E/s400/DSC00905.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417407938258687842" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMbQFQFZ9w9JCsyu8Z_fGcTTXJCOsUgBJw53ooL4MQNkLrv3m6CevME5QyeFenbNPlsIPwhyRbjpkBHr1kplQkDPP19ptBSCFnGzO9IVOmtFlUBUJvJ_TJocMuIQgKAXxUDZ8Kjx7F78o/s1600-h/DSC00907.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMbQFQFZ9w9JCsyu8Z_fGcTTXJCOsUgBJw53ooL4MQNkLrv3m6CevME5QyeFenbNPlsIPwhyRbjpkBHr1kplQkDPP19ptBSCFnGzO9IVOmtFlUBUJvJ_TJocMuIQgKAXxUDZ8Kjx7F78o/s400/DSC00907.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417407936727485058" border="0" /></a>Really nice altar.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVL1sBszSysX0-M6ztfJHN9ZiNkfeKsY-cXH42RjQm7HKYxg_cCa0onrJijBytGC9Q-XvYrP-3ifYHhLM2dQwnZnE_LmivVOfhV_paibTiZceJcTLXYiv30ugEiRLNNEEwE4DoXQagaFM/s1600-h/DSC00909.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVL1sBszSysX0-M6ztfJHN9ZiNkfeKsY-cXH42RjQm7HKYxg_cCa0onrJijBytGC9Q-XvYrP-3ifYHhLM2dQwnZnE_LmivVOfhV_paibTiZceJcTLXYiv30ugEiRLNNEEwE4DoXQagaFM/s400/DSC00909.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417407935881791698" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGq59thEhW1jMsD1xg2GnLn9T72uMpR3lwHv_JxBPH2s4xjTWbK-ooWJwQULEuRW-iHhvg_7H7GI2Y5PPTHS8NtRDf-t_WW5OHZkjgrwne0ALiq3dxWrYOcHJ7gXYZGLpPBAfG8wsjUcA/s1600-h/DSC00911.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGq59thEhW1jMsD1xg2GnLn9T72uMpR3lwHv_JxBPH2s4xjTWbK-ooWJwQULEuRW-iHhvg_7H7GI2Y5PPTHS8NtRDf-t_WW5OHZkjgrwne0ALiq3dxWrYOcHJ7gXYZGLpPBAfG8wsjUcA/s400/DSC00911.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417407923956987954" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxAxYCw8V5ez1pUu3B63NPI1LxKIpyqhFzXmxKEwMc-7XxSs8Y9Keddg6CFNGOJn0xqlYzOfNNuCmpy2GF_obEEkey-IxwyEr6vVLW96xQcgDRw0dMWQQbScYcfLJfk5aWKdoywhqt5P0/s1600-h/DSC00912.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxAxYCw8V5ez1pUu3B63NPI1LxKIpyqhFzXmxKEwMc-7XxSs8Y9Keddg6CFNGOJn0xqlYzOfNNuCmpy2GF_obEEkey-IxwyEr6vVLW96xQcgDRw0dMWQQbScYcfLJfk5aWKdoywhqt5P0/s400/DSC00912.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417407148991601346" border="0" /></a><br /><br />There are many images created by artists from different countries on the walls. I don't know why these are so blurry, sorry.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-zTm0kSEW5fuGUGW1Jh5JfpwQZFPFjRUb8siWIxRkgdVCbckzqKP0WmRpOYfkLB1D8sbm4iY45CHb4Q4JbFs-VvoccEWlw4tZaP70Gwtjf-_Ypp8xrxJkDqxZy9l5yWdBJ1g1go62tWs/s1600-h/DSC00910.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-zTm0kSEW5fuGUGW1Jh5JfpwQZFPFjRUb8siWIxRkgdVCbckzqKP0WmRpOYfkLB1D8sbm4iY45CHb4Q4JbFs-VvoccEWlw4tZaP70Gwtjf-_Ypp8xrxJkDqxZy9l5yWdBJ1g1go62tWs/s400/DSC00910.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417407928424443138" border="0" /></a>-From Japan<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNf2uWVwvkdosqkNlJsgFBFu8BAzVd7SdASDOHxWOCsigJGcMJCwkcjxOjMB2ldp-No0DnTWxTBZ41bDUYVdX04ADB0VZMM70lQEY68TWyri9LlXdneBHyaMyJ7VuNWJ7caE9HD7fs2yc/s1600-h/DSC00914.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNf2uWVwvkdosqkNlJsgFBFu8BAzVd7SdASDOHxWOCsigJGcMJCwkcjxOjMB2ldp-No0DnTWxTBZ41bDUYVdX04ADB0VZMM70lQEY68TWyri9LlXdneBHyaMyJ7VuNWJ7caE9HD7fs2yc/s400/DSC00914.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417407141583127266" border="0" /></a>-From China (where Mary is Queen, apparently)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpMPhzHwD-dZ_u5R7kVFJWagFf5qiuraBFu0RKkHThndyGVQDDZ6sKLqYUt0LojMgvqo4OXRkRI6lp4yngEz9AVuuwOs45mkmi7Py7yh3fzJOdiLPcl8d459MjcP2Vynd-B0cdsSANQls/s1600-h/DSC00915.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpMPhzHwD-dZ_u5R7kVFJWagFf5qiuraBFu0RKkHThndyGVQDDZ6sKLqYUt0LojMgvqo4OXRkRI6lp4yngEz9AVuuwOs45mkmi7Py7yh3fzJOdiLPcl8d459MjcP2Vynd-B0cdsSANQls/s400/DSC00915.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417407137106207026" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEXVIXY2CXHCbyRqlyeSgtU6vw0RRNOAC6IPYGKtfUEl7TzdAXi1Y953j1oXyUJotkEGqlFfFLY7nSEHBwXr3iQ-xhuLkMhX_ojpN_30jNbK8SehHX1pDk0kSGHLqSB2FoGubTXcmQFs0/s1600-h/DSC00916.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEXVIXY2CXHCbyRqlyeSgtU6vw0RRNOAC6IPYGKtfUEl7TzdAXi1Y953j1oXyUJotkEGqlFfFLY7nSEHBwXr3iQ-xhuLkMhX_ojpN_30jNbK8SehHX1pDk0kSGHLqSB2FoGubTXcmQFs0/s400/DSC00916.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417407130633924658" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Y3E9gKbCTtxN0fy8k_wrWp3aIfiDXmwUaa2y6jsQ-QAk5AXbF6Qg8M0ltVg4upacbXtQG0PwAohOroox4omOpfax4FUvm9bnjQKfXfaF_sPn5nsO1gqxg0noRMQiqz0QIzGnMvcKLpY/s1600-h/DSC00918.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Y3E9gKbCTtxN0fy8k_wrWp3aIfiDXmwUaa2y6jsQ-QAk5AXbF6Qg8M0ltVg4upacbXtQG0PwAohOroox4omOpfax4FUvm9bnjQKfXfaF_sPn5nsO1gqxg0noRMQiqz0QIzGnMvcKLpY/s400/DSC00918.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417406618789354706" border="0" /></a><br />This last, particularly abstract one, is from Canada.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ul9o5wSCaaNg1uIP5Z0gP-D-rG1Bf9fQcL5Zeb_jDYqsYW5czLJYNovcaRVP5TIkD7O0ZuIdf3Hri8WAvtzbh1ZjGL2n5tHbT-8atsxR-85W8PGdK_6QcfsOtw56GWXv3AQejaw3eJw/s1600-h/DSC00920.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ul9o5wSCaaNg1uIP5Z0gP-D-rG1Bf9fQcL5Zeb_jDYqsYW5czLJYNovcaRVP5TIkD7O0ZuIdf3Hri8WAvtzbh1ZjGL2n5tHbT-8atsxR-85W8PGdK_6QcfsOtw56GWXv3AQejaw3eJw/s400/DSC00920.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417406613800313090" border="0" /></a>And the outside, just as the sun was setting.<br /><br /><br />I went to the Church of Joseph, just next door.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhiAccPAKTFZx8q3RNkzydb9DhGKw2IwtKfaCL5Lo-fIFiN0mBW39WMdXg10VnfTKvXRDaxeHHBxyn0PM_zo9q5hqjGghS2TYEHUWTzrMFk9RE_ofx_eHBrxLAaFZDcMVrClNXE_a9Mss/s1600-h/DSC00921.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhiAccPAKTFZx8q3RNkzydb9DhGKw2IwtKfaCL5Lo-fIFiN0mBW39WMdXg10VnfTKvXRDaxeHHBxyn0PM_zo9q5hqjGghS2TYEHUWTzrMFk9RE_ofx_eHBrxLAaFZDcMVrClNXE_a9Mss/s400/DSC00921.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417406609804695970" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3e6RcM6T23e8UEG4_K4vpkHVyCSbmyYjqZL1IOVK2rcHDSJeW-sOG3W0neMN6MgtJU3toywcT2SX-uEHj-779evE_Oi0RWQebWPLiQChcjO1Td14ANvUqtIY0w0-6izE_-nEBQIuY7zE/s1600-h/DSC00923.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3e6RcM6T23e8UEG4_K4vpkHVyCSbmyYjqZL1IOVK2rcHDSJeW-sOG3W0neMN6MgtJU3toywcT2SX-uEHj-779evE_Oi0RWQebWPLiQChcjO1Td14ANvUqtIY0w0-6izE_-nEBQIuY7zE/s400/DSC00923.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417406603321025522" border="0" /></a>This is the place of baptism, I think.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOvkJmsF8UusJT5m1_eXFdOrZCLl7GEkMJCQ5NZKs08Ehs1ehG2HTRyUEF60g2DtvYDpeVWD47F3klRDE9V1SEbVU8t0r40JGBDYFJMkKqlBTGjfb2wLR-E1TiQnApOjAAgGRjDW3M1rc/s1600-h/DSC00924.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOvkJmsF8UusJT5m1_eXFdOrZCLl7GEkMJCQ5NZKs08Ehs1ehG2HTRyUEF60g2DtvYDpeVWD47F3klRDE9V1SEbVU8t0r40JGBDYFJMkKqlBTGjfb2wLR-E1TiQnApOjAAgGRjDW3M1rc/s400/DSC00924.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417406599918166226" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw2w7UyN9sOte12wpB0Jsuoqs80ScLiQwpN6ykSYKf2ptOBeFrK4mDBSOyZLaMqkFpDj22D7HX9xt8bzqe8Y_yg8t7fHPFvRxrzj-PnZlxhFTt6frg_oOmv42U4vHQmTNlAbWqxckYsbo/s1600-h/DSC00925.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw2w7UyN9sOte12wpB0Jsuoqs80ScLiQwpN6ykSYKf2ptOBeFrK4mDBSOyZLaMqkFpDj22D7HX9xt8bzqe8Y_yg8t7fHPFvRxrzj-PnZlxhFTt6frg_oOmv42U4vHQmTNlAbWqxckYsbo/s400/DSC00925.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417405882485892754" border="0" /></a>Can you see how much this looks like an eye? That's not just me, right?<br /><br />Then I went to the White Mosque. This is again right next door to the Churches. I felt a little nervous about taking photos inside, but no one said anything. I also didn't want to go wondering around, as I couldn't tell where were the male and female areas and didn't want to cause offense.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlW5INftBb8dMmTg_Lpgxs_mKnpGxfX_y2SYiwoiyMCYseCLvCpAofLg5dBo2Hgl7OJhm6zOeESs-2pYPc8zq1hgZgGHhd-3z5yrscZuweUUHfybV5TvSypXZmI60AHNIjyE1qpZl6zic/s1600-h/DSC00927.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlW5INftBb8dMmTg_Lpgxs_mKnpGxfX_y2SYiwoiyMCYseCLvCpAofLg5dBo2Hgl7OJhm6zOeESs-2pYPc8zq1hgZgGHhd-3z5yrscZuweUUHfybV5TvSypXZmI60AHNIjyE1qpZl6zic/s400/DSC00927.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417405876811888386" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj99haYm4ucidHFUid9D-nPYrlw4aUfZXyXciXShIAZjgSS9PF8e8xtDxHgIVaFlnWr2knBkKz8fMyllEnG6dTkjX1jlWv3BGTkEdwRYuXCpmQNkrGTDK2-9-9G7IhkReFtLVgJJ1zp-vY/s1600-h/DSC00928.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj99haYm4ucidHFUid9D-nPYrlw4aUfZXyXciXShIAZjgSS9PF8e8xtDxHgIVaFlnWr2knBkKz8fMyllEnG6dTkjX1jlWv3BGTkEdwRYuXCpmQNkrGTDK2-9-9G7IhkReFtLVgJJ1zp-vY/s400/DSC00928.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417405873638805938" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I went back to the hostel (after eating some felafel), and hung out with the other guests for a few hours. This was nice and I had some interesting conversations about religion. They had cooked a kind of green Arabic wheat called (I think) Freeke. Unfortunately, as I was about to spoon a moutful onto my tongue, they remembered they'd put chicken stock stock into it...but at least it smelt very nice.<br /><br />The next morning I got up early and took a walk through the old city. Nazareth is basically organised just like Jerusalem: the old city is a walled market town, narrow streets and usually bustling with traders of everything from fruit and veg to cheap plastic childrens' toys. Strangely, the streets are not named here but numbered. One big difference is the number of Jewish souvenir stalls - almost entirely absent here. There are also (as far as I could tell from my tourist map) zero synagogues. The city has a clear and obvious Christian connection, and the Arab Muslim population is also very noticeable. But in terms of Jewish presence there is really very little.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwHjY2I9j9kGa23FRFd4P6UBDXvwQjZ7gMf-cCpt9cyN-Ln_kdh2J0vtWmQlEZ8SyJ5EJX8_uwRpUL_Tkc9Y4sf4O5pu7o2jnXiBpIAH7kDqRk9BA2AcLZb5fMcGqv_J8eUnE90NyAGQs/s1600-h/DSC00930.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwHjY2I9j9kGa23FRFd4P6UBDXvwQjZ7gMf-cCpt9cyN-Ln_kdh2J0vtWmQlEZ8SyJ5EJX8_uwRpUL_Tkc9Y4sf4O5pu7o2jnXiBpIAH7kDqRk9BA2AcLZb5fMcGqv_J8eUnE90NyAGQs/s400/DSC00930.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417405866965513666" border="0" /></a>Inside the old city<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2tCbqgEjfVYzrQfTt2hMi0CeSZIfgz-7oTYeRYm6YqfJVm4dorKHAkyDhRXqKAOv8GuSouNji9PhVFN4R1_gyt9g4WrxNrhpKdmZjRK1u-YWVoJ-ZgYWJSEC20i8WSbOrsoQOHa7sBX8/s1600-h/DSC00931.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2tCbqgEjfVYzrQfTt2hMi0CeSZIfgz-7oTYeRYm6YqfJVm4dorKHAkyDhRXqKAOv8GuSouNji9PhVFN4R1_gyt9g4WrxNrhpKdmZjRK1u-YWVoJ-ZgYWJSEC20i8WSbOrsoQOHa7sBX8/s400/DSC00931.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417405219306931138" border="0" /></a>I got to the Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation. Having enjoyed the Greek Catholic Church in Haifa, I figured this might be worth the visit.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUTzT_KMhJgzq7PnKbKQqNr8t48imzO7RQlGYhhPxY3N9KgEoYIrDm5C2hP1vqY6USRiAgV9ZqcEcTRGMB4MorOO5t_IxdTujtoJ0wF0H4xSvJYmEPVhL5VM6RBGOmvuHzGUi2CFU6jpA/s1600-h/DSC00932.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUTzT_KMhJgzq7PnKbKQqNr8t48imzO7RQlGYhhPxY3N9KgEoYIrDm5C2hP1vqY6USRiAgV9ZqcEcTRGMB4MorOO5t_IxdTujtoJ0wF0H4xSvJYmEPVhL5VM6RBGOmvuHzGUi2CFU6jpA/s400/DSC00932.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417405215067133602" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGhnJ4R98M_o5baCvxgb7VIhto1rgN0Utii9TmHJ7QJOkA4u_gics11a0nldy7kuo5hJx3h0NMwKynhtEjnGHc3f2WhHyzbtzrMIgcO9mtju-t6sGsAMGgOOYg7O__aGnKclfQj7M2LaU/s1600-h/DSC00933.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGhnJ4R98M_o5baCvxgb7VIhto1rgN0Utii9TmHJ7QJOkA4u_gics11a0nldy7kuo5hJx3h0NMwKynhtEjnGHc3f2WhHyzbtzrMIgcO9mtju-t6sGsAMGgOOYg7O__aGnKclfQj7M2LaU/s400/DSC00933.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417405214203331746" border="0" /></a><br />Another image of Michael and the Dragon.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXJ0kp_8I1Oz22whfNVpd7nCcU4TjY6fd7RRxuthfu0Hp_NpPVhyQYuod7HgGa6KM2Q1-ofl5R6o9YruwEvW4dTXESdOYeH_POcelVK-uDbPrwb0WntYFh2etmnJFj_RJjmLU8rXYskzg/s1600-h/DSC00934.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXJ0kp_8I1Oz22whfNVpd7nCcU4TjY6fd7RRxuthfu0Hp_NpPVhyQYuod7HgGa6KM2Q1-ofl5R6o9YruwEvW4dTXESdOYeH_POcelVK-uDbPrwb0WntYFh2etmnJFj_RJjmLU8rXYskzg/s400/DSC00934.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417405205978557122" border="0" /></a>Mary being annunciated unto.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgodtT6-HGh3lXVAQNrkcI0VA7J4VVIdYSMomhyphenhyphenE5pFUgtq-J9fDQDYpH-iumYSTKYf29wr2NssTOnScp-hnYVBixgfjtxg4Mic7E8Yd68BaXGceoRtP_JNN88HVn5w5CIttqub2QXZ6w4/s1600-h/DSC00935.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgodtT6-HGh3lXVAQNrkcI0VA7J4VVIdYSMomhyphenhyphenE5pFUgtq-J9fDQDYpH-iumYSTKYf29wr2NssTOnScp-hnYVBixgfjtxg4Mic7E8Yd68BaXGceoRtP_JNN88HVn5w5CIttqub2QXZ6w4/s400/DSC00935.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417405198946560274" border="0" /></a>The entire inside of the building is decorated like this - not one inch of plain wall.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj92QbyHEvW03x8RlA_5rylrrWn1nsqOpQdIN_EKhw3YPOay64HHfVxAPq-1Wo5Rjt_5SnZSAmk48-2x2hKLpjIOF3mMdC1Hny8LjIzGJWxKmKrzcbgmabD97zPyXyeK984YckZr8F7O-Y/s1600-h/DSC00936.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj92QbyHEvW03x8RlA_5rylrrWn1nsqOpQdIN_EKhw3YPOay64HHfVxAPq-1Wo5Rjt_5SnZSAmk48-2x2hKLpjIOF3mMdC1Hny8LjIzGJWxKmKrzcbgmabD97zPyXyeK984YckZr8F7O-Y/s400/DSC00936.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417403034511114098" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-i0lS9v6nGFWcaUz2_qepk5wu5Q989bBwcJGrNnt3QsfONpL4LeMaKD26hNQH99GIwb5S2mc7Qwnfoyt6RIRqnk5Mot2nEduBmTkuNWcppIeuQI3iaX7HljNcUlmTTc8hs8ec9DqNUo8/s1600-h/DSC00937.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-i0lS9v6nGFWcaUz2_qepk5wu5Q989bBwcJGrNnt3QsfONpL4LeMaKD26hNQH99GIwb5S2mc7Qwnfoyt6RIRqnk5Mot2nEduBmTkuNWcppIeuQI3iaX7HljNcUlmTTc8hs8ec9DqNUo8/s400/DSC00937.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417403031395161282" border="0" /></a>Then I went to the Greek Orthodox Cemetery. This was very unlike cemeteries I'm used to. Check this out for example:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbZUfF81EkjJijtwmQw9lRcV1Bj3S2CaO62HY8Rj07t9ImKQxVK5cMutt5n5g5wK5k7UBFeuAuuArKp8qw1IEvK0t6VySJC2rlAG3x2ofiKP6kxK1ONJZ8A4WQH10Z0VfzVdf80LbCB6Q/s1600-h/DSC00938.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbZUfF81EkjJijtwmQw9lRcV1Bj3S2CaO62HY8Rj07t9ImKQxVK5cMutt5n5g5wK5k7UBFeuAuuArKp8qw1IEvK0t6VySJC2rlAG3x2ofiKP6kxK1ONJZ8A4WQH10Z0VfzVdf80LbCB6Q/s400/DSC00938.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417403024609493826" border="0" /></a>Not only do they have pictures of the people on all the gravestones, many people are buried <span style="font-style: italic;">above ground</span>, in a filing-drawer sort of system. The empty spaces will soon (not too soon, one hopes) be filled and sealed.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNW7pLAhKmGS7ehRU3IUOIsVX4jkaUUGSTkViLreDg33KdSab_ECGh5iVZ6eK1Y00Zjv_qxuHY9XwURJdYBjevcyz0Tofy_nZKHrR3HiT7BhWFnllh3x_E9RHc8VmEZIpMoH_yJcGEKiI/s1600-h/DSC00939.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNW7pLAhKmGS7ehRU3IUOIsVX4jkaUUGSTkViLreDg33KdSab_ECGh5iVZ6eK1Y00Zjv_qxuHY9XwURJdYBjevcyz0Tofy_nZKHrR3HiT7BhWFnllh3x_E9RHc8VmEZIpMoH_yJcGEKiI/s400/DSC00939.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417403019969170626" border="0" /></a>I had to dash back to the hostel to get my bags, check out and find the bus to Tiberias. On my way though I met this tiniest kitten who was very sweet. She can only have been about four weeks old. It's made me very sad to see so many strays in Israel. I wish there was something I could do to help them all.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq2omaD3GNRuXyGbPJhcGcSrSB0uuFzegu3G0_VRDM87UI0cy3t5kum1vD6KOYh6urEvVIqObY-jUD991nfpU9QNyvcfvJ_IV2UYFfAWlgTPK6ktH5xxCjXfvInlB77EWzqfpXb1CIC24/s1600-h/DSC00940.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq2omaD3GNRuXyGbPJhcGcSrSB0uuFzegu3G0_VRDM87UI0cy3t5kum1vD6KOYh6urEvVIqObY-jUD991nfpU9QNyvcfvJ_IV2UYFfAWlgTPK6ktH5xxCjXfvInlB77EWzqfpXb1CIC24/s400/DSC00940.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417403016185044962" border="0" /></a><br />After talking to the cat I bumped into a Canadian man who -strangely? I'm not sure- had moved to Nazareth Illit (the village outside Nazareth) to work here as a street sweeper. When he found out I was from Birmingham he enthusiastically asked whether I supported Birmingham City or Villa. I didn't want to admit that I couldn't care less, so I told him I had a penchant for Wolves, having lived close to their ground for many years. We talked for a while about national sports and jazz before I headed off.<br /><br />I was catching the bus to Tiberias in order to connect then to Tzfat, home of Kabbalah and city with a very interesting character. While waiting in Nazareth I was accosted by an elderly gentleman who waved and called "Shalom!" in a gummy kind of way, from two seats to my left. "Tiveria?" He asked. <span style="font-style: italic;">Yes</span>. "Ah." Toothless grin. "My Name Salii. Everyone like me." Mm. Good. <span style="font-style: italic;">Tov</span>, I said. He told me again, two times. I nodded sagely (what else can you do?). He still didn't seem quite sure I'd understood how popular he was (and he also tried to demonstrate this by waving and shouting at passersby, most of whom ignored him), but we were interrupted by a young guy who took a concerned interest in my I Ching tattoo. I tried to explain what it was, but I think he got the impression it was some kind of Triad symbol. It earned his respect anyway and he gave me his phone number and told me that anything I needed in Nazareth I could call him and he would provide for me - at the best price, of course.<br /><br /><span style="padding: 1px 4px; position: absolute; -moz-appearance: tooltip; z-index: 10000; cursor: pointer; left: 456px; top: 1125px;color:#000000;" >save</span><span style="padding: 1px 4px; position: absolute; -moz-appearance: tooltip; color: infotext; z-index: 10000; cursor: pointer; left: 456px; top: 12651px;">save</span>Ayinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10120620659286171851noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462752563299701010.post-88618958977586642242009-12-16T11:28:00.000-08:002009-12-18T09:47:23.129-08:00Haifa, part 2Wow, I have so much catching up to do. Uncooperative wifi has really confounded me in the last week.<br /><br />I'm now in Tiberias. However I have a lot more of Haifa to talk about, so I'll do this first. Here is a shot of the landmark by which I could always orient myself:<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOY9mctWRabyjQpOtQ90KJfdGd5vwjf45WNeEDCe_FXc1FvUhSVcqJMvwPDyWwqUGQW6tzOFUN4-X_PVMpJkmzSgtPXkkZ5bzb57vwqVMHLAjAC_EOhGyGpCNT-n6YC813DgPoA8sPvjY/s1600-h/DSC00849.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOY9mctWRabyjQpOtQ90KJfdGd5vwjf45WNeEDCe_FXc1FvUhSVcqJMvwPDyWwqUGQW6tzOFUN4-X_PVMpJkmzSgtPXkkZ5bzb57vwqVMHLAjAC_EOhGyGpCNT-n6YC813DgPoA8sPvjY/s400/DSC00849.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416618835167391234" border="0" /></a>I still don't know what it is, hotel or offices. Here are some more of Hadar, the area where the Port Inn is located. Similarly to Tel Aviv, there's real decay here coupled with beatiful new developments. The incongruity is quite poignant.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm3M5Le0WgKblQyzYPkVvBa_WMoyTmfwkTOfjhp-o1yr6vIhcMM3CVgwOsi1WsL3lCjBhoNoqXC29HvXJkiSaXNiKjOV4JvaGWhadwkd4gNWvfpY76H8R9gtAZyDlBIDNVebCLULpJ7ZM/s1600-h/DSC00851.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm3M5Le0WgKblQyzYPkVvBa_WMoyTmfwkTOfjhp-o1yr6vIhcMM3CVgwOsi1WsL3lCjBhoNoqXC29HvXJkiSaXNiKjOV4JvaGWhadwkd4gNWvfpY76H8R9gtAZyDlBIDNVebCLULpJ7ZM/s400/DSC00851.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416618830531702402" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikbevk0kfBZLzGKAeMvnIgRyQq_kUe4XhUDWfDI5X1Hfft1Yp1oHG35jHxzZfy0fxEA_qOW2uNNsIy2KSEV_MPjxsAgueZRJwB1lxfmwi6N6NqVlOYokN-N5mlKDjGDzpzlot70PhJVhM/s1600-h/DSC00852.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikbevk0kfBZLzGKAeMvnIgRyQq_kUe4XhUDWfDI5X1Hfft1Yp1oHG35jHxzZfy0fxEA_qOW2uNNsIy2KSEV_MPjxsAgueZRJwB1lxfmwi6N6NqVlOYokN-N5mlKDjGDzpzlot70PhJVhM/s400/DSC00852.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416618820816997730" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLi4i1-EeWQXTJnbSmGWtjY7-BnJDmQnCUxeRj0Hoo-IdH4qfDNXiaQHTchvnLkRhJXDfs69A4hs1nG_m7zY-k729tM_w8cLs8zDYfLAKsU_PzdyQBQkWn6mIUN6hb8hJB8JGxJSewsPY/s1600-h/DSC00853.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLi4i1-EeWQXTJnbSmGWtjY7-BnJDmQnCUxeRj0Hoo-IdH4qfDNXiaQHTchvnLkRhJXDfs69A4hs1nG_m7zY-k729tM_w8cLs8zDYfLAKsU_PzdyQBQkWn6mIUN6hb8hJB8JGxJSewsPY/s400/DSC00853.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416618818749596498" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEGf2OejjzIZg6_hm-M2XgGZzlAl6VppbA9TCxoYhwGc8GTL6OTflbfWjw11CZ47fWWiUSWyojHtFYUO9tahQDspnXHreDK0PN2uIaWqYwd9fMK-zC4xjG7hyphenhyphenu1C6t4BAm72oF87kYOKc/s1600-h/DSC00854.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEGf2OejjzIZg6_hm-M2XgGZzlAl6VppbA9TCxoYhwGc8GTL6OTflbfWjw11CZ47fWWiUSWyojHtFYUO9tahQDspnXHreDK0PN2uIaWqYwd9fMK-zC4xjG7hyphenhyphenu1C6t4BAm72oF87kYOKc/s400/DSC00854.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416618813043984994" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghX3cXwe_nR4cCOXte8tC528SkNbZiQyagK8XatXcOdc_t4_lZNGvd-86essxCkhgjKGtc7BsL20lko3LmFUuBVQNkWO0S-rEYnmkMeQyyANDYb7OrS30ec2390Rw8Arbwvs3rmmug_5I/s1600-h/DSC00855.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghX3cXwe_nR4cCOXte8tC528SkNbZiQyagK8XatXcOdc_t4_lZNGvd-86essxCkhgjKGtc7BsL20lko3LmFUuBVQNkWO0S-rEYnmkMeQyyANDYb7OrS30ec2390Rw8Arbwvs3rmmug_5I/s400/DSC00855.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416617270889207282" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQbmFadGXpx-xHePe6jdcwzMq-7pZiIWG_atTo-6bW_F8Ms0nWHiAuBjhOZrduLvvFX9WUWryG4PXA_Iu8_Gc8fBbbZkCHgdkZnBSgu2_J1q3ZgcK4IKoD2oqYxhj27QbVGJ7DHrttauI/s1600-h/DSC00856.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQbmFadGXpx-xHePe6jdcwzMq-7pZiIWG_atTo-6bW_F8Ms0nWHiAuBjhOZrduLvvFX9WUWryG4PXA_Iu8_Gc8fBbbZkCHgdkZnBSgu2_J1q3ZgcK4IKoD2oqYxhj27QbVGJ7DHrttauI/s400/DSC00856.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416617267896170722" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXHU3j2eaRpPrSl7nOa87V7A4VMFQ13yzcuqau0rfq4rlLEjjOosHytZkqmZW1CmChvNSFjsclHGPwS5yd_mS6f2Ko6jkCnEJU9UeB3s6Si9DU1zxWz-4kKuhRuIwA9imUE1fpxzypSYU/s1600-h/DSC00857.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXHU3j2eaRpPrSl7nOa87V7A4VMFQ13yzcuqau0rfq4rlLEjjOosHytZkqmZW1CmChvNSFjsclHGPwS5yd_mS6f2Ko6jkCnEJU9UeB3s6Si9DU1zxWz-4kKuhRuIwA9imUE1fpxzypSYU/s400/DSC00857.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416617262277709602" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXRagswheAjN-jDdA9wC_c30Zhq1f-zt326YSGLJJQI5s9Me233714ERRxP16FC3UHj7EFhEP0mdD3vTQUd3AwR33JsFr2l_7Ycx9gic04Q36FOhhGp3zdveSGKAXoIH_iJxXs91CY6Y4/s1600-h/DSC00858.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXRagswheAjN-jDdA9wC_c30Zhq1f-zt326YSGLJJQI5s9Me233714ERRxP16FC3UHj7EFhEP0mdD3vTQUd3AwR33JsFr2l_7Ycx9gic04Q36FOhhGp3zdveSGKAXoIH_iJxXs91CY6Y4/s400/DSC00858.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416617256225568610" border="0" /></a><br />I can't remember how many days I spent in Haifa - something like four nights at the hostel. One of the days I took a walk around the shopping area in Hadar, visiting the Museum of Modern Art. They had an <a href="http://www.hms.org.il/Museum/Templates/showpage.asp?DBID=1&LNGID=1&TMID=841&FID=1521">exhibition on the theme of the Grotesque</a>, which I found very worthwhile. It was refreshing to see something which expressed a sense of horror or distortion in relation to modern life, in contrast to the very pure and cerebral religious images. I particularly liked the work of <a href="http://assimeshullam.com/">Assi Meshullam</a> and <a href="http://www.freshpaint.co.il/EN/artist_show_116.html">Gil Yefman</a><br /><br />On the walk back I passed the Science Museum and saw this.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7EVjCj8UDgULBAoxeBt3JfyPJSN7uRU1YZE5YSt4Rp9zqTGBLHPLyivyhIAB0BYvUjuQ-v4kPTv6sIzmEjJoWsXMcDjL2fKrBjNYcAdpoGR63KNcJBQVzZ3OBJKBr03wNzQl9onHkQHk/s1600-h/DSC00859.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7EVjCj8UDgULBAoxeBt3JfyPJSN7uRU1YZE5YSt4Rp9zqTGBLHPLyivyhIAB0BYvUjuQ-v4kPTv6sIzmEjJoWsXMcDjL2fKrBjNYcAdpoGR63KNcJBQVzZ3OBJKBr03wNzQl9onHkQHk/s400/DSC00859.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416617252812257954" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9DaTF5F7iQegy1k3EocmJJ6Osl3JUuzqlEQJzJk6a0GfhJDDCX9udBYwwAULH1VY5lZuqx03yctvCr-DCaQVpY8Lynjpz2Ajzh6WTFgAZNQHjQkrGE_0_fJV_loATTo3PzNLRY_r0R1Y/s1600-h/DSC00860.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9DaTF5F7iQegy1k3EocmJJ6Osl3JUuzqlEQJzJk6a0GfhJDDCX9udBYwwAULH1VY5lZuqx03yctvCr-DCaQVpY8Lynjpz2Ajzh6WTFgAZNQHjQkrGE_0_fJV_loATTo3PzNLRY_r0R1Y/s400/DSC00860.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416614703311791938" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_dBXbsyK5SFGuZRmVQuAOK5Zm9RnjTIAKE1yEq0A2qTNsmknyO6HwYEtI8Va-2lhOu6SC3rnGe3q_aCfZPpx6rW_HnDSsqt419hoZHEkYBW08ImPt6wD-UIxJsedGuhY8x3bH_2cxS-E/s1600-h/DSC00861.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_dBXbsyK5SFGuZRmVQuAOK5Zm9RnjTIAKE1yEq0A2qTNsmknyO6HwYEtI8Va-2lhOu6SC3rnGe3q_aCfZPpx6rW_HnDSsqt419hoZHEkYBW08ImPt6wD-UIxJsedGuhY8x3bH_2cxS-E/s400/DSC00861.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416614696853774258" border="0" /></a>It's DaVinci's proportions of man, made 3D. From the look of it, it moves too. I would like to see this in operation.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6mZuwedWbjEeuJ9xwQg1RgJk88QYb0Q23A5TwcXYnv4c3d0LfwhjBRBBwuBzT2ZsCaSwit5gs_awivupjgZxEiEfvTXlaRJgjV_QtQCuX35jsniLiPKJ6MeL5_la9YRrTxgaeMNybBPE/s1600-h/DSC00862.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6mZuwedWbjEeuJ9xwQg1RgJk88QYb0Q23A5TwcXYnv4c3d0LfwhjBRBBwuBzT2ZsCaSwit5gs_awivupjgZxEiEfvTXlaRJgjV_QtQCuX35jsniLiPKJ6MeL5_la9YRrTxgaeMNybBPE/s400/DSC00862.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416614689741178162" border="0" /></a>Two of these dinosaurs guard the entrance to somewhere that I sheltered from the torrential downpour that accompanied me.<br /><br />Eventually I made it back to the market in Wadi Niswas, where I noticed this odd hanging fabric.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8UXhI3dfayIk3VO0n69BuDK0yD_vz9z50q2M72Pl4943RdJLOW58xAXk0JvpIkpSRJGaCcMQq_fDUplMDOA2HE9sUs_yEaWO7yYmw11wgrgzsGIK3iR7d02QCG3GpoS-RrT-NdkQI6hA/s1600-h/DSC00863.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8UXhI3dfayIk3VO0n69BuDK0yD_vz9z50q2M72Pl4943RdJLOW58xAXk0JvpIkpSRJGaCcMQq_fDUplMDOA2HE9sUs_yEaWO7yYmw11wgrgzsGIK3iR7d02QCG3GpoS-RrT-NdkQI6hA/s400/DSC00863.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416614682999945570" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdK7LVmONTXIt-DRp0dByGfQSmt1rmjbbeIg31b5zOeBegqiAIE23_v18FoD4hhoSm9Oc0-PJLBvdbLRIG_F-Gn-0RXpJaCxmQFKqLnm59EM7gh-TLbnHDnzWmmDX_6cK2KbQqypEmPFI/s1600-h/DSC00864.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdK7LVmONTXIt-DRp0dByGfQSmt1rmjbbeIg31b5zOeBegqiAIE23_v18FoD4hhoSm9Oc0-PJLBvdbLRIG_F-Gn-0RXpJaCxmQFKqLnm59EM7gh-TLbnHDnzWmmDX_6cK2KbQqypEmPFI/s400/DSC00864.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416614680988370114" border="0" /></a><br />I never did find out what the huge construction in the rear of this picture was.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhYlISOUusUVeTlLS6DWgYTOveOrnxopMKv3kTqO9IGoqTR7Zme7q3j3dzCUKs3vYxI-n2Ym-powB15DH7J2hxb_AtMcYKhJXhUtfsftYhB16te7l3j26buPcunup1Fkp90urpOepK0-0/s1600-h/DSC00865.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhYlISOUusUVeTlLS6DWgYTOveOrnxopMKv3kTqO9IGoqTR7Zme7q3j3dzCUKs3vYxI-n2Ym-powB15DH7J2hxb_AtMcYKhJXhUtfsftYhB16te7l3j26buPcunup1Fkp90urpOepK0-0/s400/DSC00865.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416613449992933986" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUFeAfbojOddz19phf_1KHOjhUbeDjBrJy7tHpJSlHXtkZ8Luw2uvy1jxM0vFCOmlgZm0FgreU4Un7eN5rG1DcdZn3uxIq1R94iHCti_D4GY3aR4-IkqWJPy0grPA6qfNonT_7uTA402M/s1600-h/DSC00866.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUFeAfbojOddz19phf_1KHOjhUbeDjBrJy7tHpJSlHXtkZ8Luw2uvy1jxM0vFCOmlgZm0FgreU4Un7eN5rG1DcdZn3uxIq1R94iHCti_D4GY3aR4-IkqWJPy0grPA6qfNonT_7uTA402M/s400/DSC00866.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416613444884680482" border="0" /></a><br />I bought a beer. Hurray!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiprKjnm5JiV3I-AIKJAwDoxW4Ox6hAQzhpXja2vqRUlYJrNhcayKru1ORc4OBb_mISWa-qq2K5jVsb-GSx0LxrE0gXJMxl9E0nmJqlpGwhMV2bmpRRB-hZ6VV2R7gOtbfgjdgZpc54rs4/s1600-h/DSC00867.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiprKjnm5JiV3I-AIKJAwDoxW4Ox6hAQzhpXja2vqRUlYJrNhcayKru1ORc4OBb_mISWa-qq2K5jVsb-GSx0LxrE0gXJMxl9E0nmJqlpGwhMV2bmpRRB-hZ6VV2R7gOtbfgjdgZpc54rs4/s400/DSC00867.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416613438984229554" border="0" /></a>This particular beer is from the German colony, which is largely -uh- Russian. It was very tasty.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcTTpmAxYgKVXrFum2Mg_RMUi4Net4myLoPCozcq90LAn579rlUIA4QCI7UZD-TnEIhcAmSz5n7m6u7QYAmOKytk1zlXTYMn1gdhr4kI6REyjnLDtO-kaqX8My9NXjWnP6B9_F3xogIZM/s1600-h/DSC00868.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcTTpmAxYgKVXrFum2Mg_RMUi4Net4myLoPCozcq90LAn579rlUIA4QCI7UZD-TnEIhcAmSz5n7m6u7QYAmOKytk1zlXTYMn1gdhr4kI6REyjnLDtO-kaqX8My9NXjWnP6B9_F3xogIZM/s400/DSC00868.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416613436217506802" border="0" /></a><br />On the penultimate day I realised I needed to stop ambling and actually see some of the things I had come to Haifa for. I got on a bus to go to Elijah's cave (supposedly where he fought the gods of Canaan, if memory serves). I missed the stop and found myself in a council estate sort of area, full of cats but also this statue:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtWtdjbo1lQQdyz9Ow7XC0g4p2C0x-4tdf9tGBaWDIQZNmvl8B6J_zLE71BAKM4DFs2iIRtyIMnhcuyIUT4f4arttbY5kX4QfVGKVmR55FOGMVUXLiIukHJA9R7bI5602iHMSUevkMs6I/s1600-h/DSC00869.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtWtdjbo1lQQdyz9Ow7XC0g4p2C0x-4tdf9tGBaWDIQZNmvl8B6J_zLE71BAKM4DFs2iIRtyIMnhcuyIUT4f4arttbY5kX4QfVGKVmR55FOGMVUXLiIukHJA9R7bI5602iHMSUevkMs6I/s400/DSC00869.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416613431271374754" border="0" /></a>I found my way back to cave, and met this cat.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqy_VZm7PW0CHf6g4WHHXYYU5s1vwa2a_j_sYtz0rqw1bZn31i6BO_PSQBIscm9uLwSffJO9p2Uj_CpjSX6PHU1x0z6p-DaZhX9-dTRT4y2JgFtMyVvBeUs9T9Nx5XOAuuwDOFJLRbVsM/s1600-h/DSC00870.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqy_VZm7PW0CHf6g4WHHXYYU5s1vwa2a_j_sYtz0rqw1bZn31i6BO_PSQBIscm9uLwSffJO9p2Uj_CpjSX6PHU1x0z6p-DaZhX9-dTRT4y2JgFtMyVvBeUs9T9Nx5XOAuuwDOFJLRbVsM/s400/DSC00870.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416612250539273218" border="0" /></a><br />And here is the cave:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAfv74MzXaJHJcYPkoeYDX1ixGKozKCkPhrkhn2BzcNEMUZBjuooVr0JkJ6ZhHJ8XmdBsi3Bx37L8VZr0LT87VkSt-VCLp4ndmpr6qk-tktbAjBDiO_Gwr7Tiu6Rep33iPz_475cfkc5E/s1600-h/DSC00871.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAfv74MzXaJHJcYPkoeYDX1ixGKozKCkPhrkhn2BzcNEMUZBjuooVr0JkJ6ZhHJ8XmdBsi3Bx37L8VZr0LT87VkSt-VCLp4ndmpr6qk-tktbAjBDiO_Gwr7Tiu6Rep33iPz_475cfkc5E/s400/DSC00871.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416612244213902242" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7t31rltkTi-y-9bGQyFrCHN7q4PETc1oZLOGbO9xiN2wKClZj1sjG8W8zjUxRC-r7s-qxmncEmA6pafhlIdHOIQW0vFUsXt3-jSJbyVD8J4cDPlAW1z6ZB3xtuoC1YQI5DPZXOLLjy_E/s1600-h/DSC00872.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7t31rltkTi-y-9bGQyFrCHN7q4PETc1oZLOGbO9xiN2wKClZj1sjG8W8zjUxRC-r7s-qxmncEmA6pafhlIdHOIQW0vFUsXt3-jSJbyVD8J4cDPlAW1z6ZB3xtuoC1YQI5DPZXOLLjy_E/s400/DSC00872.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416612242405230290" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEHIEOAl2iPe3pJpxTVBu5Zf4f1iUpteL6lfqYkNJQ3Xbi-kQ2zYtzi3304gACMbrmbwfeKShorAqCrHRB-bwMPhMZZfOyjgEzNq2vlnneEigxmzYfVcNePJO2u_ZpjUfAB33UgUtkABs/s1600-h/DSC00873.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEHIEOAl2iPe3pJpxTVBu5Zf4f1iUpteL6lfqYkNJQ3Xbi-kQ2zYtzi3304gACMbrmbwfeKShorAqCrHRB-bwMPhMZZfOyjgEzNq2vlnneEigxmzYfVcNePJO2u_ZpjUfAB33UgUtkABs/s400/DSC00873.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416612232865611154" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Woet0ksS0z-rydu3PrJJQcO6zv8yTqv-ZaAXqduQUZlT8rRqrqMArpg9t55-nh7jFYrTRlMDnShhxge-eIXUso1QLv9ICnp7nXT5zgrn1mCXOip7QFRcA08DNs-unDUlqXQod8smseA/s1600-h/DSC00874.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Woet0ksS0z-rydu3PrJJQcO6zv8yTqv-ZaAXqduQUZlT8rRqrqMArpg9t55-nh7jFYrTRlMDnShhxge-eIXUso1QLv9ICnp7nXT5zgrn1mCXOip7QFRcA08DNs-unDUlqXQod8smseA/s400/DSC00874.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416612226673098034" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj77JrjSbN20NMab02uQ8CONQoUJNPIca-zEugPQincdFMmjsiMe6r7Lx3q0_GdpQBjQmXE4XxSElJm21m9s7Og2Jj8LS6b5oFV4FxESfwl2o4poRP_clficY3fP5OyLDDF6pFFQerbIc4/s1600-h/DSC00875.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj77JrjSbN20NMab02uQ8CONQoUJNPIca-zEugPQincdFMmjsiMe6r7Lx3q0_GdpQBjQmXE4XxSElJm21m9s7Og2Jj8LS6b5oFV4FxESfwl2o4poRP_clficY3fP5OyLDDF6pFFQerbIc4/s400/DSC00875.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415924483008161634" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEvDaa2OLkfO0g1dFujV4V1-vdW3KGTyT_fwwy5b9ZdBJ3m_AwsTLKv8KUaNKvgcsav1q-UTD4ELQAOuDtZYBlcb4aAFmbx7Wz2zdM-P_-ON1q8J683Qg1ZbHA4v_SnHSp8l-_0n9zssA/s1600-h/DSC00876.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEvDaa2OLkfO0g1dFujV4V1-vdW3KGTyT_fwwy5b9ZdBJ3m_AwsTLKv8KUaNKvgcsav1q-UTD4ELQAOuDtZYBlcb4aAFmbx7Wz2zdM-P_-ON1q8J683Qg1ZbHA4v_SnHSp8l-_0n9zssA/s400/DSC00876.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415924473907037810" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiEttlq58pUw6SI5O-SdXoNsRQ1g_LF14gA_HYsfbEiTBTMEDJnKckX3Q1dAgLoC2O8ZU2AByZ0TBTlUz4CgqiM3k_cvyBWk36tAqMwKD6Ap2W79L1NoaboSExUf_MnD8iurl9Eyoj3go/s1600-h/DSC00877.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiEttlq58pUw6SI5O-SdXoNsRQ1g_LF14gA_HYsfbEiTBTMEDJnKckX3Q1dAgLoC2O8ZU2AByZ0TBTlUz4CgqiM3k_cvyBWk36tAqMwKD6Ap2W79L1NoaboSExUf_MnD8iurl9Eyoj3go/s400/DSC00877.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415923967019700866" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJDmUbaAr_rilc8oX1H0C8N_3eSVMhk4B8bEdbj-WUs58OeuYg5bwT2SPpG9sLCW-DLkn67WRa-ZUaTVKqlfo2RXmuSluTacv-lPiDS2_imGMk9_WRPRbFAba0vrGX1SicudSYXLH4qV0/s1600-h/DSC00878.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJDmUbaAr_rilc8oX1H0C8N_3eSVMhk4B8bEdbj-WUs58OeuYg5bwT2SPpG9sLCW-DLkn67WRa-ZUaTVKqlfo2RXmuSluTacv-lPiDS2_imGMk9_WRPRbFAba0vrGX1SicudSYXLH4qV0/s400/DSC00878.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415923965541450402" border="0" /></a>Now, it's very beautifully decorated. The additions are very ornate. For a long time (until Israel was established in 1948) Jews were barred from the Western Wall in Jerusalem and this cave was the most visitable holy site. So it's clearly quite important. However, I found the plastering of the walls in texts, diagrams, prayers, etc really worked against any feeling of holiness. It was quite oppressive being there. One is effectively prevented from appreciatin the cave as an environment by the aggressive promotion of its re-Judaification. OK, it's not been done for me. My thoughts would be wholly irrelevant to anyone involved in it. But I felt quite disappointed by the fact that, in contrast to the Western Wall, the cave in itself was being written over.<br /><br />Anyway, my next stop was Daliat El-Carmel. This is a large village of the Druze people. The Druze are an offshoot of Islam, whose religion is very secretive - the people are divided into priests and laypeople, the former of whom have exclusive access to the religious texts. It's very interesting and something I want to find out more about. The Druze have largely been rejected by Islam, and are entirely outside the Arab-Israel conflict. They serve in the IDF (Israeli army), and are effectively integrated into Israeli society.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR_oEbcJcZOXy8MwNc3ks155lOhrIVMx8iBbMpbg4zUMrn7EEwu0QO2ho-3NEhW7jmiEUS6qNuolCStlrl3Zl0U1JEXhtv_hCcEERaappKEu0Sh311-UIRFIHuFIajGFE67sdsQFM5clU/s1600-h/DSC00879.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR_oEbcJcZOXy8MwNc3ks155lOhrIVMx8iBbMpbg4zUMrn7EEwu0QO2ho-3NEhW7jmiEUS6qNuolCStlrl3Zl0U1JEXhtv_hCcEERaappKEu0Sh311-UIRFIHuFIajGFE67sdsQFM5clU/s400/DSC00879.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415921327237475586" border="0" /></a>I saw this house sign. 3/14 is a very good number - one of the best in fact - because it is my birthday, the first 2 decimal places of Pi (3.14...), and the numerical value of the name Metatron (314).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJJh2gK5CzvslgPgoj5hh4wgpYmivzA0UnD35adTeSdF4QFLeSwgfJF3lP-WU7y-aUEGwfko90dDSIxZ5wfRbLqbB_q26bz74FAyw_5Q_aYUgF9BqMBBUdXLR9MgeJohbo1XBe0su0F9M/s1600-h/DSC00880.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJJh2gK5CzvslgPgoj5hh4wgpYmivzA0UnD35adTeSdF4QFLeSwgfJF3lP-WU7y-aUEGwfko90dDSIxZ5wfRbLqbB_q26bz74FAyw_5Q_aYUgF9BqMBBUdXLR9MgeJohbo1XBe0su0F9M/s400/DSC00880.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415921324067969970" border="0" /></a>Nice Druze architecture.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9zPzSM5rDEBhylMAtJmMSpfY6oQRXsof6EXSCwsOqPM_3fNzd4mKtP1wLmuFX-MFqhFMz-7BPpJgKmYvIAf1ZdjnEXm9tZpOC5iIch6iF0CWfpsi9cHf7aZtBqfI_-sU6On2uY6p9A8M/s1600-h/DSC00881.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9zPzSM5rDEBhylMAtJmMSpfY6oQRXsof6EXSCwsOqPM_3fNzd4mKtP1wLmuFX-MFqhFMz-7BPpJgKmYvIAf1ZdjnEXm9tZpOC5iIch6iF0CWfpsi9cHf7aZtBqfI_-sU6On2uY6p9A8M/s400/DSC00881.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415920320289354546" border="0" /></a>To be fair, the 'old city' didn't look that much different from the new one.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ozYI1gtJuKRwUEP5JnKDrtdlGAmEOJRcZaQdIwSRT_dPHpLAbqZDCt0dtrGWhDGbvIA-hoVmMJpMFI7Ue7Bqb-tUcN60-641Icuy1DWR78X-G1jJt_UNuT3UuJfMaolVIExcz3JEmvo/s1600-h/DSC00882.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ozYI1gtJuKRwUEP5JnKDrtdlGAmEOJRcZaQdIwSRT_dPHpLAbqZDCt0dtrGWhDGbvIA-hoVmMJpMFI7Ue7Bqb-tUcN60-641Icuy1DWR78X-G1jJt_UNuT3UuJfMaolVIExcz3JEmvo/s400/DSC00882.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415920319258540546" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCP9h2ZVVPwnyda5PERV_cB8Vf34kPaOYGgDMe2WLLrE_nWKTyMXUC_HcypmrEw4uCxuMX1yj21kP1JNkKQvVP5Jh0KF3zmwZtlsr6nvm-a9QjH-Mncdgi-DqjZKbcV6IK1mBusiWpaig/s1600-h/DSC00883.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCP9h2ZVVPwnyda5PERV_cB8Vf34kPaOYGgDMe2WLLrE_nWKTyMXUC_HcypmrEw4uCxuMX1yj21kP1JNkKQvVP5Jh0KF3zmwZtlsr6nvm-a9QjH-Mncdgi-DqjZKbcV6IK1mBusiWpaig/s400/DSC00883.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415919426300582210" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDeDSN-xfTReW-xPNfQUIxrqm3CKhzXinRBKmNikot7IS6FPkAipRUNM1_z7tykUYH8j1I9xsu2AiKxuj_2nhn9Nq5DhSJnAAc8yhs6jhk1Y07a3OvEFcQuVlwVWw3GHEykCrZ8LlIwac/s1600-h/DSC00884.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDeDSN-xfTReW-xPNfQUIxrqm3CKhzXinRBKmNikot7IS6FPkAipRUNM1_z7tykUYH8j1I9xsu2AiKxuj_2nhn9Nq5DhSJnAAc8yhs6jhk1Y07a3OvEFcQuVlwVWw3GHEykCrZ8LlIwac/s400/DSC00884.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415919424027130994" border="0" /></a>I liked this - the Druze flag and the Israeli flag flying together. The Druze flag is made up of 7 colours, relating to the cosmology revealed in their religion.<br /><br />The village has a very commercial edge - tourism is a huge source of income. I saw some very nice glassware and textiles, which were made by the Druze. I thought about buying some of these but to be frank the stickers proclaiming "Genuine Druze Souvenir" put me off somewhat. In retrospect I'm not disappointed I didn't buy anything there. It was nice stuff but it was really just...stuff.<br /><br />I came back to my hostel and spent some time communing with the fish.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMkGZPdO3xJGZqZDDecJLKvza3m5Ht0EyRty_E1kYBppDsSuuVdRSfiSo7PIRPvVXv233u6QsvNAApSbq-NLSqZJebL4zJ0gAXFviYvyENVHdyQMIbdcnDY40E1DVWf3rNnkJXmFoNsw8/s1600-h/DSC00885.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMkGZPdO3xJGZqZDDecJLKvza3m5Ht0EyRty_E1kYBppDsSuuVdRSfiSo7PIRPvVXv233u6QsvNAApSbq-NLSqZJebL4zJ0gAXFviYvyENVHdyQMIbdcnDY40E1DVWf3rNnkJXmFoNsw8/s400/DSC00885.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415918852674874578" border="0" /></a>I have been saddened by the recurring presence of fish tanks in Israeli hostels. The fish must be very bored (I don't care what people say about fish memory, a living thing which has evolved in an ocean will feel stressed by being confined in a 3x5ft space). But this one particularly captured my heart. This sole, huge, fish in a tank by itself with no stimulation or change in its environment looked sad, bored and listless. I started tapping on the glass and it moved to stare at my fingers. Then it started getting excited and moving more energetically - I saw strings of old scales float from its body, dead scales which hadn't shed properly because it was so inactive. I played with it for a few minutes, then when I stopped it roamed around the tank quite attentively, taking special pleasure in the stream of bubbles from the oxygenater in the tank.<br /><br />That evening I spoke to a middle aged gent from Germany, who recommended I visit the Edith and Reuben Hecht Museum before leaving Haifa. I had picked up a flyer about this and made a mental note to try and go - it shared this with four other museums, which I didn't managed to get to. However his description sold it to me. I got up early and got to Haifa university where this museum is. It was nice just being at a university, I instantly felt more at home than I have the rest of the trip. I liked this mural (this is only part of it):<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3rKaitZWE3YD4VyoPyL6UQ6r61C5Mese8D33LqdGoFW4uID_dDna0NA-yGMtQkc-hHFcrCZffU3MQfZ9MVZOvzXDFCShyphenhyphenRx-dZSAcvaf-BO9nmTBss82cfqgo7yN9EjZ6fGnCbKzEev4/s1600-h/DSC00887.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3rKaitZWE3YD4VyoPyL6UQ6r61C5Mese8D33LqdGoFW4uID_dDna0NA-yGMtQkc-hHFcrCZffU3MQfZ9MVZOvzXDFCShyphenhyphenRx-dZSAcvaf-BO9nmTBss82cfqgo7yN9EjZ6fGnCbKzEev4/s400/DSC00887.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415918847867468674" border="0" /></a><br />To be fair the museum wasn't my cup of tea, though I would have got more from it if I hadn't been rushing to get back and catch my bus to Nazareth. I did find this display on the evolution of the alphabet quite interesting though.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5M1WsT-wUXmkoy1r-pm2QaALZzJ6dFb22B-QFoqW62Go6jlIMKszSqcaVh0DfyV1akxI31r9jjuzvhWbw6f8wqEMR4SGuUuAV9mNtCMk45sWVXg3Xr_Af7TnhUscZvwsQOz_yjM4gaoU/s1600-h/DSC00888.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5M1WsT-wUXmkoy1r-pm2QaALZzJ6dFb22B-QFoqW62Go6jlIMKszSqcaVh0DfyV1akxI31r9jjuzvhWbw6f8wqEMR4SGuUuAV9mNtCMk45sWVXg3Xr_Af7TnhUscZvwsQOz_yjM4gaoU/s400/DSC00888.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415918439691034178" border="0" /></a><br />And the one last thing I made sure to photograph before leaving Haifa:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBXgwCZQGJr3EKP8FFxOks2fwSi2M3aLb0PvB2iDLpe2FCYGWQGTziYb4-uXOgD9YbQpFApzb8Q4zVsln-06yxqg_vUSjYf1XbZe2-gfBQxQhzvFKWPMLjHUoUg_SKu5KQzHS75qAnhgE/s1600-h/DSC00890.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBXgwCZQGJr3EKP8FFxOks2fwSi2M3aLb0PvB2iDLpe2FCYGWQGTziYb4-uXOgD9YbQpFApzb8Q4zVsln-06yxqg_vUSjYf1XbZe2-gfBQxQhzvFKWPMLjHUoUg_SKu5KQzHS75qAnhgE/s400/DSC00890.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415918272552826610" border="0" /></a>The Bet Hagefen Arab Jewish Centre. Just seeing this makes me happy.<br /><br />Oh! I almost forgot - the best felafel stall in Israel is in Hadar, on the same road as the Port Inn. Here you get a pitta stuffed with felafel, salad, pickles and tahina (no hummus, oddly - though to be honest the lack of it was quite pleasant), plus a selection of garlic, aubergine, tomato, and chili sauces to add into it. Stunningly good, very healthy and all for 10NIS (about £1.50), with a soft drink thrown in. I ate there every day.Ayinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10120620659286171851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462752563299701010.post-69839345718367230762009-12-13T07:40:00.000-08:002009-12-13T12:08:04.917-08:00HaifaHi! Wow, it's been a chaotic few days since I left Marc's.<br /><br />First here's a picture from Tel Aviv.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlGhKrtyKq2oo7mSWWMzQyLzyOKwJySf5UhBcKl57Lsvhll2A3WVGu8zwvl51vTawMPRM5gPZeQjPfVQdTkYdoPwUBP3_q3_jsO_ZgF5dpIuwIeNVLhy-WwLnLNA6GGmwr0nToqXVBAmY/s1600-h/DSC00785.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlGhKrtyKq2oo7mSWWMzQyLzyOKwJySf5UhBcKl57Lsvhll2A3WVGu8zwvl51vTawMPRM5gPZeQjPfVQdTkYdoPwUBP3_q3_jsO_ZgF5dpIuwIeNVLhy-WwLnLNA6GGmwr0nToqXVBAmY/s400/DSC00785.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414753709198668850" border="0" /></a>This is one of many plastic bottle recycling stations. They're all decorated like this, and I'm glad I managed to snap one at last.<br /><br />So I got to Haifa on Thursday. I'm staying at a lovely little place called the Port Inn, which has great reviews every I've seen it mentioned. It certainly lives up to them. Relatively small, a mix of 2 dorms and the rest private rooms. The guests here are more mature than the hostels in Jerusalem or Tel Aviv. There is a lounge with TV, and kitchen. Often in the evening up to ten people are hanging out reading and watching TV in the lounge.<br /><br />Haifa is a port city (hence the name of the hostel), and its main attractions are the Baha'i gardens and Shrine of the Bab. Baha'i pilgrims come from all over the world to walk up the 1400 steps. The Port Inn is, I think, run by Baha'is, judging from the decor.<br /><br />Wait, I have more pictures from Tel Aviv - from a couple of weeks ago when I was hanging out in the dog park. I watched this group of house crows squabbling over an empty crisp packet (they knew it still had crumbs in it - one of them repeatedly turn it upside down and shook it).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRO6_NTr-PftazoJ8WhJ008YcRy7psbd0xtPpUlPDHC73yKNFXr3zn1pYZRa9mjoAADhme7Ni7ealJm0hg4_8AUjlpzsqfHwpIEV6SbMhUAmXSsx-yPiTELQoacQfeLfuGycdTMwJy1AE/s1600-h/DSC00786.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRO6_NTr-PftazoJ8WhJ008YcRy7psbd0xtPpUlPDHC73yKNFXr3zn1pYZRa9mjoAADhme7Ni7ealJm0hg4_8AUjlpzsqfHwpIEV6SbMhUAmXSsx-yPiTELQoacQfeLfuGycdTMwJy1AE/s400/DSC00786.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414753706637685394" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYvtIK-XUsNVitx3vFBamRmBb_oVw_vPm3yX1fWwtwh2p45YezPMTSFsuc8H-jFF50qljYP9uiQqpkdE5aZ70rNp2TGWmV0SU6pZad7JiMKk4qSChhqo82OWyy-t0fhXHPSGk15-YBaWc/s1600-h/DSC00787.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYvtIK-XUsNVitx3vFBamRmBb_oVw_vPm3yX1fWwtwh2p45YezPMTSFsuc8H-jFF50qljYP9uiQqpkdE5aZ70rNp2TGWmV0SU6pZad7JiMKk4qSChhqo82OWyy-t0fhXHPSGk15-YBaWc/s400/DSC00787.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414753700717074802" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik0_sExBIzOfAer4pVyP0uz0zMiYXrzZ4WCFTUFy_pvJrNEPjn7bR_DEse_-LNw9AUSb71Ae3ZCKBegRgLgwfkfYFUELfSHIpXry11kfgRSVnAg-A4ZczyelP715rveQreRbNXpX2lJm8/s1600-h/DSC00788.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik0_sExBIzOfAer4pVyP0uz0zMiYXrzZ4WCFTUFy_pvJrNEPjn7bR_DEse_-LNw9AUSb71Ae3ZCKBegRgLgwfkfYFUELfSHIpXry11kfgRSVnAg-A4ZczyelP715rveQreRbNXpX2lJm8/s400/DSC00788.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414753696476723330" border="0" /></a>...and then tried to run off with it!<br /><br />OK, back to Haifa. I should point out that I'm pressed for time as my hostel doesn't have wireless only coin operated terminals. So I can't waste time providing useful links, you'll have to dig out the info yourselves. Haifa is a city mixed of Jews and Arabs. It is known for the tolerance and mixing of the communities. However, the Arab population here is largely Christian. I suspect this has some bearing on the matter, for several reasons. Anyway.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXCcjMd4O-CkLUssDK9-DlxkGzq8CyiZ_4jLAeY29K6QM-8VIXQ5nUzXWxYXixnAm_ViiQI-nedaLnMUj6dqEK3sGQK7xVOdY-CazlEUHw5CdCmnHAzpTbi7tsRb6fZUoNaTNZKRyty9M/s1600-h/DSC00789.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXCcjMd4O-CkLUssDK9-DlxkGzq8CyiZ_4jLAeY29K6QM-8VIXQ5nUzXWxYXixnAm_ViiQI-nedaLnMUj6dqEK3sGQK7xVOdY-CazlEUHw5CdCmnHAzpTbi7tsRb6fZUoNaTNZKRyty9M/s400/DSC00789.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414753035313002946" border="0" /></a>Not sure why this is here, but it is. It depicts the twelve star signs.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo3N6CcFyHyZj9DaAxGX5n6V2waNEZZ7MGEyEuc3hVLkjxeFER-BbEqCmqHkPYAj0ZOm4ck5FfuHV3pb4MUYfVW6m8KY7lkulO710zsuorEOS3efW3YAFWdAjJqBtOLHn1FoqHpImZveo/s1600-h/DSC00790.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo3N6CcFyHyZj9DaAxGX5n6V2waNEZZ7MGEyEuc3hVLkjxeFER-BbEqCmqHkPYAj0ZOm4ck5FfuHV3pb4MUYfVW6m8KY7lkulO710zsuorEOS3efW3YAFWdAjJqBtOLHn1FoqHpImZveo/s400/DSC00790.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414753032662580434" border="0" /></a>View of one of the streets near the hostel.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_aSh9rDW6ub7V9EUA6YdXneHKukm_Zm760Jd3Aq8ymwWoTyR2FGRwO_jd5pbhOw91XDDUssdqI1NgrbFRSYVMnUZGyGvxG8RnULNpMbhcuNFZ3ZF2cMppN0HDF5VjjDtERRR2AZWiTLs/s1600-h/DSC00791.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_aSh9rDW6ub7V9EUA6YdXneHKukm_Zm760Jd3Aq8ymwWoTyR2FGRwO_jd5pbhOw91XDDUssdqI1NgrbFRSYVMnUZGyGvxG8RnULNpMbhcuNFZ3ZF2cMppN0HDF5VjjDtERRR2AZWiTLs/s400/DSC00791.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414753028337466850" border="0" /></a>And again. This is in the Arab area.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimEvqYptGuBcBzyJjO7x7MJ03N65Ot36F9KgB73EeXQJs735MAyaMNi3l0JiDsNuzw8jvvfzCTU3r3x8onwVeQegUTeyYwVaSGYxomjuKDiWrycl7-d0_Vh-z0Kxzc8s7JUeNY-SL56z8/s1600-h/DSC00792.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimEvqYptGuBcBzyJjO7x7MJ03N65Ot36F9KgB73EeXQJs735MAyaMNi3l0JiDsNuzw8jvvfzCTU3r3x8onwVeQegUTeyYwVaSGYxomjuKDiWrycl7-d0_Vh-z0Kxzc8s7JUeNY-SL56z8/s400/DSC00792.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414753023460153714" border="0" /></a>Which, like I say, is mainly Christian. I was still quite surprised by this store though.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBm9ANJ7ZCLLZEj-Tmiq-N4hj8s8h5PrgzMrYfJ3_8UxbqSEADC0fVOOJBgEG_NVuS9F3Vgn2j-kNXqE7V4A9egKXGWVmNOAhkDJIkrTqaL-JFB2DIU7KLmzjdb9laniBb5kVYppWsHA/s1600-h/DSC00793.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBm9ANJ7ZCLLZEj-Tmiq-N4hj8s8h5PrgzMrYfJ3_8UxbqSEADC0fVOOJBgEG_NVuS9F3Vgn2j-kNXqE7V4A9egKXGWVmNOAhkDJIkrTqaL-JFB2DIU7KLmzjdb9laniBb5kVYppWsHA/s400/DSC00793.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414753017620233074" border="0" /></a>Like Tel Aviv, there's plenty of street art and murals in this area.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw2bkWr7P2G7JbV-MELXibpSbtgaiw67N0TrLbQWoYZN6o0kOUdHtJjmY8Wom9wvUc2fQI-PzSpawtcBBgVuTYHQai12pHJCl2Z8ttVWu0qoknED9B99hyphenhyphennakyVEE5N54Vr-WY1Ii3Um4/s1600-h/DSC00794.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw2bkWr7P2G7JbV-MELXibpSbtgaiw67N0TrLbQWoYZN6o0kOUdHtJjmY8Wom9wvUc2fQI-PzSpawtcBBgVuTYHQai12pHJCl2Z8ttVWu0qoknED9B99hyphenhyphennakyVEE5N54Vr-WY1Ii3Um4/s400/DSC00794.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414752351285144210" border="0" /></a>Including this rather striking piece.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTtSPPf7Ca66uvGntqwD9-Ld3raXVGfKLl6b2TzHT_7st2s_oEpsr67Cgn9tiONeA4N68mnYQr8gDDD1YLLBsHnEHcLKmmqVTfpuaz8-bYqwlgQAW5q45thTCltSyXTB92V_BKNAU7upY/s1600-h/DSC00796.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTtSPPf7Ca66uvGntqwD9-Ld3raXVGfKLl6b2TzHT_7st2s_oEpsr67Cgn9tiONeA4N68mnYQr8gDDD1YLLBsHnEHcLKmmqVTfpuaz8-bYqwlgQAW5q45thTCltSyXTB92V_BKNAU7upY/s400/DSC00796.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414752343747412866" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9EWHZ0sW9COgp37_SqGvF-i5r8YfKw2ndC7dypwNk4TIYAqRECLWHU4CE3pm5kHOUr3QY8XlRzQkJY5UOfv2DazxBE2vgEH5HcAxs8clFTbPsjXMdJMd_Dd9Oz35UTW0vHAKI2iYhIO4/s1600-h/DSC00795.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9EWHZ0sW9COgp37_SqGvF-i5r8YfKw2ndC7dypwNk4TIYAqRECLWHU4CE3pm5kHOUr3QY8XlRzQkJY5UOfv2DazxBE2vgEH5HcAxs8clFTbPsjXMdJMd_Dd9Oz35UTW0vHAKI2iYhIO4/s400/DSC00795.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414752348169793202" border="0" /></a>Now this is interesting. The doorway of the Greek Melkite church. Melkite probably comes from the Hebrew root MLK, meaning King or royalty. But what caught my attention was the design above the doorway. It's one (regal-looking) man trampling on another man. The pose recollects that of Michael (a.k.a. George) and the dragon. Curious.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIZBj04J7MVqY0j7qwrlrRdERglDpRkEbuxr_2au4SJzogD4N4oIuEYvqIb0fQY_YFd-nKhzdIgL2wMRspQO2MtwBNBkmULluestCs4_8t5i25SPmnPviFbk-H_qJn7WKtrV8-WkdKghQ/s1600-h/DSC00797.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIZBj04J7MVqY0j7qwrlrRdERglDpRkEbuxr_2au4SJzogD4N4oIuEYvqIb0fQY_YFd-nKhzdIgL2wMRspQO2MtwBNBkmULluestCs4_8t5i25SPmnPviFbk-H_qJn7WKtrV8-WkdKghQ/s400/DSC00797.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414752340980981522" border="0" /></a>Interesting trees. Do they grow naturally like this? I don't know.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy74MzezHD5c2U_RMMq6zZVsSZXPSM8TzGYS8BkmN8HmIFAAYINmAQhIFIvCFQqOwSNy6SNBFrJ5vlhGuEUbVIrtXDISVm4moNGyAspMuDmMF5PZaqYGMO2nYb4pYkPT1bOdrpq8Rtf80/s1600-h/DSC00798.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy74MzezHD5c2U_RMMq6zZVsSZXPSM8TzGYS8BkmN8HmIFAAYINmAQhIFIvCFQqOwSNy6SNBFrJ5vlhGuEUbVIrtXDISVm4moNGyAspMuDmMF5PZaqYGMO2nYb4pYkPT1bOdrpq8Rtf80/s400/DSC00798.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414752336405280418" border="0" /></a>This, bizarrely, is a school. When I took this there were young children playing in the front enclosure by this door.<br /><br />I was quite impressed by the trilingual service in Haifa. The English was very useful. However -<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtcpSjnVrSEbLgkLZcIlLBh-0JtlDbSfPvfp-6kqBAZ1_m6b9DtoeQcFUPTXqzZKWm0dylnouDttlzpo2k2LlvCwTyJViliYZH6oLx719M3S7EMV0B5BFQ4ysmhCIlvZsxre6AiF8KVwc/s1600-h/DSC00800.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtcpSjnVrSEbLgkLZcIlLBh-0JtlDbSfPvfp-6kqBAZ1_m6b9DtoeQcFUPTXqzZKWm0dylnouDttlzpo2k2LlvCwTyJViliYZH6oLx719M3S7EMV0B5BFQ4ysmhCIlvZsxre6AiF8KVwc/s400/DSC00800.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414751656631098802" border="0" /></a>- I have to wonder whether they always know exactly what the words they use mean. I decided not to drink at this establishment.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhljC-CV-YoBD_-w5TRvFiVwiOB3-ptM6QSAboUnTDkHNuIErEh2rhJOWRh7Gsu3f_9kf7AWouQQYpuMJjKEaHnSOwfMPbsnp9HJCHlyDCSFRlmUQOPGAlASm4jl8YTMgQQfzA3vKLvV7s/s1600-h/DSC00801.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhljC-CV-YoBD_-w5TRvFiVwiOB3-ptM6QSAboUnTDkHNuIErEh2rhJOWRh7Gsu3f_9kf7AWouQQYpuMJjKEaHnSOwfMPbsnp9HJCHlyDCSFRlmUQOPGAlASm4jl8YTMgQQfzA3vKLvV7s/s400/DSC00801.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414751647087046882" border="0" /></a>Another one of the road.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4IdAs6i9sD-HGZauSgksnREt0QIT1fjT5rprZisAtv8FU2su8ZbodEMNf9SGgFahl3yU6pP3Wgr9kAa6a7Jb5dYyVkL1aQ-oPTsbd_-ZqqwtXBPT90l55PhYxyxOLtKTi5FfEDrl6hi8/s1600-h/DSC00802.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4IdAs6i9sD-HGZauSgksnREt0QIT1fjT5rprZisAtv8FU2su8ZbodEMNf9SGgFahl3yU6pP3Wgr9kAa6a7Jb5dYyVkL1aQ-oPTsbd_-ZqqwtXBPT90l55PhYxyxOLtKTi5FfEDrl6hi8/s400/DSC00802.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414751643559402962" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji8kLU5aETR_t1O-9Ixl3vjOf8GYbOEerPnXxe_AwwuMK32yYDIue97-z_AvdpPeVAgpJnyIQA8ZmLegH4UiOVBcKYVxc69MAcd8TMzswdJ1eAqIcqbSl59snkKwko5Mzr4NLlsL6oxHQ/s1600-h/DSC00803.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji8kLU5aETR_t1O-9Ixl3vjOf8GYbOEerPnXxe_AwwuMK32yYDIue97-z_AvdpPeVAgpJnyIQA8ZmLegH4UiOVBcKYVxc69MAcd8TMzswdJ1eAqIcqbSl59snkKwko5Mzr4NLlsL6oxHQ/s400/DSC00803.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414751642549950994" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0bFbCi_XqoIT8xy1Sisk3JenQIbELWlfOS4sv8nczx0qMejUpmLx9YDrb__LQThU_KzTTQllM3pFi9bQxIzzc9f4VuYTbUsSCLs_yTYqDkM8BjtE3i9C8FeUThM7po7mOu5dMiaaaTzs/s1600-h/DSC00804.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0bFbCi_XqoIT8xy1Sisk3JenQIbELWlfOS4sv8nczx0qMejUpmLx9YDrb__LQThU_KzTTQllM3pFi9bQxIzzc9f4VuYTbUsSCLs_yTYqDkM8BjtE3i9C8FeUThM7po7mOu5dMiaaaTzs/s400/DSC00804.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414751637367398434" border="0" /></a>This is the minaret of the 'Great Mosque'.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVNj8ax8d1pc9NrkfqSjI4yGNUn9Nj9JEunP3lVzZZN-96ozPNvEoyzxtVX8WZHVT5YCiyJGSTHU1e6BVw-rkSoByP6uO5wBM5oe5YaEzRV0BsneAhK9aUYkBv3T8EMqBxOZ-rUZMzMbI/s1600-h/DSC00805.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVNj8ax8d1pc9NrkfqSjI4yGNUn9Nj9JEunP3lVzZZN-96ozPNvEoyzxtVX8WZHVT5YCiyJGSTHU1e6BVw-rkSoByP6uO5wBM5oe5YaEzRV0BsneAhK9aUYkBv3T8EMqBxOZ-rUZMzMbI/s400/DSC00805.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414750939046297266" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvpIMhGD3-xyifBQTh_7LiO13lW8MTJRLqPakEgHVvoxtcCDsXTdpIhtcc4l2VYvF51UIt29arj8vZ3PVSGRjPLEapTwtV728Wf_kXo9Z54erw2TpXpMVhI2_QmySM01X6rgnLSYq10n4/s1600-h/DSC00806.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvpIMhGD3-xyifBQTh_7LiO13lW8MTJRLqPakEgHVvoxtcCDsXTdpIhtcc4l2VYvF51UIt29arj8vZ3PVSGRjPLEapTwtV728Wf_kXo9Z54erw2TpXpMVhI2_QmySM01X6rgnLSYq10n4/s400/DSC00806.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414750936392835138" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7kVgXz-rRCcGhfzL5BiAVQsxT_pv1JNZSx-Cv2HcKDoevLgv2bq5Bro_oYyiom51lE0fLqn1_cQGO3lRvZgB1imoTvnRO1nADECbB76wGQFOdMXHe7ucfIMnUjrSRoMvYRHN30Duj2JY/s1600-h/DSC00807.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7kVgXz-rRCcGhfzL5BiAVQsxT_pv1JNZSx-Cv2HcKDoevLgv2bq5Bro_oYyiom51lE0fLqn1_cQGO3lRvZgB1imoTvnRO1nADECbB76wGQFOdMXHe7ucfIMnUjrSRoMvYRHN30Duj2JY/s400/DSC00807.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414750932010638834" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdFpRE4kVmAwdi8MgwIZ9W2vvX4s_Fn-JfW1S2y_sVJpZFQFeQf0l7w2Rk9Kr3IWbNLHrb9SvwGSeMZvT0F_HRuLXotqo7sICbbgk1cT5ts9aTfPwmefj9uyWc6lAryn6wwhkx4iGFbm4/s1600-h/DSC00808.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdFpRE4kVmAwdi8MgwIZ9W2vvX4s_Fn-JfW1S2y_sVJpZFQFeQf0l7w2Rk9Kr3IWbNLHrb9SvwGSeMZvT0F_HRuLXotqo7sICbbgk1cT5ts9aTfPwmefj9uyWc6lAryn6wwhkx4iGFbm4/s400/DSC00808.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414750932455762034" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_OVgygjE_TS4F70tsydq5WR7QT8RIeRh1kFNJSQgyFzT0-FjjB81FdCRAmAAP91I-NmYvjFbMJRP7DGLlNbSOAQvPukFSZpQvM6Fw-Yr6Y-tx68RPq3VBmUcWuA9UOC6FdmrTTTE_obA/s1600-h/DSC00809.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_OVgygjE_TS4F70tsydq5WR7QT8RIeRh1kFNJSQgyFzT0-FjjB81FdCRAmAAP91I-NmYvjFbMJRP7DGLlNbSOAQvPukFSZpQvM6Fw-Yr6Y-tx68RPq3VBmUcWuA9UOC6FdmrTTTE_obA/s400/DSC00809.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414750927278987106" border="0" /></a>I liked these ruins.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGHNslgKMmWyhs1no4QC1DuisuiVyF1iz_ieh2gA9ybKF0ljzJPzaz2FEXyRKs5Bhs1XN5AipLtH3NlU6PovXa8HJymM6tSQzkJnhdqpCLi2pdvB0EQlDsHdUT59nMUsxqa15rAJEUhyphenhyphenE/s1600-h/DSC00810.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGHNslgKMmWyhs1no4QC1DuisuiVyF1iz_ieh2gA9ybKF0ljzJPzaz2FEXyRKs5Bhs1XN5AipLtH3NlU6PovXa8HJymM6tSQzkJnhdqpCLi2pdvB0EQlDsHdUT59nMUsxqa15rAJEUhyphenhyphenE/s400/DSC00810.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414750420135085986" border="0" /></a>And as I walked towards this one, I became convinced it was skillfully painted onto the wall.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1JK8QQndckKF3jg6rJ9v5lTEvW17F5xjdWIuiFMTHY9uYhPehkDIC2cIzs5hggg8pecnfHonaYFWCHyT3-uVUvzOdtq-Hn9SC-aLx0TqM0Cw1008V6b4fxAtumRdzxjquDsfHIVIUvB4/s1600-h/DSC00812.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1JK8QQndckKF3jg6rJ9v5lTEvW17F5xjdWIuiFMTHY9uYhPehkDIC2cIzs5hggg8pecnfHonaYFWCHyT3-uVUvzOdtq-Hn9SC-aLx0TqM0Cw1008V6b4fxAtumRdzxjquDsfHIVIUvB4/s400/DSC00812.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414750414459374066" border="0" /></a>I was wrong. But I think the figures are very well done.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7OKkRQzbwUdmJn6cZT_Y-uhEGCoCXmFvygjcshS_zlkkd5Ug2XwdRmr-d6MnFXBeIuTy8xwLzSZVG-UiW_YhB9WeNF7E3J30v5GgeP8eeCy0nTiusuyWRj_ZPRVpHwjxTt5yJqikq2fA/s1600-h/DSC00813.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7OKkRQzbwUdmJn6cZT_Y-uhEGCoCXmFvygjcshS_zlkkd5Ug2XwdRmr-d6MnFXBeIuTy8xwLzSZVG-UiW_YhB9WeNF7E3J30v5GgeP8eeCy0nTiusuyWRj_ZPRVpHwjxTt5yJqikq2fA/s400/DSC00813.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414750407958966178" border="0" /></a>Shop front of Spiro Bakery.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDupLgfWjDsbQGGFN03bVc_Liu6-o3oeAqGPx3EaaeTk3Z1lsUwkZOVvZX5IvXlADW-8Oc4JfEsj5XUN_Vr_RsYoeoow0x-IzpiP-JyVA5fFLpZiDk5bxevRr32Utd4nv5rNn-FpERg4A/s1600-h/DSC00814.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDupLgfWjDsbQGGFN03bVc_Liu6-o3oeAqGPx3EaaeTk3Z1lsUwkZOVvZX5IvXlADW-8Oc4JfEsj5XUN_Vr_RsYoeoow0x-IzpiP-JyVA5fFLpZiDk5bxevRr32Utd4nv5rNn-FpERg4A/s400/DSC00814.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414750401579842946" border="0" /></a>After so much walking I relaxed with a beer at this place. Haifa is the Guinness capital of Israel - every pub has a Guinness sign outside.<br /><br />So that was day one. On Friday I went to the...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEpltsJDBHdeELUsjHaPt_WaGFM_wG17IDB1a8blu4OvLf7-UroN8VbPpNBrx6lbPE4JqEK1zz1zQ1prJFxy9-PgFg3NDJuGoXumC1v2ObY9aK5E_lhQpev6Oo2z4YoITjUD9D0atCKPQ/s1600-h/DSC00840.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEpltsJDBHdeELUsjHaPt_WaGFM_wG17IDB1a8blu4OvLf7-UroN8VbPpNBrx6lbPE4JqEK1zz1zQ1prJFxy9-PgFg3NDJuGoXumC1v2ObY9aK5E_lhQpev6Oo2z4YoITjUD9D0atCKPQ/s400/DSC00840.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414747276780985570" border="0" /></a>Greek Catholic House of Grace. I actually found it by accident while looking for the flea market - Lonely Planet seems to have omitted this place which is a great shame because I found it stunning. The art in this small church is amazing, stretching from the clearly very old to the very modern. So, you get dozens of photos (I took one of <span style="font-style: italic;">everything</span>).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvxEV5aGVYR6Kkxn3TBDOq2YXbuFUteb2jAZV3TLl32_MDUj_CPnlNuMJ7uYiikQdZybA7VXRdDEJUW2U21DDH-iF4GaG1cTVYOvwv8s4fhIq8I5YMrjlKQyYNlbf49b1dbJblusijgj8/s1600-h/DSC00815.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvxEV5aGVYR6Kkxn3TBDOq2YXbuFUteb2jAZV3TLl32_MDUj_CPnlNuMJ7uYiikQdZybA7VXRdDEJUW2U21DDH-iF4GaG1cTVYOvwv8s4fhIq8I5YMrjlKQyYNlbf49b1dbJblusijgj8/s400/DSC00815.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414750398894086322" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYnoMHbuMkoZQRmTHd1peglnVYv5Ri5RvP8EFlZDlqcn4hj0tOjI9AvdOKUwyOVb0bYW6Q-mSQeAiojg5vY0Sc22RfDUBjrjEKR7kiSgKJP20TuYcodJJf4IVAUnmGIsswQ6VeTqkx_QI/s1600-h/DSC00816.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYnoMHbuMkoZQRmTHd1peglnVYv5Ri5RvP8EFlZDlqcn4hj0tOjI9AvdOKUwyOVb0bYW6Q-mSQeAiojg5vY0Sc22RfDUBjrjEKR7kiSgKJP20TuYcodJJf4IVAUnmGIsswQ6VeTqkx_QI/s400/DSC00816.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414749547190507570" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtGrQHbsZbN4Y3xIjsGHIH2fm7SLwshm6zUmWTNeciV4EDjUcqvBhxFz8ckV3oLefN0BF3Fh0ukNGkFFZpXsbDD7s77B6aIjdYzunB-8l9ndn_zR6Eys5RrzWitwQOzztYGuMdVQE0Qmg/s1600-h/DSC00817.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtGrQHbsZbN4Y3xIjsGHIH2fm7SLwshm6zUmWTNeciV4EDjUcqvBhxFz8ckV3oLefN0BF3Fh0ukNGkFFZpXsbDD7s77B6aIjdYzunB-8l9ndn_zR6Eys5RrzWitwQOzztYGuMdVQE0Qmg/s400/DSC00817.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414749548924094738" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHgH4hF_R0t2rOX8aWGuB_ec8NCIWi2HLIXDaE8c8m4VnF2dEU2uvzOnCL9r9OL-U9BuCvahvKwQzUR2I7AhmuGvQhEyFl119n_m0zXSDVUDfESnnxeD-bnXNFbvS_tJHK9Bjv4U_spc4/s1600-h/DSC00819.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHgH4hF_R0t2rOX8aWGuB_ec8NCIWi2HLIXDaE8c8m4VnF2dEU2uvzOnCL9r9OL-U9BuCvahvKwQzUR2I7AhmuGvQhEyFl119n_m0zXSDVUDfESnnxeD-bnXNFbvS_tJHK9Bjv4U_spc4/s400/DSC00819.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414749542488845010" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6-tns5TwskFLXGZ00VkMUKmqjD22yXbo5js_Wpskch42sjXG5KpGmY_rcplFhDyecOTkoP5P_ZX4o0q7VmMvw9yyrJMVw5qsbrRv6jYyObYnOd-21dX050j4bmNZv7jDxGqjYZofiQBk/s1600-h/DSC00820.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6-tns5TwskFLXGZ00VkMUKmqjD22yXbo5js_Wpskch42sjXG5KpGmY_rcplFhDyecOTkoP5P_ZX4o0q7VmMvw9yyrJMVw5qsbrRv6jYyObYnOd-21dX050j4bmNZv7jDxGqjYZofiQBk/s400/DSC00820.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414749535342026674" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIsgFFm7jqe_aTZ8uRAGFKTaTD5sxj7grONiPJ-vOAQfBA_nfun5u6P6ePG4nD_smhcIXzEod9HcVnh_E5dc4N8tthGcmtwQyLr-JHRxnXlNVI03genAYMu6nNrwzWBqLWV4UwhAVdP78/s1600-h/DSC00821.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIsgFFm7jqe_aTZ8uRAGFKTaTD5sxj7grONiPJ-vOAQfBA_nfun5u6P6ePG4nD_smhcIXzEod9HcVnh_E5dc4N8tthGcmtwQyLr-JHRxnXlNVI03genAYMu6nNrwzWBqLWV4UwhAVdP78/s400/DSC00821.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414749536852715762" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb2qZSMOmLq9as8hMScr_wOII4IFyK6HPLMMDl2T-agdTx1cNEOfga54YVKmzoBQM4DtG3VTvugK4L4cz2GcX-VPyhihWqgPHD6jaGWK8G25kzHA11yQRKxFs9RljESTV4q-vsWleJ8lY/s1600-h/DSC00822.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb2qZSMOmLq9as8hMScr_wOII4IFyK6HPLMMDl2T-agdTx1cNEOfga54YVKmzoBQM4DtG3VTvugK4L4cz2GcX-VPyhihWqgPHD6jaGWK8G25kzHA11yQRKxFs9RljESTV4q-vsWleJ8lY/s400/DSC00822.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414748472533550946" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhacKP4LpMPrZvXhFqGQPJJoLkyb-IAXfbC4bXKbyaIXgRMaKUOLA1OKKp2_4t5ACB7al7_7jfrKgxJYE6BPePQFJN63oVSRAIOKpJ5PBh8M3W2cln0-KeYYODfboN-y9DpAnmWkdbh_E/s1600-h/DSC00823.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhacKP4LpMPrZvXhFqGQPJJoLkyb-IAXfbC4bXKbyaIXgRMaKUOLA1OKKp2_4t5ACB7al7_7jfrKgxJYE6BPePQFJN63oVSRAIOKpJ5PBh8M3W2cln0-KeYYODfboN-y9DpAnmWkdbh_E/s400/DSC00823.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414748468568327906" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrmrBrh3G9dCiMqPJDtee0AWvwReMsxhKo7YVjrHanrt5lRkeHwqpbDraWv7qDKeV0Lf2Rnu-HUCUHRc3fRu7kAHaflgEBTynFoGWsIXuYYBDcpdiWPIhO4qx6UFeQf4m7zmixixBHKfw/s1600-h/DSC00824.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrmrBrh3G9dCiMqPJDtee0AWvwReMsxhKo7YVjrHanrt5lRkeHwqpbDraWv7qDKeV0Lf2Rnu-HUCUHRc3fRu7kAHaflgEBTynFoGWsIXuYYBDcpdiWPIhO4qx6UFeQf4m7zmixixBHKfw/s400/DSC00824.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414748466408373218" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU10E8QZqHjhCr5qX9mzwXsrH89weNxKAPYJIPJI1tdWVir_0gcp8F1GfLSLBw9-xXb8tnTmyXk6JhdgAc1SKp8T3j7ugYK6uJ8dMx34R07PseFnCHI8IygL3nAG57qPanxf7eeAndQoI/s1600-h/DSC00825.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU10E8QZqHjhCr5qX9mzwXsrH89weNxKAPYJIPJI1tdWVir_0gcp8F1GfLSLBw9-xXb8tnTmyXk6JhdgAc1SKp8T3j7ugYK6uJ8dMx34R07PseFnCHI8IygL3nAG57qPanxf7eeAndQoI/s400/DSC00825.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414748460866462466" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnQRqDLiXpJsrWY82l61LrOhK5grDCc3zvSs8P5A2Py_3avKXlxPEjn6jWr5WbUQc8ccY2lspranMdxXkkDrKYmT2ve80QwQ_GncZaeX6juEPshIzzaqmBjlFyg8_Aa3hnI2Ji-lrfh6E/s1600-h/DSC00826.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnQRqDLiXpJsrWY82l61LrOhK5grDCc3zvSs8P5A2Py_3avKXlxPEjn6jWr5WbUQc8ccY2lspranMdxXkkDrKYmT2ve80QwQ_GncZaeX6juEPshIzzaqmBjlFyg8_Aa3hnI2Ji-lrfh6E/s400/DSC00826.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414748457893459810" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn18jLqrJVd1QKpkprlBdmEutAT8J55T_M277b6azhy3L_Y-KvV01jUoNm6CpfoxrPT2KmJIXn-4ESD8-IjDlAlNtwGmD-6ml7c7CLbwfvqm_HQ1AbiWiO40czBjMAnyF-Cj4UpYHzg2c/s1600-h/DSC00828.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn18jLqrJVd1QKpkprlBdmEutAT8J55T_M277b6azhy3L_Y-KvV01jUoNm6CpfoxrPT2KmJIXn-4ESD8-IjDlAlNtwGmD-6ml7c7CLbwfvqm_HQ1AbiWiO40czBjMAnyF-Cj4UpYHzg2c/s400/DSC00828.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414748068247180178" border="0" /></a>One of the newer ones. This is metallic and raised, very eye-catching.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhe1CK9VIOSess8x7XaoSEnqEbLRMKVmmRjIpHqN_zF_IoH0X7q9tJ7Fomk-DAB85MRIz9mryWlp7l0OCQpyOHUUasfWawXEFyLwRMP56SgsgjWAGRLhl9cdBgl0cm28H85mQHDHFWg2U/s1600-h/DSC00829.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhe1CK9VIOSess8x7XaoSEnqEbLRMKVmmRjIpHqN_zF_IoH0X7q9tJ7Fomk-DAB85MRIz9mryWlp7l0OCQpyOHUUasfWawXEFyLwRMP56SgsgjWAGRLhl9cdBgl0cm28H85mQHDHFWg2U/s400/DSC00829.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414748061196777010" border="0" /></a>Michael and the dragin again. This is actually 3D, Michael and his steed are a separate piece raised from the background.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5nDIyIhMKTgIOhOeDu_ocmlZxm6x2eK1-dnT4mV1gFUpNOE3ab00vQ6AEiPetNSV78SgCsxLcGA5sVDr3y52uZccOZjby3wIaTXnyO0NxBNXZEvfmxX3LilcpdhGhQ2Jt7aU1Sdm1syQ/s1600-h/DSC00830.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5nDIyIhMKTgIOhOeDu_ocmlZxm6x2eK1-dnT4mV1gFUpNOE3ab00vQ6AEiPetNSV78SgCsxLcGA5sVDr3y52uZccOZjby3wIaTXnyO0NxBNXZEvfmxX3LilcpdhGhQ2Jt7aU1Sdm1syQ/s400/DSC00830.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414748058861772130" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiEEOZ-q2eUTqy67ZK6iWfjPt2HoPn4VIjeIc73qQRIkml8hmI4Ayc-FGMkCUss8Rrj2xCDIBrblCScv6hnKWZzPkaQUCpwDZjmuRtBC3Sgd8pbKiJXI9VuaeXtmzCDrsG4rvY3_Q_6qU/s1600-h/DSC00831.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiEEOZ-q2eUTqy67ZK6iWfjPt2HoPn4VIjeIc73qQRIkml8hmI4Ayc-FGMkCUss8Rrj2xCDIBrblCScv6hnKWZzPkaQUCpwDZjmuRtBC3Sgd8pbKiJXI9VuaeXtmzCDrsG4rvY3_Q_6qU/s400/DSC00831.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414748055013157458" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTKFZxusrMqDjcyfEMbq3VjtFw8nKTpH7v2HFJuzLxGfv_45cR7czTfmAdGdJppWBHkOm8UkEMcpnWBBAMSWevgz_8aG37oPTpipug7A6JyjK7qt3X8VucIdLKZGttOM6PjaYomzQgz2s/s1600-h/DSC00832.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTKFZxusrMqDjcyfEMbq3VjtFw8nKTpH7v2HFJuzLxGfv_45cR7czTfmAdGdJppWBHkOm8UkEMcpnWBBAMSWevgz_8aG37oPTpipug7A6JyjK7qt3X8VucIdLKZGttOM6PjaYomzQgz2s/s400/DSC00832.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414748044556234082" border="0" /></a>I don't know what this says but it's obviously very old so it's probably TRUE.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic2Zcn6RmdbVDCdqo8jse0LGKCyVUowTwWQARGMABsGQi6-tU6A_I-qdSzP8ES0i9dnAZe_O7-yT1RyhR6FQBHg5ir-S3IlTXnk27u4p_iI5LzQ54s_qWnUQKlTFRNBEKkQFE-bY3tro0/s1600-h/DSC00833.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic2Zcn6RmdbVDCdqo8jse0LGKCyVUowTwWQARGMABsGQi6-tU6A_I-qdSzP8ES0i9dnAZe_O7-yT1RyhR6FQBHg5ir-S3IlTXnk27u4p_iI5LzQ54s_qWnUQKlTFRNBEKkQFE-bY3tro0/s400/DSC00833.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414747713784421266" border="0" /></a>Arabic Bible. For some reason this gave me pause for thought - not sure why, it should be obvious that Arabic Christians would have the Bible in their own language. But still it struck me as odd.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvh4SX9Gw7qbO8Wgh43ZG5Nk73yCjP88vacBAJ_CPGrxZzkqrrjKxnRAyYAHtwgxiYqGuv8mlLTHE0PtQwa6lzsDHaZ70Sp8FWrZFYSacaNtUXxp337JsVodRAt9rgi2BWZYSTJuBvLjg/s1600-h/DSC00834.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvh4SX9Gw7qbO8Wgh43ZG5Nk73yCjP88vacBAJ_CPGrxZzkqrrjKxnRAyYAHtwgxiYqGuv8mlLTHE0PtQwa6lzsDHaZ70Sp8FWrZFYSacaNtUXxp337JsVodRAt9rgi2BWZYSTJuBvLjg/s400/DSC00834.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414747710472631762" border="0" /></a>Right, now I think this is Michael again. I'd love to know more about this picture. Sorry if I'm going on about my namesake so much (hey, he is the most important of the angels and that's not my fault). The scales, and measurement in general are associated with Michael (blah, Enoch weighing the deeds of souls, and Enoch=Metatron=Michael, don't get me started on this because I know you're not interested). Also there's a story of Michael fighting Satan out of heaven as the climax of the Fall of the Angels narrative. Possibly this represents that. I don't know.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilRTpMjwJqUjcxM21fA5s5LrQ_9VMdI0uLRyICPc8WDK3aJHgEO5zQ4yv2qoukTcuQVeAUFaPy4zszz1OhTxY_qd0zIITGTWAKCyRShHFDB0kt7NRXzLcr0kbL0pBCIpk8lnqkPxDCEO4/s1600-h/DSC00835.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilRTpMjwJqUjcxM21fA5s5LrQ_9VMdI0uLRyICPc8WDK3aJHgEO5zQ4yv2qoukTcuQVeAUFaPy4zszz1OhTxY_qd0zIITGTWAKCyRShHFDB0kt7NRXzLcr0kbL0pBCIpk8lnqkPxDCEO4/s400/DSC00835.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414747703772778914" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj50IEDTKEjuv9JIbKDWBAMJFA0VWQF_4uyuMJ85mPqaMxZ8gC8KNlWBBX2yE8Vn1ebgbyh3TlOVHcex6DUri4VW5011Wt9v0zY3kp8GZZxQyGfCxKxGowGxqRi4NURmhgtS84PCgNLoNY/s1600-h/DSC00836.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj50IEDTKEjuv9JIbKDWBAMJFA0VWQF_4uyuMJ85mPqaMxZ8gC8KNlWBBX2yE8Vn1ebgbyh3TlOVHcex6DUri4VW5011Wt9v0zY3kp8GZZxQyGfCxKxGowGxqRi4NURmhgtS84PCgNLoNY/s400/DSC00836.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414747700893626674" border="0" /></a>Some interestingly Ethiopic looking characters in these pictures.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOY0xz5W45RfqB8x-w0xsW1hwk1V5l67Rs_BXYQE5i6lysnsgjD5etMmELOjThBilI28rlZhj3HbF3LJxj54CYNtC17XolVHT6PX70-z6h92_qpQBuR3usN_iHf14kbnhfYMhv-3crBZo/s1600-h/DSC00837.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOY0xz5W45RfqB8x-w0xsW1hwk1V5l67Rs_BXYQE5i6lysnsgjD5etMmELOjThBilI28rlZhj3HbF3LJxj54CYNtC17XolVHT6PX70-z6h92_qpQBuR3usN_iHf14kbnhfYMhv-3crBZo/s400/DSC00837.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414747698489466018" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqRPQ4pBrlmeUeK4hKRm9fuJ3BYpz-hP9ruG_LyKGkbyP6wPYyPv6w1z9PInssvjCFTwMUB90IVkYKvMBBnquW9A5j-8i5B-nAa8AJrz5dGNR6XsSkV_gsS_CZ1LLOhnb0-Q1z6lqWasc/s1600-h/DSC00838.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqRPQ4pBrlmeUeK4hKRm9fuJ3BYpz-hP9ruG_LyKGkbyP6wPYyPv6w1z9PInssvjCFTwMUB90IVkYKvMBBnquW9A5j-8i5B-nAa8AJrz5dGNR6XsSkV_gsS_CZ1LLOhnb0-Q1z6lqWasc/s400/DSC00838.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414747288635277826" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8kLQY-LXYfPWiv_V8G0kUYX4_AzKZyfcuTHv10uHCMJNqZca-lMnm91p9rbL6i3VZ3VSohEP_TLJVo9l8yK7DsHLgbmgKq9QbnssHR0kKVVG8VTv40poLYmSjSuPmoP-7rjrEz76oj78/s1600-h/DSC00839.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8kLQY-LXYfPWiv_V8G0kUYX4_AzKZyfcuTHv10uHCMJNqZca-lMnm91p9rbL6i3VZ3VSohEP_TLJVo9l8yK7DsHLgbmgKq9QbnssHR0kKVVG8VTv40poLYmSjSuPmoP-7rjrEz76oj78/s400/DSC00839.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414747283840935186" border="0" /></a>Okay, that's it from there. If you're still awake the next one's...er, well not sure what it is but it looked good.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGRvJgw-0ApCf_uJsrmGl9r6r5LH07URlaU_HyAOpaN_Br9I_aieeq2T3I29PLrQ5t8tE2j8Vk9XwRCHUPSSvqAzs0Vn7s7t_z_9pqcW3jj94Yzp3A6Fd4Fq0ZC2Ay6zDovn8zDYHXEoE/s1600-h/DSC00842.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGRvJgw-0ApCf_uJsrmGl9r6r5LH07URlaU_HyAOpaN_Br9I_aieeq2T3I29PLrQ5t8tE2j8Vk9XwRCHUPSSvqAzs0Vn7s7t_z_9pqcW3jj94Yzp3A6Fd4Fq0ZC2Ay6zDovn8zDYHXEoE/s400/DSC00842.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414747273346499746" border="0" /></a><br />So, I decided to do the tour of the Baha'i Gardens. To do this one must catch the Carmelite, Israel's only subway. Here it is:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUozXJ1E5cS0ah36vLuiudCmlihILqmyX5yyXjRxdZgicNtCBvJgIAlNpuPOgUClZnd4Q2GrWLneyEVE7SWaFkitl_fB4h7X91NbV1YhakmI4vBYt6gzf7nC68oFGMr394cyGYSDZxa2g/s1600-h/DSC00843.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUozXJ1E5cS0ah36vLuiudCmlihILqmyX5yyXjRxdZgicNtCBvJgIAlNpuPOgUClZnd4Q2GrWLneyEVE7SWaFkitl_fB4h7X91NbV1YhakmI4vBYt6gzf7nC68oFGMr394cyGYSDZxa2g/s400/DSC00843.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414747267277611010" border="0" /></a>The train arrives at a 30 degree angle, and the entire journey continues upwards at this angle, for more than ten minutes. This gives an indication of how glad I was to have decided not to walk it.<br /><br />If I had, I would <span style="font-style: italic;">not</span> have felt like this:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjFBpdi8LooeIRGkHOX7VmIriVjF6vvhomfcOTGTxWcujfnZjUwODv5xLhBuSoqKe0-uHyOMRaXE0PpopqUoLwrlP4zn5w9auLQXFjJvHwn_vnZE0cVwBYDqEm5gHYqO0HAm1JMBkitPA/s1600-h/DSC00844.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjFBpdi8LooeIRGkHOX7VmIriVjF6vvhomfcOTGTxWcujfnZjUwODv5xLhBuSoqKe0-uHyOMRaXE0PpopqUoLwrlP4zn5w9auLQXFjJvHwn_vnZE0cVwBYDqEm5gHYqO0HAm1JMBkitPA/s400/DSC00844.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414746784290201410" border="0" /></a><br />So this is the Baha'i Gardens from above:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiruAHoXtCvi65_yk63lTBBzv6mJmvme7Iosfl6wsIxOHXmi4JyLV8hf8QZsa4wsE6gNXsox3koRmPu36HycTw3uqKw-2ygD3PxsMYKPD_l8nsECln3lLy2XjzoNK8hyphenhyphen9wIYHbUbGQIC5k/s1600-h/DSC00845.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiruAHoXtCvi65_yk63lTBBzv6mJmvme7Iosfl6wsIxOHXmi4JyLV8hf8QZsa4wsE6gNXsox3koRmPu36HycTw3uqKw-2ygD3PxsMYKPD_l8nsECln3lLy2XjzoNK8hyphenhyphen9wIYHbUbGQIC5k/s400/DSC00845.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414746781695274994" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrqy_uUrKw7qEb2ZBrKJuwP-M-pOoHSsA5jKJXG9ffq6mLSVRcinl6En0nLhEVhjszq1T4Saw52e9_dEcL8KBPwmBOmZhGJnK45zxlMr4Tlf-9H7H8WhEWXUnox_ALs9eStiEvFLiQ6w8/s1600-h/DSC00846.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrqy_uUrKw7qEb2ZBrKJuwP-M-pOoHSsA5jKJXG9ffq6mLSVRcinl6En0nLhEVhjszq1T4Saw52e9_dEcL8KBPwmBOmZhGJnK45zxlMr4Tlf-9H7H8WhEWXUnox_ALs9eStiEvFLiQ6w8/s400/DSC00846.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414746776346440706" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl7yKiQdA1bG3IUG07QyFhdR2V-67Vnf6DUAtHH4mL64LQQ6H_knZDF3BqAtDVQsiftElfYtoB0pDpbVHK-koowyGtO6jN5vZLOwQWSO7TTn1oFjuhjuwFuxlEJuXWHLLcZc2Wfwur8DU/s1600-h/DSC00847.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl7yKiQdA1bG3IUG07QyFhdR2V-67Vnf6DUAtHH4mL64LQQ6H_knZDF3BqAtDVQsiftElfYtoB0pDpbVHK-koowyGtO6jN5vZLOwQWSO7TTn1oFjuhjuwFuxlEJuXWHLLcZc2Wfwur8DU/s400/DSC00847.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414746771963567058" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnQHscp1R_tlCeBQ3TSNTmvIqAXoRDkjUyc5NCtAl8bVS7sL-NAq4nl3puLQoralkD4l1QWC_WjbrPPMmX9SOMd9U-kizitjSmh_WIcvBXVtcm9NXxTswyRbVfvVvP16j7TMoaCfYx9NA/s1600-h/DSC00848.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnQHscp1R_tlCeBQ3TSNTmvIqAXoRDkjUyc5NCtAl8bVS7sL-NAq4nl3puLQoralkD4l1QWC_WjbrPPMmX9SOMd9U-kizitjSmh_WIcvBXVtcm9NXxTswyRbVfvVvP16j7TMoaCfYx9NA/s400/DSC00848.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414746771215363602" border="0" /></a>And so are those. My computer's just beeped so I have sixty seconds to finish this and post it - more soon!<br /><br /><span style="padding: 1px 4px; position: absolute; -moz-appearance: tooltip; z-index: 10000; cursor: pointer; left: 506px; top: 283px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">save</span>Ayinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10120620659286171851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462752563299701010.post-11728437963239769742009-12-09T12:33:00.001-08:002009-12-09T13:00:43.246-08:00Dull space-filler postThere'll be new, interesting posts soon I promise. I'm currently in a hostel in Tel Aviv, waiting to fall asleep so I can go to Haifa tomorrow. I left Sedot Micah this afternoon - can't believe I've spent almost five weeks there already. Marc and I finished another video today, this one documenting his collaboration with the Orot Institute, another organisation working to preserve Jewish Moroccan heritage.<br /><br />I may be collaborating with Marc on a project to do with the development of knowledge in Jewish Morrocan rabbinics. He has asked me to research the relationship between Harif (an early Talmud-compiler) and Maimonides. I will enjoy doing this if I have time. It's something I'm excited about. Today I finally submitted my PhD application to Nottingham. I hope it's OK. I had a hard time rewriting it after receiving Prof Goodchild's recommendations. But I think I managed to focus it a little more and bring out its relevance and key areas. It took me a while to press the submit button. I'm immensely looking forward to starting research in earnest though.<br /><br />I'm sad to have left Sedot Micah, as it's such a great place and all the people I've met there have been great. However I was feeling restless for the past week, and aware that I needed a change of scene and a bit more freedom to explore. I came to Tel Aviv this afternoon and met my lady friend for a few hours and it was refreshing just to be here not during the Sabbath wind-down. We went to Buddha Burger, a vegan burger bar with a fantastic selection. I wish I'd found this place weeks ago.<br /><br />Yesterday one of the alsatians who guards the warehouse opposite Marc's escaped. He was running around the village looking worried. While at the shop (the village's one shop - open until 12 noon every day except Sabbath) I saw and called him over. He let me fuss him and then ran away. I like alsatians. Most dogs I can take or leave (though I'm growing more fond of them generally). If things work out with Nottingham I'll think about a canine companion. Ideally I'd like a wolf, because I've heard them described as like a cross between a cat and a dog. A dog but without the obsequious need to please that most dogs have. This reminds me, at Buddha Burger the menu included vegan dog biscuits, which was a really sweet touch.<br /><br />It's got significantly colder here in the past two weeks. Mornings are particularly cold, requiring at least two layers. Marc's house didn't help - clearly built to keep heat out rather than in. The first day here I berrated myself for bringing so many clothes, but I've been glad of the full range from shorts to bodywarmer. December and January are the coldest months, but I'll be in warmer places so this shouldn't be a problem.<br /><br />It's weird to think it's only 3 weeks until Christmas. It's invisible here. Funny that my friends are preparing for this event which will pass me by almost unnoticed. Soon (very soon) it will be Hanukhah. I wonder what will happen in Haifa while I'm there.Ayinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10120620659286171851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462752563299701010.post-85414771632163262872009-11-28T05:14:00.000-08:002009-11-28T06:55:32.939-08:00Sonic Cement and LocksFirst, the new version of Marc's promo video is online - we worked for about a week recording and editing the sound as well as editing the visuals.<br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/2jZ6lSAqGeg&hl=en_GB&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/2jZ6lSAqGeg&hl=en_GB&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br />Last week I was assigned the task of creating the mud-cement mix we apply to the tire walls. I imagined this to be an easy though quite dull job, something not preferrable to the therapeutically pleasing application of the cement.<br /><br />The procedure consists of several stages. Half a bucket of water is inserted into the mixer. Then half a bucket of cement. This is mixed until fluid and consistent. Then half a bucket of hay. Then, slowly, a bucket of junk-soil (soil which is contaminated with waste material, rubbish, construction rubbish etc), adding more water gradually so the mix remains fluid. Then a bucket of manure. Then three buckets of soil, all interspersed with water so the mixture never becomes too dry or too lumpy.<br /><br />As, coincidentally, described in this video which Marc and I made last week:<br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/eP4wHLzIltQ&hl=en_GB&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/eP4wHLzIltQ&hl=en_GB&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br />The mixer is quite noisy. You can hear it all around the grounds when it's running. However when you're infront if the barrel you hear a deeply complex blend of harmonics which slowly evolve as the barrel fills and as the material chifts in consistency. What begins as a rough serrated grumble becomes a sloshing whorl. Still the 2 part rhythm is audible - the barrel's physical structure creates a pattern which is completely regular yet divided in 2. As more material is added and the mix becomes heavier the rhythm doesn't slow but deepens: the harmonics generated by the hollow barrel grow richer with the dampening qualities of the mix and new high frequencies emerge around the switch (halfway through the rhythm). The grumble begins to take on a more diffuse, warmer texture and the flow of the rhythm becomes lumpy as the increasingly solid mix ceases to <span style="font-style: italic;">flow</span> and begins to be <span style="font-style: italic;">flung</span> around the barrel. Still the 2-part rhythm defines parameters within which the slop and flow creates its counterpoint, polyrhythms occuring and shifting always within the same bounds. The high frequencies could be the ghost of a melody, or just the screech of a metal caress. The grumble becomes a growl over the course of ten-fifteen minutes until the barrel is released, the finished mix ejected into a wheelbarrow for delivery to the mud-appliers. The barrel returns to its hollow clunk.<br /><br />If it's not already apparent I found myself drawn hypnosis-like into the sound of the machine. I've always liked the unintentional beauty of machine-noise, the inhuman rhythms and unanthropomorphic, simply <span style="font-style: italic;">mindless</span> flux of utilitarian process. Accidental music. Meanings that happen from a place where intention is impossible is such a startling idea.<br /><br />After break I brought my Iriver MP3 player to record the sound. Unfortunately I couldn't find the plug-in mike for it (it's here somewhere, in a random pocket or sock) so had to make do with the internal mike - this meant that the sweet spot just infront of the barrel which catches the resonance full-on was missed by the recorder. Still I got about two hours of it, including nonchalant chatter between us workers, and the regular powering up of the solar water heater next to us. Unfortunately this may be my last chance to record it as in the afternoon I spent so much time concentrating on adding the materials slowly enough and at the right points to generate the pleasing sonic additions, Marc came and shouted at me for taking so long. The next day he specifically gave Ben the job.<br /><br />I had a date in Tel Aviv on Thursday night. Thursday is the start of the weekend here, and the city was just coming alive as I arrived. We had a good time, which involved soup - not always a great thing, but this soup was way above average - and ice cream. I thought it was quite cool that an ice cream parlour stayed open into the evening just like a bar would, but it was even better that about a quarter of the selection were dairy-free sorbets. I had one scoop of chocolate and one of strawberry. They were stunningly nice, though tragically I couldn't finish it after the huge soup. We also got to check out the Tel Aviv Museum of Art, which is really very good - if a little heavy on the impressionism for my liking. Still, it's massive and one could easily spend a whole day there.<br /><br />I'd timed things coming back quite badly. I knew that Jonas and Ben were going to a party in Tel Aviv on Friday and that Marc is away all week at a conference, but hadn't quite resolved the fact of the house to myself with the need to get in. I realised as the taxi pulled up outside that the doors were undoubtedly locked and I didn't have a key. Actually a key had never occurred to me, there always having been someone else in whenever I had previously gone away. I tried all the doors anyway - they were indeed locked. I looked in all possible places for a spare key - either on the part of Marc (unlikely given his conscientiousness) - or my colleagues...nope. It was 4.00PM on Friday and just beginning to get dark - Jonas and Ben would be away until the trains started again at 8.30 Saturday evening. I had plenty of cash but, as the taxi driver had informed me, they (like all other public transport) stop working at 4 on Sabbath. I'd been unintentionally very lucky to get to Bet Shemesh at the time I did. The very real possibility of sleeping outside occurred, step-by-step, through my mind - while in itself not too unpleasant, with no food, no shops open, no bars (or indeed civilisation) within walking distance, and - ah... - no water, as well as the knowledge I would have another fourteen hours after dawn until I could eat, drink, surf, etc. I stood and felt like a bit of a fool for about half an hour. There's a curious kind of dissonance in being locked-out. One can touch the exterior walls, just as one always has before. One can see inside, to the warmth and happy cosiness of convenient access and provision; electricity, refridgerators, cooker and laptop. Yet one is barred from entering. Not <span style="font-style: italic;">morally</span>, just physically. One still has the same right to enter one always did. It's just a material fact that you can't, and yet one which is so important. A mere two feet away is a place which is still exactly the same as it was 24 hours ago, yet it feels so very different simply because of a single lock - or indeed multiple locks. Entry points which were unquestionably transversable in the past and functioned at the flick of a switch from inside now fundamentally prevent a desideratum which is literally close enough to touch. The question 'How is such a thing possible?' hangs unresolved in the mind - the sequence of events is clear, yet the situation feels so unnatural.<br /><br />In much of life it is easy to spectate the plight of others, their misfortunes, their choices, their approach to life. We all do this from the easy-access inside of our own lives, and frequently find ourselves asking "but why don't they just do x?" If they just made a simple choice then circumstances would resolve so much better. The unacknowledged assumption is that everyone experiences circumstances the same way we do - that the warmth and security (or lack of it) which empowers some is there for everyone, or that the lack of it may not irremediably alter the relationship to the facts of existence, to the world and circumstances we encounter. The world outside is not a single fact - it is conditioned by ones ability to remove oneself, at will, to the inside. The power dynamic does not appear within a factual, reductionist account of the environment, but it is an inextricable element of a subject's experience of that environment.<br /><br />So, after my thirty minutes of scowly contemplation I did what I should have done to begin with and overcame my humiliation. Marc sounded in a good mood when I called, and told me he wasn't certain but number 16 might have a spare key. Otherwise he didn't know what to suggest.<br /><br />They did. A young gentleman spoke to Marc on the phone, opened the back door for me bfore striding away, acknowledging "Shabbat Shalom!" with a wave and grin. Yes, <span style="font-style: italic;">now</span> it will be I thought.Ayinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10120620659286171851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462752563299701010.post-61978807658371869812009-11-24T03:56:00.000-08:002009-11-24T12:46:07.618-08:00Jerusalem<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsB3gg0mFRM3CsoedZqyA0_0dpQHEpmsmBILbocgEgFXH4d9clKv2F61fK-ZuyA38Vit-SpDbp2-HDU2sQlZS8ry-Sh2JHR227vxpn5_AGaiIjA-Plromz6xcxaf6RjI3zijCmLLbkaCI/s1600/DSC00707.JPG"><br /></a>Last weekend was my trip to Jerusalem. Crikey, I've got so many photos and so much happened. Two days is obviously not enough to see such a place - really two weeks would be more appropriate. I will have to return at some point, though I'm not sure when.<br /><br />Getting there was not as simple as Tel Aviv, due to my hitchhiking-failure (it was too early really). In the end I caught a bus rather than train, which in itself was quite good because I got to appreciate some more of the scenery around Bet Shemesh. I was also sitting close to some young yeshiva students from America. It was interesting listening to these talmud scholars in the making discuss their activities and life there, which was clearly very much the same as teenage male life everywhere.<br /><br />I arrived in the New City and took a stroll in the direction of the Old City. These designations indicate the new Jewish development (largely since 1948), and the older area which is divided between Muslims, Jews, Christians and Armenians, and exists as a walled complex since - I think - the 1600s or so.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsB3gg0mFRM3CsoedZqyA0_0dpQHEpmsmBILbocgEgFXH4d9clKv2F61fK-ZuyA38Vit-SpDbp2-HDU2sQlZS8ry-Sh2JHR227vxpn5_AGaiIjA-Plromz6xcxaf6RjI3zijCmLLbkaCI/s1600/DSC00707.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsB3gg0mFRM3CsoedZqyA0_0dpQHEpmsmBILbocgEgFXH4d9clKv2F61fK-ZuyA38Vit-SpDbp2-HDU2sQlZS8ry-Sh2JHR227vxpn5_AGaiIjA-Plromz6xcxaf6RjI3zijCmLLbkaCI/s400/DSC00707.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407650692796689762" border="0" /></a>This road was actually King <span style="font-style: italic;">George</span> St. I admire these culture-hackers' proficiency though, it looks perfect until you see the edge of the slightly-askew sticker.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXE68n07d6gTBoE1a0uBR2IPzdOnLZfsKh04HDKB3H4Rir6k_wPqcXUlRz8qg71Cyg1RUm9ASBJD1a0AlyblZER36onMGpQ2DpY2a5y9co9_gfWAQH-VCmUkkVgoUi4DFHBIdvJ6SjxR0/s1600/DSC00709.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXE68n07d6gTBoE1a0uBR2IPzdOnLZfsKh04HDKB3H4Rir6k_wPqcXUlRz8qg71Cyg1RUm9ASBJD1a0AlyblZER36onMGpQ2DpY2a5y9co9_gfWAQH-VCmUkkVgoUi4DFHBIdvJ6SjxR0/s400/DSC00709.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407650685994651186" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGXMiQk4aQ2XGt7J2ePSwomLWDTFF8cPCmQux68pJ6O8851C_HgMNXRL3-xsqTT8c_vBc6advU-VvY79CBm150BuMKrXBKTQd0pdjj6pIXtIIHQfBXnn6C2Ng9Jgbq2OW7IQYkm3XlLHo/s1600/DSC00710.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGXMiQk4aQ2XGt7J2ePSwomLWDTFF8cPCmQux68pJ6O8851C_HgMNXRL3-xsqTT8c_vBc6advU-VvY79CBm150BuMKrXBKTQd0pdjj6pIXtIIHQfBXnn6C2Ng9Jgbq2OW7IQYkm3XlLHo/s400/DSC00710.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407650681905692450" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8ZzIIOAdbcuZ1acsmDs8B6QfAGXH4sQgYl1XXAp0UWY8fBlWruH10T4h9UD9ENiU8pLXjxzMsPJuzbAZDt9M79vEpa-7JChB0mUlOtRLtScndGpkyCoMiVPGoB-PbWIwgbyylFgVCQNA/s1600/DSC00711.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8ZzIIOAdbcuZ1acsmDs8B6QfAGXH4sQgYl1XXAp0UWY8fBlWruH10T4h9UD9ENiU8pLXjxzMsPJuzbAZDt9M79vEpa-7JChB0mUlOtRLtScndGpkyCoMiVPGoB-PbWIwgbyylFgVCQNA/s400/DSC00711.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407648675089884210" border="0" /></a><br />Like I say, the New City is <span style="font-style: italic;">very</span> new. It became almost tiring after a while, to be in a place where all the architecture comes from the same 60 year period, and is all still shiny and undamaged by time's arrows. That said, the architecture is still very nice, and distinctly modernist.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8gLloCGCJyIX1QUAvwduiD83ZyMS8_cAv-z8AtYmFkolYAjezlbvUlPQ0FyN7qMIRtsI15gEzqcyOuiKrWg83xUmeqyTvGcfcEIRhpH9R0sSqoyTkA5vTFsmKVwfdi4hCtLfJBTiKDqc/s1600/DSC00708.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8gLloCGCJyIX1QUAvwduiD83ZyMS8_cAv-z8AtYmFkolYAjezlbvUlPQ0FyN7qMIRtsI15gEzqcyOuiKrWg83xUmeqyTvGcfcEIRhpH9R0sSqoyTkA5vTFsmKVwfdi4hCtLfJBTiKDqc/s400/DSC00708.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407650689638463954" border="0" /></a>I liked this - slightly polemical? - map.<br /><br />I dropped into a couple of souvenir shops, both of whom instantly swooned as I was their"first customer today!" and "business <span style="font-style: italic;">very</span> slow". They offered me a generous discount in order to guarantee my custom. I was impressed, and the at first place I bought a couple of nice things and found a handmade amulet with a hexagram and a large amount of hebrew text. I asked him what this meant but he was somewhat coy - I suspected it was some kind of protection charm.<br /><br />I began the walk to the Old City, stopping only briefly to stroke several stray cats.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiks63B2qy9HOPaoQF7NB_XkB7C8IJBkXuKixe1L0A0v7Ncjg4rrdIhTqJEcGqyI7Oi0c6biB7AdnULEpgS7RJFVmI1eq-zxLMDuKnstCsc9OqmPAgN8KkPZpvDgE2NpIqN_QuegB3Vfcs/s1600/DSC00712.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiks63B2qy9HOPaoQF7NB_XkB7C8IJBkXuKixe1L0A0v7Ncjg4rrdIhTqJEcGqyI7Oi0c6biB7AdnULEpgS7RJFVmI1eq-zxLMDuKnstCsc9OqmPAgN8KkPZpvDgE2NpIqN_QuegB3Vfcs/s400/DSC00712.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407648671386457986" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWJaslyXJdRM_WoMjFIX5EFyrlCGo2H4g2SJDDJG4FSWUPjjugHUmRT_ul__H5swy0fKzXUZxA2NrLezhvMJ8jqRAQkHNFhWDxPejQMrHwlq1XfvUBjeqP2CttoSqO9tl9VsrXhgeDGC4/s1600/DSC00714.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWJaslyXJdRM_WoMjFIX5EFyrlCGo2H4g2SJDDJG4FSWUPjjugHUmRT_ul__H5swy0fKzXUZxA2NrLezhvMJ8jqRAQkHNFhWDxPejQMrHwlq1XfvUBjeqP2CttoSqO9tl9VsrXhgeDGC4/s400/DSC00714.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407648661929793426" border="0" /></a>Despite the wealth and sophistication of the New City, there are frequent reminders of how new - and unprepared-for - it was. This motorway seems to hang in midair above a deserted construction site which they haven't got around to covering up yet.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_wdgG5ghTtRZ-iyNQk_jB3_q_U261a68e1zpffhwganryWXQjofMYAIvBeyUq1o9icIvP6iJ3sQsg1Ri4grKqukapOryDoY3K2B_hh012yr1J0akXac94tWZ4tnlJfmgSSeURTMVH7HQ/s1600/DSC00715.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_wdgG5ghTtRZ-iyNQk_jB3_q_U261a68e1zpffhwganryWXQjofMYAIvBeyUq1o9icIvP6iJ3sQsg1Ri4grKqukapOryDoY3K2B_hh012yr1J0akXac94tWZ4tnlJfmgSSeURTMVH7HQ/s400/DSC00715.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407648658940203410" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpOjS5ysZ6slLBKmrgwi2aYwuaXtzUSdM8hHvlMBWLBMONZHjqoKoH87PnuCStztPpFYz27YYc9TRt9SWqgo07pLfSCTTMt__zEDfOFSzzVwVSUmFQKDYDM_nUwq1vc7ZGww3GSqxWi7Y/s1600/DSC00713.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpOjS5ysZ6slLBKmrgwi2aYwuaXtzUSdM8hHvlMBWLBMONZHjqoKoH87PnuCStztPpFYz27YYc9TRt9SWqgo07pLfSCTTMt__zEDfOFSzzVwVSUmFQKDYDM_nUwq1vc7ZGww3GSqxWi7Y/s400/DSC00713.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407648666089391026" border="0" /></a>This is the approach to Jaffa Gate. The name is really quite amusing these days, it makes me think of newspaper headlines: Prime Minister questioned over <span style="font-style: italic;">Jaffagate</span> cake-or-biscuit scandal!<br /><br />I had planned my movements quite well. I had a basic map in my Lonely Planet Guide, and was heading toward the Tourist Office to get a proper detailed map, as well as ask questions about location specifics.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRSrypzZsdZTm7ctgo7Dk0OI7poec0uhVEPaRmZ1FahyphenhyphenSRE7axEDsRIdrHwi8pt0RcBshwVHRNIkRSCHeYOsPrXVkeHztErLr3gzyyJt9tgQS1K4-p8OXUCxyQks3IOkuB0FAOAqxy4V8/s1600/DSC00717.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRSrypzZsdZTm7ctgo7Dk0OI7poec0uhVEPaRmZ1FahyphenhyphenSRE7axEDsRIdrHwi8pt0RcBshwVHRNIkRSCHeYOsPrXVkeHztErLr3gzyyJt9tgQS1K4-p8OXUCxyQks3IOkuB0FAOAqxy4V8/s400/DSC00717.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407647374145451154" border="0" /></a>Frustratingly, Jerusalem had different plans. Ones that didn't include making my weekend easy. On strike for what, I wonder?<br /><br />A backpacker I mentioned this to noted that 'tourism' is really one of those public services that the authorities could let strike indefinitely - they would not be met with an ever-increasing pile-up of foreigners queuing for advice, unlike rubbish collection or teaching where disputes are resolved with promptness.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD8cGVjW0pMbH2G67vdjc3P5TQKvENUEuX8Fd3LU9gfEKd3FKqZhUJApbMdSxF4wgeCQaDPIWnfQldZuD0Pbsz6Ig32ZvLZmFVnNHnl8-PH98_akZ_IbQVEQi35BIbIbhhV9zRvSTINaY/s1600/DSC00718.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD8cGVjW0pMbH2G67vdjc3P5TQKvENUEuX8Fd3LU9gfEKd3FKqZhUJApbMdSxF4wgeCQaDPIWnfQldZuD0Pbsz6Ig32ZvLZmFVnNHnl8-PH98_akZ_IbQVEQi35BIbIbhhV9zRvSTINaY/s400/DSC00718.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407647363998270578" border="0" /></a>Inside the Old City.<br /><br />After the Tourist Office I happened into another very sparkly souvenir shop, which had a steady stream of multinationals outside it. I stopped to admire the window display and was quickly accosted by a young Armenian man who was enthused to inform me that I was his "first customer today" and because "business <span style="font-style: italic;">very </span>slow" I would get a special 20% discount. Wankers, I thought cynically. I enquired about some prices and he asked me where I was from "England! You get special 30% discount - I can tell you not rich American!" He was correct, I was not. I spent nearly twenty minutes in the store, during which the price of a particular ornamental knife dropped from 1800 shekhels to 550 and he repeatedly assured me that he was giving me a much better pice than he usually charges because he liked me and I was a young English student. He also ordered for me a very strong and peculiarly earthy tasting Turkish coffee, odd but quite pleasant. This was in no way an attempt to ingratiate me, just a part of his "traditional Armenian hospitality!" he said, always with one eye on the door.<br /><br />The shopkeepers were beginning to piss me off so I went to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. This was a nice place, but I was feeling too tired (and indeed quite wired from that Turkish coffee) to really appreciate it. Here are some pictures.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpwr4A1_fue1k6jPRYdQlXI92RVqWZ7KzZA5nqhzwc9JKdxWtCZWoL8vqTYvwnBtjCeKTA6jTiRQ5CiOga-Ne4tVJxdjfv6hqA0Iqjq5KWuzpIq5fZUPGKDKiBgu105qC7fURZ4SqyJPI/s1600/DSC00719.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpwr4A1_fue1k6jPRYdQlXI92RVqWZ7KzZA5nqhzwc9JKdxWtCZWoL8vqTYvwnBtjCeKTA6jTiRQ5CiOga-Ne4tVJxdjfv6hqA0Iqjq5KWuzpIq5fZUPGKDKiBgu105qC7fURZ4SqyJPI/s400/DSC00719.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407647356080020370" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpr0xDdahIrKrh2ZH_kKgs7_AahN3JliGA_eaEkLc6SVAeKgnGWD_gkTaBMH8OyCKJeQ7jcI2PeLbZQxc3SylxHpg217AJ77Epo-Zgw3z1_Sz7nfox0dT9UoQ3uTyifQBp1LGpX5FC7zI/s1600/DSC00720.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpr0xDdahIrKrh2ZH_kKgs7_AahN3JliGA_eaEkLc6SVAeKgnGWD_gkTaBMH8OyCKJeQ7jcI2PeLbZQxc3SylxHpg217AJ77Epo-Zgw3z1_Sz7nfox0dT9UoQ3uTyifQBp1LGpX5FC7zI/s400/DSC00720.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407647346100620610" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyx41-NmnqXrK2z0QDvcLpDs-nyRPxBmKe8nlawS18wHxbJTLurmvZJfQ8R8DsIM8yqPk5hDSHjD00PHWcgAlfrC3y8nvnmzztPHEBJYdcddiALVpvqaaMupBmGhGdH6ey-XObewfxlh4/s1600/DSC00721.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyx41-NmnqXrK2z0QDvcLpDs-nyRPxBmKe8nlawS18wHxbJTLurmvZJfQ8R8DsIM8yqPk5hDSHjD00PHWcgAlfrC3y8nvnmzztPHEBJYdcddiALVpvqaaMupBmGhGdH6ey-XObewfxlh4/s400/DSC00721.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407647337645440226" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIBo2O1Jwjtu6uzEraiPZSrUllojGeRGkHv1rDwxwBTq-6sY7WyMYeLPIw37wQIFnJNWLqoD9jBX48U2w8NC1jBdw_q84INaIhLA_iuMsP6L5gN-5LqoN0zEAluqFBQ-lMoH0ln9zIYE8/s1600/DSC00722.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIBo2O1Jwjtu6uzEraiPZSrUllojGeRGkHv1rDwxwBTq-6sY7WyMYeLPIw37wQIFnJNWLqoD9jBX48U2w8NC1jBdw_q84INaIhLA_iuMsP6L5gN-5LqoN0zEAluqFBQ-lMoH0ln9zIYE8/s400/DSC00722.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407646401748303986" border="0" /></a>I wondered around the dense, frantic markets in the Old City some more, ignoring stallholders' attempts to start conversation. I was disappointed to discover the entire Temple Mount is closed to non-Muslims on Friday and Saturday, though I should have known.<br /><br />I was staying at New Palm Hostel, just outside Damascus Gate. This is in an Arab area, the difference between here and the New City is quite astonishing.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRysVRFipMTXth7AdUrTeE8l6G8CP_tUhZM0waMv_vwx93Y1eqsO3Ob6acyMgDhVBO6KIIyKneSR8Dn_TcFfY-QStw4koUxUajEiQckhabi-AOWL9QFmsoySOt-ya45-P-88pWA4XyOrw/s1600/DSC00729.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRysVRFipMTXth7AdUrTeE8l6G8CP_tUhZM0waMv_vwx93Y1eqsO3Ob6acyMgDhVBO6KIIyKneSR8Dn_TcFfY-QStw4koUxUajEiQckhabi-AOWL9QFmsoySOt-ya45-P-88pWA4XyOrw/s400/DSC00729.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407644996160465906" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRMXsMjxGnNlGGH0EVviGTcpAhHD7AyNIdd79Ho67wbh6FEYsLitvubGiOAu1rAylz9Z6ThIzsdOkGTO5FGEWZOcjgGCwVIG_o-78p9TmTJRNyfBTh72OIJnUmhnXBoiefciGX3qi_52g/s1600/DSC00728.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRMXsMjxGnNlGGH0EVviGTcpAhHD7AyNIdd79Ho67wbh6FEYsLitvubGiOAu1rAylz9Z6ThIzsdOkGTO5FGEWZOcjgGCwVIG_o-78p9TmTJRNyfBTh72OIJnUmhnXBoiefciGX3qi_52g/s400/DSC00728.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407646386299152434" border="0" /></a>I was kind of worried by the outside of the hostel. It was the cheapest I could find at 45NIS per night. However inside was like the Tardis (sort of) - freshly marbled walls, everything smelling new, shiny and very upmarket.<br /><br />They proved to be an incredibly relaxed operation. There was only one key between us for the room, meaning that it could never be locked. The receptionist didn't ask for any money, and defused every question with a hand wave and "don't worry, don't worry".<br /><br />The dorm room was by far the best in Israel, in fact I think the best hostel room I've had anywhere. The beds were smooth, solid pine, comfy mattresses, non-peeling non-stained wallpaper, and a friendly German room-mate. Couldn't believe my luck.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJiMmknNuV4e1AmYJQyIsLXkng0fhtcMt4YgT8_pbpZc2r8MsAE5L33OvCRjOl-iIeOi47_AdvETwNTD5El04w-Tqs3yKklMjUBJZkByAfpzK_56zq-0pFZKe4E00J4n1E3EKbIXx5giI/s1600/DSC00724.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJiMmknNuV4e1AmYJQyIsLXkng0fhtcMt4YgT8_pbpZc2r8MsAE5L33OvCRjOl-iIeOi47_AdvETwNTD5El04w-Tqs3yKklMjUBJZkByAfpzK_56zq-0pFZKe4E00J4n1E3EKbIXx5giI/s400/DSC00724.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407646395019708642" border="0" /></a><br />Although, the view from the window left something to be desired.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLIQUB57mr4qYFTl_cpatgSkjBNzLyJ0lQaa39TLW4GI-bsYnoJge3ZOpk6gibs8BYqE2Tlj2lVMTyDdvSNSSYtdQB560mgwjwDKGSQ3OxLNwYv1OiMNSHX2Byb51e-upVyZrIRHYxdqU/s1600/DSC00723.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLIQUB57mr4qYFTl_cpatgSkjBNzLyJ0lQaa39TLW4GI-bsYnoJge3ZOpk6gibs8BYqE2Tlj2lVMTyDdvSNSSYtdQB560mgwjwDKGSQ3OxLNwYv1OiMNSHX2Byb51e-upVyZrIRHYxdqU/s400/DSC00723.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407646396692365042" border="0" /></a>Yeah, like - a view. Why create a window at all when the external wall of the hotel obscures any sight of outside? Why not make the floors of the inside <span style="font-style: italic;">match</span> the external windows? What was going on with this place, which seemed increasingly like one hotel stuffed en-mass inside a completely different one?<br /><br />Johannas, the friendly German, and I took a walk to the Western Wall. Sabbath was rapidly approaching (as rapidly as a day of rest can anyway) and rabbinic fervour was mounting. We watched from beneath our cardboard kippas as spontaneous activity burst from isolated groups of black-clad, enormous hat-wearing men: some sang and danced in circles, some chanted while rocking back and forth, some were trying to call their comrades over. There was no organisation whatsoever, and in a way the scene reminded me of a nightclub as groups of friends perform their own special rituals, lose each other and mingle, constantly jostled by the neighbours.<br /><br />I'm impressed but also quite surprised that the Western Wall, Judaism's holiest site and one which for several centuries (18 in fact) was inaccessible to them, is now open 24 hours a day to anyone and everyone of whatever background or faith. Security is tight, but once in you can do whatever you like there short of photographing, smoking or phoning on the sabbath.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtCg4Eu9GtiE3xn-K0si5Jsb9ML4zdyiE5paLn1KbCQwsm4ekVFJi0UHuHIMx6OFROeNu0TMX-fxNrIJ40dL3vgA-gb3VX8f7zLFLir4XHoMIojv4BAo7bKE8QMfNPsrAVHupc_DSoiuA/s1600/DSC00725.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtCg4Eu9GtiE3xn-K0si5Jsb9ML4zdyiE5paLn1KbCQwsm4ekVFJi0UHuHIMx6OFROeNu0TMX-fxNrIJ40dL3vgA-gb3VX8f7zLFLir4XHoMIojv4BAo7bKE8QMfNPsrAVHupc_DSoiuA/s400/DSC00725.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407646391246145378" border="0" /></a>This is a shot from the distance. You can see the Dome of the Rock behind it.<br /><br />Johannas and I left to get drunk. After a couple of attempts we found a bar which I had read about called Hataklit (The Record). It was happy hour and they were playing Public Enemy, always a good sign. The barman was a young Israeli who had dodged the draft and did little to hide his distaste for typical Israeli politics. There was also an American and and an Australian, and we enjoyed a couple of hours of international banter.<br /><br />I had quite a nice sleep at the hostel, though the third person in our room snored VERY loudly all night. I left and ate some felafel. God damn, Arab felafel and humus is MUCH better than Israeli. Sorry, but it's true. An amazing breakfast, more than I could eat plus another one of those Turkish coffees for under 20NIS. I also got my chili fix, something I'd been missing the past two weeks. Here they didn't have salt and pepper on the tables - their condiments were two varieties of pickled chili.<br /><br />I had earmarked some places to visit, and there was a free tour of the Old City at 11AM. First, the Garden Tomb.<br /><br />This is a site claiming to be the tomb which Joseph of Arimethea provided for Jesus. It is maintained and staffed by an English organisation, which provided the welcome relief of English accents for the first time since I left Birmingham. I felt instantly soothed. The garden itself is very nice, and also quite English funnily enough.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1vGPKbYv5nxGyTHHY69kOZmSQNatGnRU2RAe06R3ZfhbSVRuEJOz_mBV0wsTYTxGoCpdA4hzncOrqk7kfoiy9KAN8-8vXwUQFZvNcOpFDEmK_GF47cCbxBvUsjXfPfaMRKbjDMfrxDDE/s1600/DSC00730.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1vGPKbYv5nxGyTHHY69kOZmSQNatGnRU2RAe06R3ZfhbSVRuEJOz_mBV0wsTYTxGoCpdA4hzncOrqk7kfoiy9KAN8-8vXwUQFZvNcOpFDEmK_GF47cCbxBvUsjXfPfaMRKbjDMfrxDDE/s400/DSC00730.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407644994564885746" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimVjIMJPcUaVIU_L2EXmB6jAGQzld6Nxne7fcmOmv27p4cUmeF3slA4JVM9UMeMHqU4Wi_INZiTQ-sKC2sSRGlqpcUPlCjvScv8-Sa-yv27z6ZfvvkFDXade06diBs6-G1oO-dTXCnpC8/s1600/DSC00731.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimVjIMJPcUaVIU_L2EXmB6jAGQzld6Nxne7fcmOmv27p4cUmeF3slA4JVM9UMeMHqU4Wi_INZiTQ-sKC2sSRGlqpcUPlCjvScv8-Sa-yv27z6ZfvvkFDXade06diBs6-G1oO-dTXCnpC8/s400/DSC00731.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407644985394455154" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVrh42tmGKfzIQW-THqjXmOOF-qrQfv4bxnKC6k7z4RNVcquYhD8ffpmy5jBngdSQPniG774JzpMJanPgbbwOlF-qltQOSnuHplyXIlJfPBda8hirWVkJLU-C38rh8S-w6_qoBYBiG9fY/s1600/DSC00732.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVrh42tmGKfzIQW-THqjXmOOF-qrQfv4bxnKC6k7z4RNVcquYhD8ffpmy5jBngdSQPniG774JzpMJanPgbbwOlF-qltQOSnuHplyXIlJfPBda8hirWVkJLU-C38rh8S-w6_qoBYBiG9fY/s400/DSC00732.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407644982746691682" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhARZAJtUQqGaO0yKWBAjz9Cm8Lah4V8N-Fxcso4v5UxI0ooufY0Zv1YjsxBKz9_xLni9QcKuBzEHqSryLGUVGHoGBcVG3mw9fxPXXrtWyFqK5Zx5Xw37Z92CfbvYX521IvdM2JZi8i8IM/s1600/DSC00733.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhARZAJtUQqGaO0yKWBAjz9Cm8Lah4V8N-Fxcso4v5UxI0ooufY0Zv1YjsxBKz9_xLni9QcKuBzEHqSryLGUVGHoGBcVG3mw9fxPXXrtWyFqK5Zx5Xw37Z92CfbvYX521IvdM2JZi8i8IM/s400/DSC00733.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407644972861417458" border="0" /></a><br />I walked back to the Old City through the markets for the tour and bumped into the friendly American we had met in the bar last night. We took the tour together, and it was really good.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkdGr7cLOQfqyScVICg1oZwdjIBj-XPCnCAiefSiEOW4CN3CpXECNtem7kMaWLAq5sPMS3bFDaEG95iTtZ6fga1WE1DMvX5kPbNp6k4I5Q40L_NFrn0tZ12HGdy-YCdkQ72wWlbZIWLOc/s1600/DSC00741.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkdGr7cLOQfqyScVICg1oZwdjIBj-XPCnCAiefSiEOW4CN3CpXECNtem7kMaWLAq5sPMS3bFDaEG95iTtZ6fga1WE1DMvX5kPbNp6k4I5Q40L_NFrn0tZ12HGdy-YCdkQ72wWlbZIWLOc/s400/DSC00741.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407642807958211074" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJPUT_SAoYtBhAC0cjdAHUKZlwADxbTMnhX5O1siOaFhy1jomfnXD_dYR9CJ5Btx2fJsi3q-7i25H-76f8V7xejAmL7gY76EtntaFcql9gAcAk_4VJGHIUSdA_ULXa9bLTFUQ9RrEvfM0/s1600/DSC00742.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJPUT_SAoYtBhAC0cjdAHUKZlwADxbTMnhX5O1siOaFhy1jomfnXD_dYR9CJ5Btx2fJsi3q-7i25H-76f8V7xejAmL7gY76EtntaFcql9gAcAk_4VJGHIUSdA_ULXa9bLTFUQ9RrEvfM0/s400/DSC00742.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407642803415746946" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs8aKLNoXSW1tygnS8dYbJQiYjdTJ85S2IZ2YvKEeUug1CIfoXt_iWFPxSgAKQQzuEBapb2fzGJFPnQ2-S9KHiDrnmaKV_0KDyYyZunwyGvIm13bNljwJ_uQQbRWiLvJv1UhBsQKFo_3U/s1600/DSC00743.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs8aKLNoXSW1tygnS8dYbJQiYjdTJ85S2IZ2YvKEeUug1CIfoXt_iWFPxSgAKQQzuEBapb2fzGJFPnQ2-S9KHiDrnmaKV_0KDyYyZunwyGvIm13bNljwJ_uQQbRWiLvJv1UhBsQKFo_3U/s400/DSC00743.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407642799466052306" border="0" /></a>This is an excavated Roman Street, originally 30ft wide.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_e2hy5FwD_dWKm9uaMQQnGuuNQDGn-otkkiCnwMv8nRS7kVHVBwvKNha8ZYCMMdRPfe2XvnFqks4HctBikDC2pYWD5Kx6waD56Hg3Cy8nLZVL1lFM_IjPThW-4Jr92bEuIXFafZfgQlQ/s1600/DSC00744.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_e2hy5FwD_dWKm9uaMQQnGuuNQDGn-otkkiCnwMv8nRS7kVHVBwvKNha8ZYCMMdRPfe2XvnFqks4HctBikDC2pYWD5Kx6waD56Hg3Cy8nLZVL1lFM_IjPThW-4Jr92bEuIXFafZfgQlQ/s400/DSC00744.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407642792428340642" border="0" /></a>Glass-encased menorah by the Western Wall<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVt9_deLmQDZ28GGYBY2vGNS7r9XF2dIFUyySNNbdlufQrR38oWMq1baRxlwvfefmcDq4pGiG1hXGJ94gE8yE0fZQmJgikhQ4H4Vs7qC47y1VqPdKvRu76vh0L2axnl_KEstMjFhGz2TQ/s1600/DSC00746.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVt9_deLmQDZ28GGYBY2vGNS7r9XF2dIFUyySNNbdlufQrR38oWMq1baRxlwvfefmcDq4pGiG1hXGJ94gE8yE0fZQmJgikhQ4H4Vs7qC47y1VqPdKvRu76vh0L2axnl_KEstMjFhGz2TQ/s400/DSC00746.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407642786557816178" border="0" /></a>Some Mamluk architecture.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP4InupKn-eX60-p2PjgV6VuG75xgDIAfOElhqxmPTMDYEo87jBJtAE4s8wEgafLjkfOpZeBLlT9Ps7d03swnOaXCl6m-FrE_X-NdfneE-55Fiph3MvqAmENM_7vlQsWPnEzNBwEpHTZ8/s1600/DSC00747.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP4InupKn-eX60-p2PjgV6VuG75xgDIAfOElhqxmPTMDYEo87jBJtAE4s8wEgafLjkfOpZeBLlT9Ps7d03swnOaXCl6m-FrE_X-NdfneE-55Fiph3MvqAmENM_7vlQsWPnEzNBwEpHTZ8/s400/DSC00747.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407641829781526738" border="0" /></a>This rooftop is notable because, in the middle of an Arab area it houses a group of Jewish families. The barriers are there for their protection.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHSDxMatnlkxW76slsZWFI-GuHbMix-U3Bk6e0NcSE78xubar4s0MPs2TwJ0NBf3Jx1oxxJ3adk5sFBxjP4mgEjoYZ5KRgUVgMzCoShdTxwyOzHR5OmZWzvd9NEqEyX5R1xBdRmR22v8E/s1600/DSC00749.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHSDxMatnlkxW76slsZWFI-GuHbMix-U3Bk6e0NcSE78xubar4s0MPs2TwJ0NBf3Jx1oxxJ3adk5sFBxjP4mgEjoYZ5KRgUVgMzCoShdTxwyOzHR5OmZWzvd9NEqEyX5R1xBdRmR22v8E/s400/DSC00749.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407641822357528178" border="0" /></a>Coptic Orthodox Church, on part of Via Dolorosa, I think. The cross here is one that tourists can use to replicate Jesus' fateful journey.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-PjNJepnIdKo8cpAG3vZkGoN-S52mCvXAXjmCr1Jb1owgZMKtXNd5pk1EA8fMFcftKcjiA7ns3QHdzyutjpTlWM5p_vWt5e-ua5Vt4Zb46cU58rF5S9aYq7pO1dFeLHzc5KjTBR6RvbY/s1600/DSC00750.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-PjNJepnIdKo8cpAG3vZkGoN-S52mCvXAXjmCr1Jb1owgZMKtXNd5pk1EA8fMFcftKcjiA7ns3QHdzyutjpTlWM5p_vWt5e-ua5Vt4Zb46cU58rF5S9aYq7pO1dFeLHzc5KjTBR6RvbY/s400/DSC00750.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407641819215784850" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir_8JXGHsisHfLNkazxkruT_Bvb6B8OQSD0TivukBs-OzrWYxbDWV6l48vq7n0HBRjPn1nFYR28IvmBQFmqnFifGDi2iTZjFHmdNZqgIkQnqxt1gCxdnf-c5jrzY8S-84T-FdnQyg4zCA/s1600/DSC00751.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir_8JXGHsisHfLNkazxkruT_Bvb6B8OQSD0TivukBs-OzrWYxbDWV6l48vq7n0HBRjPn1nFYR28IvmBQFmqnFifGDi2iTZjFHmdNZqgIkQnqxt1gCxdnf-c5jrzY8S-84T-FdnQyg4zCA/s400/DSC00751.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407641812688370722" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVZnk3CzLLNg7bzq35TfKeWpRTrSknSj_aEIMB71cVgYVb8SBOpxV9y8DOWX3in2vJ9aCG7ZOEyS76uZmcciF47tciM77sQQ-betnAMCmyAkhMXZpwvUQqFBcakvo0iWfYlEozkNF1K-M/s1600/DSC00752.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVZnk3CzLLNg7bzq35TfKeWpRTrSknSj_aEIMB71cVgYVb8SBOpxV9y8DOWX3in2vJ9aCG7ZOEyS76uZmcciF47tciM77sQQ-betnAMCmyAkhMXZpwvUQqFBcakvo0iWfYlEozkNF1K-M/s400/DSC00752.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407641805904739810" border="0" /></a>These rooftop dwellings are the last property in the Old City of the Ethiopian Church. It's crazy to think that people live their lievs in these places, but then it's crazy to think that people live in Old Jerusalem itself. The city is so frantic, buzzing with activity and history, different religions and lifestyles jumbled on top of one another with barely space to breathe; a city contained within walls four hundred years old, the holiest place in the world but also somewhere you have to watch your wallet at all times.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA8Atry8o4__WUuZlkLGhd1EWR7AzwJCAaN2_ELrF7zrkSAwS9-nBJuK6iI3toRJoDNusk1aeAFWc8OVKDAGVWrvwflRCzlXrHXV3KuoeQuOLpGU7XL3SfolbU8e8yzxN4w4PCgIshnlY/s1600/DSC00753.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA8Atry8o4__WUuZlkLGhd1EWR7AzwJCAaN2_ELrF7zrkSAwS9-nBJuK6iI3toRJoDNusk1aeAFWc8OVKDAGVWrvwflRCzlXrHXV3KuoeQuOLpGU7XL3SfolbU8e8yzxN4w4PCgIshnlY/s400/DSC00753.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407641201066605266" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZpVA16Rd2TAuBEVRlrzVZTeHCR4j3rmRtrnuC1pB71m5FxbNiQzA3-rUew_fNUmpr-j-WtA4PmLwZy12lYDgR8yJG3-yFWfOjBdk0BsnQNZKxI7AiJf61yXprQ8Y_hngo9QyOvcPzrZU/s1600/DSC00754.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZpVA16Rd2TAuBEVRlrzVZTeHCR4j3rmRtrnuC1pB71m5FxbNiQzA3-rUew_fNUmpr-j-WtA4PmLwZy12lYDgR8yJG3-yFWfOjBdk0BsnQNZKxI7AiJf61yXprQ8Y_hngo9QyOvcPzrZU/s400/DSC00754.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407641198494899282" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_fAszQpCUcftEK4AW0Cgj6S5odYhNxGKoKjzlSewxY_xLNGw-kg-4sqP2LcnaJ_BtobyC6Awy7LYmzTT83X2jvhBAhTU6U4u1m6kwo8O3kwxiDrQwrWpLPd2xsm_QaD1RFMIPyzFKTuc/s1600/DSC00755.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_fAszQpCUcftEK4AW0Cgj6S5odYhNxGKoKjzlSewxY_xLNGw-kg-4sqP2LcnaJ_BtobyC6Awy7LYmzTT83X2jvhBAhTU6U4u1m6kwo8O3kwxiDrQwrWpLPd2xsm_QaD1RFMIPyzFKTuc/s400/DSC00755.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407641192254694226" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8JwBBgH1KVy_uqsDo16hFe6iWZtABVUbhzbLTnMD9NN6GhtGWC2RYUOm8QGgAW3xUckZALWJu67AVYsoLBMcZgzqq1SEsiQZ-eN6OuWOZ-tnBlzZ8TS9-YAOFmcaoOIySQe0UGITguG8/s1600/DSC00757.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8JwBBgH1KVy_uqsDo16hFe6iWZtABVUbhzbLTnMD9NN6GhtGWC2RYUOm8QGgAW3xUckZALWJu67AVYsoLBMcZgzqq1SEsiQZ-eN6OuWOZ-tnBlzZ8TS9-YAOFmcaoOIySQe0UGITguG8/s400/DSC00757.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407641190175120290" border="0" /></a>Don't remember what this doorway was but it looks nice.<br /><br />Some photos from the New City, as I ambled around waiting for the trains to start.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbfHV8t60846XOPSGx4FzkMVom2Lbsl_afG9TVSkS4pQyB35tJg5ne9i5toHqtHZQm0bmqfcm7D15c9KNhhnI7cT0w46MC1X85V85R3AMGgHyg_6heN_7L3XTLwMU61UNahY2en_SYfj8/s1600/DSC00758.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbfHV8t60846XOPSGx4FzkMVom2Lbsl_afG9TVSkS4pQyB35tJg5ne9i5toHqtHZQm0bmqfcm7D15c9KNhhnI7cT0w46MC1X85V85R3AMGgHyg_6heN_7L3XTLwMU61UNahY2en_SYfj8/s400/DSC00758.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407641184560744578" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoaqLXulDG5RmjjFzVdFpMDKelcOj7jWK-Snev1vGAfVX1zb1gQHxSW4HCdQZ2u0gmgMXoT5HMVevn3XdwtlI0FxLPKXCNrAdOXIjyXEL8grWy54iYAQNawdA49ydqvOwZDO427USi4tU/s1600/DSC00759.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoaqLXulDG5RmjjFzVdFpMDKelcOj7jWK-Snev1vGAfVX1zb1gQHxSW4HCdQZ2u0gmgMXoT5HMVevn3XdwtlI0FxLPKXCNrAdOXIjyXEL8grWy54iYAQNawdA49ydqvOwZDO427USi4tU/s400/DSC00759.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407640084446609746" border="0" /></a>This is so bizarre - every brick is numbered according to row and column. It made me think of the Shi'ur Qomah, an early Jewish tradition where God's bodily parts are described, measured and named, all in arcanely inconceivable terms, by Metatron.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd6ulgP1FWIGVrA_RiLqHvuLJzdc6b5UufMeHMQiG36AaO_7xydGYHvYLNc4rwD0jpvju_63FzC90L3A6ibrmMrHy7qugSXe91KaqdAe6qq7TTsuM09hGSrWk2dkMYh1ZYG8pL6ftKlQY/s1600/DSC00760.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd6ulgP1FWIGVrA_RiLqHvuLJzdc6b5UufMeHMQiG36AaO_7xydGYHvYLNc4rwD0jpvju_63FzC90L3A6ibrmMrHy7qugSXe91KaqdAe6qq7TTsuM09hGSrWk2dkMYh1ZYG8pL6ftKlQY/s400/DSC00760.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407640073695880290" border="0" /></a>The main shopping plaza has some very good sculptures<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYlkJm71NDGArBraOBCbOPB0UVrk02cSxyNiRZfDaiF4BO1ya_CwnhwAF3P49GOIVSGv90IMImnx0tGmjNb5eM3e9TfD1PhWTW2e2H94eoSOOXCX7SZFPgavRMj3wCCE8Iw92RpdfqboA/s1600/DSC00761.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYlkJm71NDGArBraOBCbOPB0UVrk02cSxyNiRZfDaiF4BO1ya_CwnhwAF3P49GOIVSGv90IMImnx0tGmjNb5eM3e9TfD1PhWTW2e2H94eoSOOXCX7SZFPgavRMj3wCCE8Iw92RpdfqboA/s400/DSC00761.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407640073310078114" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJX6AKba0Sb-axksN0FRyXwlBTm83otjgB2Nc2x3rJO7-cDvmOWFLLWhRZ1WtVEiw4_G2Pn1x3kh_Glwud3HfxAtUxjKPr0evTRfOfzEhgTt9Hu4-lxFpDW3zwJzJEj79VXwIkd_4Dcwo/s1600/DSC00762.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJX6AKba0Sb-axksN0FRyXwlBTm83otjgB2Nc2x3rJO7-cDvmOWFLLWhRZ1WtVEiw4_G2Pn1x3kh_Glwud3HfxAtUxjKPr0evTRfOfzEhgTt9Hu4-lxFpDW3zwJzJEj79VXwIkd_4Dcwo/s400/DSC00762.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407640069227945858" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-A4zetx_r_kEu2EtRJ51wtBYkfCnxns_m9qVvNdgHlx2c9XVHmAhr0GWJN-TTitRQY1uTUI_0O8GhRz_0XdxA6SmO9mskbVAENBJGYAyXm3uUwkwueW5MjjV80RcDQ0ho4N1K2s2fHyE/s1600/DSC00763.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-A4zetx_r_kEu2EtRJ51wtBYkfCnxns_m9qVvNdgHlx2c9XVHmAhr0GWJN-TTitRQY1uTUI_0O8GhRz_0XdxA6SmO9mskbVAENBJGYAyXm3uUwkwueW5MjjV80RcDQ0ho4N1K2s2fHyE/s400/DSC00763.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407640063582743154" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWxNZXtCxxAEjfORsVb5MFrO6kZUFaQXUgfsjYiqT3f9DggWDhCCG-tZfMdKcKlyKDEt70JXzxDIJMThjFKwbhaImbs39TGrHS8kgcU429FUAifEUPqdreI8nnV0z4ZjyRCFufqLyeqv4/s1600/DSC00764.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWxNZXtCxxAEjfORsVb5MFrO6kZUFaQXUgfsjYiqT3f9DggWDhCCG-tZfMdKcKlyKDEt70JXzxDIJMThjFKwbhaImbs39TGrHS8kgcU429FUAifEUPqdreI8nnV0z4ZjyRCFufqLyeqv4/s400/DSC00764.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407639580532445362" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3mPf-jyE8qTXP8CUS4RrS2LFs8lMXX-XJKp0qmOHLbARqkThznYMERf7U9BhFAjRmDZOVaZW5Tdmuq3FyAQBSWDiAq_ArhyphenhyphenF2We90DJXN2AK11F1YGbRnDHFcHOh1iUn8iDRA9LU8GJs/s1600/DSC00765.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3mPf-jyE8qTXP8CUS4RrS2LFs8lMXX-XJKp0qmOHLbARqkThznYMERf7U9BhFAjRmDZOVaZW5Tdmuq3FyAQBSWDiAq_ArhyphenhyphenF2We90DJXN2AK11F1YGbRnDHFcHOh1iUn8iDRA9LU8GJs/s400/DSC00765.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407639575176158146" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLoi_quVd5qpj8LP_zww4F1nqhSzueeN_8K2hpbVuq21eNyQC8msHs51SmuiUVFB7WSlQz16zg0sfKeCdIU9OoBw2d8gx-xwW0cpU4-2zDJnxFngNgmvXDXxapOaFkTd5TJ3oDNl-0YAc/s1600/DSC00769.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLoi_quVd5qpj8LP_zww4F1nqhSzueeN_8K2hpbVuq21eNyQC8msHs51SmuiUVFB7WSlQz16zg0sfKeCdIU9OoBw2d8gx-xwW0cpU4-2zDJnxFngNgmvXDXxapOaFkTd5TJ3oDNl-0YAc/s400/DSC00769.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407639566967863682" border="0" /></a>Old City from outside.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk1uf6w69OBESkDOohFcxZ5lB7L9YzHoTaNL7ZG3GmyRrn8vs0o0eElNkmjp4ivYca-cUKI-rfQdgf8zEDH1mUNNgbrlJNT81dTSgrRmCxAQ93tz-kGWyg1QooroYDkuRX7hsL1s_zbrI/s1600/DSC00770.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk1uf6w69OBESkDOohFcxZ5lB7L9YzHoTaNL7ZG3GmyRrn8vs0o0eElNkmjp4ivYca-cUKI-rfQdgf8zEDH1mUNNgbrlJNT81dTSgrRmCxAQ93tz-kGWyg1QooroYDkuRX7hsL1s_zbrI/s400/DSC00770.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407639561168701058" border="0" /></a>View from Jaffa Gate.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxTlmZlSa3zxbmO9cz_MikpAsOFz1Ba7LY4ALqOaDq-PmiXqH5uiJrJUDKGvLg41dbp63mnookJvWYbjUOl1L0akOcurZnYvxr-EfLPua4yzuW0X48FuvLdkIIwN58dEGZNo1nXdE3RJI/s1600/DSC00771.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxTlmZlSa3zxbmO9cz_MikpAsOFz1Ba7LY4ALqOaDq-PmiXqH5uiJrJUDKGvLg41dbp63mnookJvWYbjUOl1L0akOcurZnYvxr-EfLPua4yzuW0X48FuvLdkIIwN58dEGZNo1nXdE3RJI/s400/DSC00771.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407639557819650706" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV9RJJGhLyf7LPR54LMVJD9WH7HuQxHYJDGxrmA69_NycEmVdRxV_a7fA-ZSsom3ETPJhzp6KT5n3-mxYPEc7x4sBiUJt_yaMmJr_6Z1BcvuwcmUMGEFFPYqR8_sTzz6rlK5FYOGyEbas/s1600/DSC00772.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV9RJJGhLyf7LPR54LMVJD9WH7HuQxHYJDGxrmA69_NycEmVdRxV_a7fA-ZSsom3ETPJhzp6KT5n3-mxYPEc7x4sBiUJt_yaMmJr_6Z1BcvuwcmUMGEFFPYqR8_sTzz6rlK5FYOGyEbas/s400/DSC00772.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407638976132314082" border="0" /></a>Crusaders, I guess - tastefully hidden by a tree.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFLSjYpYokFqWe1Buv8y1PynGEBFyYhTny9hL771Ryo1_98JR29jf38kSqa6FWkKGPuUUYcKkZ_F2isIOEe_D22QeSPuxfKnwdkwKDwI0hBSYZ9G-DVYFVubOAVFkzjKpqk0-9EB-8jUQ/s1600/DSC00773.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFLSjYpYokFqWe1Buv8y1PynGEBFyYhTny9hL771Ryo1_98JR29jf38kSqa6FWkKGPuUUYcKkZ_F2isIOEe_D22QeSPuxfKnwdkwKDwI0hBSYZ9G-DVYFVubOAVFkzjKpqk0-9EB-8jUQ/s400/DSC00773.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407638966978910082" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7TqgGsGxSsEnX5SAyndFSIjt_U5j-azmJxfx7T6LwvUDP7i2t0K10HbqDKGZkxZKDFPmY9tHh8GrSKOwWT7xAC5rn-eP0sHmppQDz1Kf2SqOrj8Y5g_iom7VVlKmEprv_sxKDTil3aB8/s1600/DSC00774.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7TqgGsGxSsEnX5SAyndFSIjt_U5j-azmJxfx7T6LwvUDP7i2t0K10HbqDKGZkxZKDFPmY9tHh8GrSKOwWT7xAC5rn-eP0sHmppQDz1Kf2SqOrj8Y5g_iom7VVlKmEprv_sxKDTil3aB8/s400/DSC00774.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407638962651579362" border="0" /></a>View from the ramparts. Usually you can walk a long stretch of the ramparts but of course it was closed for Sabbath. I did stop to chat and drink tea with the doorman though, who was an elderly Israeli who worked there 7 days a week. He was an odd chap, and sort of unnerved me by stroking my arm as he shook my hand. Really appreciated the tea though, I felt much better afterwards.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdwq2mZnNGtWGxlVRtFJ-RL_d3puudEBonwPJ7X8u6dZo6xaJNf4Ee17_ZOslEy5n4BH3WPAN196yTRMXlLl2Bbua3-zG8R1uB9BjU3gx39NUl6mB8JTd_Ol0ydVX3xAyMahm-F1PStZ4/s1600/DSC00775.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdwq2mZnNGtWGxlVRtFJ-RL_d3puudEBonwPJ7X8u6dZo6xaJNf4Ee17_ZOslEy5n4BH3WPAN196yTRMXlLl2Bbua3-zG8R1uB9BjU3gx39NUl6mB8JTd_Ol0ydVX3xAyMahm-F1PStZ4/s400/DSC00775.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407638953007794018" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge6oUwr1mP_WUHpOROVVwZuKP73zaliAOHmiGr4zsMoZ9-_FbqZIoxuQNoOSson4VqUfva1Kcpc1vwK8p9AGNM9u84wTH94Dakwjglp4xACVa-JX4LnBqbwWEJFZXX4Q-sVyyHS8DivBQ/s1600/DSC00776.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge6oUwr1mP_WUHpOROVVwZuKP73zaliAOHmiGr4zsMoZ9-_FbqZIoxuQNoOSson4VqUfva1Kcpc1vwK8p9AGNM9u84wTH94Dakwjglp4xACVa-JX4LnBqbwWEJFZXX4Q-sVyyHS8DivBQ/s400/DSC00776.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407638945363615186" border="0" /></a>Armenian church, under repair<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHloAzszQXZTcclPIj7XIoo7QaMyTo_u9ioODYihJCEH5RVahu3y2DAbe-vDLHqiBZYnc7Fffm7vhAPLUyMqsncKgsRzYSTFwCsonnDqNBdmVRBtQwUjIVd1i5bb6CPlvrSvHw5hssGpc/s1600/DSC00777.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHloAzszQXZTcclPIj7XIoo7QaMyTo_u9ioODYihJCEH5RVahu3y2DAbe-vDLHqiBZYnc7Fffm7vhAPLUyMqsncKgsRzYSTFwCsonnDqNBdmVRBtQwUjIVd1i5bb6CPlvrSvHw5hssGpc/s400/DSC00777.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407638210588662658" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgBSRNq4HR6BYWq-qtbArMJuRIMpDtWEhcKA9fNMppbdOcWRPX6nTbOpF6KQgkQj_ikyiFLLPep20SW_bZdNTpzt9BWlIrA6xiJhAAFEqRrJXJejL1jR28qvrFd0W6vEFiR9teeMH81bM/s1600/DSC00778.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgBSRNq4HR6BYWq-qtbArMJuRIMpDtWEhcKA9fNMppbdOcWRPX6nTbOpF6KQgkQj_ikyiFLLPep20SW_bZdNTpzt9BWlIrA6xiJhAAFEqRrJXJejL1jR28qvrFd0W6vEFiR9teeMH81bM/s400/DSC00778.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407638203632270322" border="0" /></a>Two inside (the doubtless incorrectly named) King David's Tomb<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxdzWDhRAFY3PACbKxokgK_C0Wy-bkfV7b5CvczIpRKvLciw9__sFHobT_Vis7YjHjUGBG_8aLZMW1m6dAciqnzaHbtXdvvEAQj1HNGFmLTJ1rQ46jJsvwseiGayC0aDfpwPX9fTr4RQY/s1600/DSC00779.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxdzWDhRAFY3PACbKxokgK_C0Wy-bkfV7b5CvczIpRKvLciw9__sFHobT_Vis7YjHjUGBG_8aLZMW1m6dAciqnzaHbtXdvvEAQj1HNGFmLTJ1rQ46jJsvwseiGayC0aDfpwPX9fTr4RQY/s400/DSC00779.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407638197964353458" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgCAZxoSQmGkS35i6Fi-DOJTRea7fy_gV3-1N-h2VuhoKt0m_7teNaf9JDLhTNWCPOSWvjLqp2q3vNj312Hu2MwFlxaKSDH9ufsBVOCmGaLaLUroD70lkV14fKZRubBXAqlucf-E0C28U/s1600/DSC00780.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgCAZxoSQmGkS35i6Fi-DOJTRea7fy_gV3-1N-h2VuhoKt0m_7teNaf9JDLhTNWCPOSWvjLqp2q3vNj312Hu2MwFlxaKSDH9ufsBVOCmGaLaLUroD70lkV14fKZRubBXAqlucf-E0C28U/s400/DSC00780.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407638194582279618" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEig3tbihqWyziNr0dpdRsWQSlxg74Kg_jUhGIpFBescsv5qti42fdIdVmdnWrEIm65EQ_-m288BYra0UHwLzrENiBRKaM1f4INnmfVFNo31gcwUXtrgGUB8DvNMej0U9-YkPyTsdoUdE/s1600/DSC00782.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEig3tbihqWyziNr0dpdRsWQSlxg74Kg_jUhGIpFBescsv5qti42fdIdVmdnWrEIm65EQ_-m288BYra0UHwLzrENiBRKaM1f4INnmfVFNo31gcwUXtrgGUB8DvNMej0U9-YkPyTsdoUdE/s400/DSC00782.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407638192138596226" border="0" /></a>There are two recent BBC articles on Jerusalem which I found quite interesting: the <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/8369687.stm">first</a> is an account of life in the city, and from what I can gather entirely accurate. The <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/8370388.stm">second</a> is more about the political struggle, but still makes for worthwhile reading.<br /><br />Nothing else much happening at the farm. I'm working with Marc on the video or putting mud on the wall. Lucy left on Thursday so we're down to just three people now - Benjamin, Jonas and I. I'm gradually writing my PhD proposal which Philip Goodchild at Nottingham has expressed interest in.Ayinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10120620659286171851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462752563299701010.post-68551346292246232652009-11-17T04:09:00.000-08:002009-11-17T08:34:42.534-08:00My Weekend in Tel AvivIt feels like ages since I blogged here.<br /><br />Last weekend I went to Tel Aviv. We have a new volunteers called Lucy. She is American. She came with me, which was good because she has been to Israel several times before and knows Tel Aviv quite well. We managed to hitch from the Moshav to Bet Shemesh train station. It's the first time I've ever hitchhiked, but it was fine. The couple who stopped were on their carphone the whole time so we barely even exchanged pleasantries.<br /><br />I was glad to see the other side of Tel Aviv. The first day I spent there was entirely in one district, and I had a very limited impression of the city. This time we saw the western, consumer-driven element.<br /><br />We walked along Kaplan St and saw this odd typewriter-printer contraption.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijLVwdoKAmbGt450_qTn-zQmXIBGotLr4l8ymBL9TdoWWonH2WCJxMHQ9jvIOzYRBiSBWJg2r8WKr_O9NTIM61fzpr6nz84h6PKh6eeVfXLDiYSYg1jAFWfTyUHXHApawDosYdyeLhyQ4/s1600/DSC00679.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijLVwdoKAmbGt450_qTn-zQmXIBGotLr4l8ymBL9TdoWWonH2WCJxMHQ9jvIOzYRBiSBWJg2r8WKr_O9NTIM61fzpr6nz84h6PKh6eeVfXLDiYSYg1jAFWfTyUHXHApawDosYdyeLhyQ4/s400/DSC00679.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405046315970932370" border="0" /></a>There is a vibrant graffitti scene in Tel Aviv. This we found on the corner of Almonit Alley, where my guidebook said we could find underground vegan info-cafe <a href="http://www.myspace.com/salonmazal">Salon Mazal</a>. We could not. It has moved. Instead we settled for another cafe where I had <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakshouka">shakshuka</a> (without eggs). It was delicious, the bread in particular better than anything you'd get in the UK.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtsr1lLJSP_lWbzP07Sj1rY3bu1SNeJ7y5VPmnKiyWrqB50UZbQSeyBBHkqtFUlCzkweHpnJ8gtV2GvYPzwmnB48U8pijNuaU2z4d-YDnBBVQMsaDgTC3A6Ge8o0etkr75iVKE9zln20o/s1600/DSC00704.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtsr1lLJSP_lWbzP07Sj1rY3bu1SNeJ7y5VPmnKiyWrqB50UZbQSeyBBHkqtFUlCzkweHpnJ8gtV2GvYPzwmnB48U8pijNuaU2z4d-YDnBBVQMsaDgTC3A6Ge8o0etkr75iVKE9zln20o/s400/DSC00704.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405044125873543074" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLZ3G9ReN86MEtKe0BHJRXO5n8Wu4Z_UJaY_QF4X3ovUb_brn2qylAz4wn_hIV3K2gz5SrkbG_LMbg4-jbYZsR0evOflhpxsvhAS0JiKdXbmjemSQE-nORSFBGaRVRDq_T8HrCwyP_Q0Q/s1600/DSC00680.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLZ3G9ReN86MEtKe0BHJRXO5n8Wu4Z_UJaY_QF4X3ovUb_brn2qylAz4wn_hIV3K2gz5SrkbG_LMbg4-jbYZsR0evOflhpxsvhAS0JiKdXbmjemSQE-nORSFBGaRVRDq_T8HrCwyP_Q0Q/s400/DSC00680.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405046173556587538" border="0" /></a>More graffitti, of a Lego theme, from TLV centre.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZO_QbnbY2Zfy6FGijLFJ958kgCOYqV3vY1fgf-0xQ6Wx5A838Hz2E3MtraiBOQp1iG1dkgQBvRuQH7wmQyt1f9vXeiGMnu6Pl0OOBuCYtwFhSFn60SppPkKGlabSalRstYHmjBAJp4_M/s1600/DSC00681.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZO_QbnbY2Zfy6FGijLFJ958kgCOYqV3vY1fgf-0xQ6Wx5A838Hz2E3MtraiBOQp1iG1dkgQBvRuQH7wmQyt1f9vXeiGMnu6Pl0OOBuCYtwFhSFn60SppPkKGlabSalRstYHmjBAJp4_M/s400/DSC00681.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405046170927065426" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGnHc4E2WLVzFkNdIjqp7ddd3ynCJTD1Lcoy6zGctO4z0-AZMt4AbZ5m9RUR2GpFt1ufyEdd7B1q0ZfxicMsV0X6UiRD8RHiUPYd-I4fithfyJGuQTwFCxgpeU1rcBM7xtYlI_s0Ih2us/s1600/DSC00682.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGnHc4E2WLVzFkNdIjqp7ddd3ynCJTD1Lcoy6zGctO4z0-AZMt4AbZ5m9RUR2GpFt1ufyEdd7B1q0ZfxicMsV0X6UiRD8RHiUPYd-I4fithfyJGuQTwFCxgpeU1rcBM7xtYlI_s0Ih2us/s400/DSC00682.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405046166358542354" border="0" /></a>Really liked this piece on a shopfront.<br /><br />We wondered around for a bit, went to the mall, checked out the market...I enquired about an obviously old Christian diaroma from Russia. This was about 15" long, maybe 10" high, of four pieces which folded together into a single block. It was made of some heavy metal, possibly bronze. The stall holder said it was 300 years old and wanted $800. Yes, US dollars. Even 800 Shekhels would have been twice as much as I could justify, but seriously...<br /><br />We found the hostel I was staying at and found a bar. Lucy to wanted to smoke a shisha. I don't particularly care for them, but we tried several bars before finding one on the beachfront which had them. Drinking in Israel is incredibly expensive. The cheapest bar we found cost 34NIS for 2 pints. This is about GB5.50. Most drinks were well over 20NIS, some of the whiskeys over 50NIS (i.e. more than GB10) per measure.<br /><br />Josh came to meet us for a bit at the last bar, which was nice. We were trying to figure some way of getting to Lucy's friend's friend's party in the outskirts together, but in the end the car could only fit four so Josh left to join his friends from the hostel he was staying at. Lucy also left before the party as she had to be at the place she was staying by midnight. So eventually three of us arrived, with one bottle of beer between us, in casual-wear at this vampire themed party in the suburbs. This was about 12. Ten minutes later the police told us to turn the music off. This seems to me a somewhat extreme reaction - but the partiers' sullen compliance shocked me more. "We don't want to get a ticket" they whispered at each other. I wondered whether the compulsory army service filters through into a more disciplinarian police force.<br /><br />So, we didn't stay much longer. Lucy's friends gave me a lift part of the way and then I caught a <span style="font-style: italic;">sherut</span> (multi-passenger pick-up taxi) to the centre.<br /><br />The next morning I was feeling quite rough. It was 8AM on the sabbath and public transport wasn't starting for 12 hours. However it was a lovely day so I walked in a random direction and took photos of birds.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijpySAiN_V6DBVdy0Htl3VcWRpWQqVsfO8-Xg2omcWNtpuK8IkXR0b4yubUc-5zbQ5Beb1hZmWO-VyJp5Fw979eG0mrbBZStrfAX0mx0bWw3LvAKH50_wGurt-eKdFJS_RU7gKzsOUP2U/s1600/DSC00683.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijpySAiN_V6DBVdy0Htl3VcWRpWQqVsfO8-Xg2omcWNtpuK8IkXR0b4yubUc-5zbQ5Beb1hZmWO-VyJp5Fw979eG0mrbBZStrfAX0mx0bWw3LvAKH50_wGurt-eKdFJS_RU7gKzsOUP2U/s400/DSC00683.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405046158836639842" border="0" /></a>I ended up in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Tel_Aviv_dog_parkA.jpg">Gan Meir</a> park. I liked it there. There were lots of trees, many dogs, and a pond. Criminally, no ducks. I have yet to see a single Israeli duck.<br /><br />I have finished reading <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Pulling-Up-Ladder-Richard-Brockhaus/dp/0812691261">Richard Brockhaus</a>' chapter on Schopenhauer, so I read the next section about psychologism and realism in 19th century logic. I was beginning to feel much better. I bought an orange juice in the park cafe and read some more.<br /><br />Then I left to fget some lunch. I ate some lunch, in a small place recommended by Lonely Planet called <a href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/israel-and-the-palestinian-territories/mediterranean-coast/tel-aviv/restaurants/424145">Shine</a>. To be frank I preferred the atmosphere to the food, especially the selection of very abstract interior design magazines.<br /><br />I left and saw this. I'm still confused.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjQ1CwhtgETk9ooapim0c6LfMsu8XBsXb2W30VgPAMkkKuGAfBk41JpDksQJfa3hmE9noxGLvOLM7Pbo4TFrMThN-2GzuqY7JbF-kyP6iZA-3IodvcJCF5TVI6Wd-rTU8WM7eJDvufkNA/s1600/DSC00684.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjQ1CwhtgETk9ooapim0c6LfMsu8XBsXb2W30VgPAMkkKuGAfBk41JpDksQJfa3hmE9noxGLvOLM7Pbo4TFrMThN-2GzuqY7JbF-kyP6iZA-3IodvcJCF5TVI6Wd-rTU8WM7eJDvufkNA/s400/DSC00684.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405046158117947186" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAZYI97dINTAPR9I4wQwQsR96MhWA_J7sPhAdcb6v56Gptm4ltYttVvRYMsGGG7spXDRwFmhuv3mhHaE1S3ZnsAUmHqa9TLwgRq1pn8atKyb5tUDnteOBiTtFtBBUs4I0c4UCZLoPfACs/s1600/DSC00685.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAZYI97dINTAPR9I4wQwQsR96MhWA_J7sPhAdcb6v56Gptm4ltYttVvRYMsGGG7spXDRwFmhuv3mhHaE1S3ZnsAUmHqa9TLwgRq1pn8atKyb5tUDnteOBiTtFtBBUs4I0c4UCZLoPfACs/s400/DSC00685.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405045685900814706" border="0" /></a>One of the Synagogues.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmTUqrfEgZFKKF1UkUDgQDYR3MT_eb8fEJCYUP3H22wMqkDV6TKxj09gluKIONHz7oDBQsMo3RwygH6UJoIbuymu4vBAlvGdg8mvcTs1coTTDGk4IoKAbwdx8RjCq8TfqmX1CgnCZhi7c/s1600/DSC00686.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmTUqrfEgZFKKF1UkUDgQDYR3MT_eb8fEJCYUP3H22wMqkDV6TKxj09gluKIONHz7oDBQsMo3RwygH6UJoIbuymu4vBAlvGdg8mvcTs1coTTDGk4IoKAbwdx8RjCq8TfqmX1CgnCZhi7c/s400/DSC00686.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405045677433197554" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8uNShAFs1JMPi6D6PDf9GGhS0LUcBliA0pUF_ouxFFkPxiaC28TYooE7G4B7ThfAG7CU283j95UjGn3m2RsEOgIibB92nD-5qqvPAkVy2YMt1R7cxUpCgxcuLyzmm5qO1jCIHTbJAsHo/s1600/DSC00687.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8uNShAFs1JMPi6D6PDf9GGhS0LUcBliA0pUF_ouxFFkPxiaC28TYooE7G4B7ThfAG7CU283j95UjGn3m2RsEOgIibB92nD-5qqvPAkVy2YMt1R7cxUpCgxcuLyzmm5qO1jCIHTbJAsHo/s400/DSC00687.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405045675948411570" border="0" /></a>Some of Tel Aviv's distinctive architecture.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpc3XpPLCI1GtdjG1vw-W7zB19Vj1SWXP0FPUM0wL6vkSFyCpZtjjJk6ufI-wWLthUJt5cT9H0w7pUflAXnSqT4eZ81c5jhMayZkbTNmQn48T3dzCdxpxj2GqqAPLFNnnJITksJ_O530M/s1600/DSC00688.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpc3XpPLCI1GtdjG1vw-W7zB19Vj1SWXP0FPUM0wL6vkSFyCpZtjjJk6ufI-wWLthUJt5cT9H0w7pUflAXnSqT4eZ81c5jhMayZkbTNmQn48T3dzCdxpxj2GqqAPLFNnnJITksJ_O530M/s400/DSC00688.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405045669090331554" border="0" /></a>I really like these trees.<br /><br />By now I had been ambling at random for about 2 hours. And had no idea where I was. I noticed this:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHhjMV8m9YAmCL2V90kYPjBVriRaL_Gp7ixnpAFRkjNWBxsZem-kHYkW9M4ZTD7x5-LtZMQe5H8wHLL49FTptjmTSveFaKHX_mSB5ERK-tDL6uCBkfbnbkvhnXdhcTmJYFuC0O0VhNzkY/s1600/DSC00689.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHhjMV8m9YAmCL2V90kYPjBVriRaL_Gp7ixnpAFRkjNWBxsZem-kHYkW9M4ZTD7x5-LtZMQe5H8wHLL49FTptjmTSveFaKHX_mSB5ERK-tDL6uCBkfbnbkvhnXdhcTmJYFuC0O0VhNzkY/s400/DSC00689.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405045665810786018" border="0" /></a>Which was bizarre enough, until I spotted that someone had written 'Jesus' <span style="font-style: italic;">in mirror-writing</span> in the corner of the blue section.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzE19s2-Zr27XnomaVLpMbbJW0ifywqy2N30BqX2Z_Jntvov2NNoAqU7bZTx8bz7jvR5TBy-1IvB73AGtWHwTu5NZcmhRgEs8qYJbyjYHxruc5229OMROL1q-Yr0_cAF0E5tqQBMjYhV0/s1600/DSC00690.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzE19s2-Zr27XnomaVLpMbbJW0ifywqy2N30BqX2Z_Jntvov2NNoAqU7bZTx8bz7jvR5TBy-1IvB73AGtWHwTu5NZcmhRgEs8qYJbyjYHxruc5229OMROL1q-Yr0_cAF0E5tqQBMjYhV0/s400/DSC00690.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405045145065922450" border="0" /></a>I wondered whether there was some philosophical meaning behind this.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJvQXJDvnR9F0HvzvUlZZhkusksAxiPohCQs8mgYi89ZH8-iKDNKquV0dqCuTa7h-ap6UAjDmH_GqosEv_sgW-20irCtv2NVGFOC3GSU1GSyPL0J0vIX3VolQEccdQ5TahfYfP45iZ7XU/s1600/DSC00691.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJvQXJDvnR9F0HvzvUlZZhkusksAxiPohCQs8mgYi89ZH8-iKDNKquV0dqCuTa7h-ap6UAjDmH_GqosEv_sgW-20irCtv2NVGFOC3GSU1GSyPL0J0vIX3VolQEccdQ5TahfYfP45iZ7XU/s400/DSC00691.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405045140367450498" border="0" /></a><br />I found the street I was on in my little Lonely Planet map, and realised I was very close to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neve_Tzedek">Neve Tzedek</a>, the first Jewish town of the development which became Tel Aviv.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGUWBFBxJlwDMqbd84SgG4DehBGuygal-FBkDKcnaXkY2PHMSpEqL8O4zHh_o2OWgpU1S8REzzQIkJBznIkfC8lAcyYcXDG2lx1jitkgTIIlzVhILrmcAI-E-32UoeweBipOWiW6oszHU/s1600/DSC00692.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGUWBFBxJlwDMqbd84SgG4DehBGuygal-FBkDKcnaXkY2PHMSpEqL8O4zHh_o2OWgpU1S8REzzQIkJBznIkfC8lAcyYcXDG2lx1jitkgTIIlzVhILrmcAI-E-32UoeweBipOWiW6oszHU/s400/DSC00692.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405045137203628178" border="0" /></a>Which was very pretty - although I was bemused by the blatant Egyptian nature of this house's design.<br /><br />I found a park and took more pictures of birds. These aren't too clear but the birds were very comical, with an unusual two-part call. I'd be most happy if someone could tell me what they are.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinoS5kD0Kul6Bx-vqDrdVy89yvtcZIE-QNSgEDY4tgEnkyuLKK39jaeiivIVHSjUKtOxchL7MQNnRSCoRmvB_-dAE44uBEZKa7o1tQrdj0_d6JLUawH3Osn5iYo15QGXB0uIWXmJaNvYQ/s1600/DSC00693.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinoS5kD0Kul6Bx-vqDrdVy89yvtcZIE-QNSgEDY4tgEnkyuLKK39jaeiivIVHSjUKtOxchL7MQNnRSCoRmvB_-dAE44uBEZKa7o1tQrdj0_d6JLUawH3Osn5iYo15QGXB0uIWXmJaNvYQ/s400/DSC00693.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405045129062121074" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJKAOqjdyZe1GGUioE-PMKNeB78p92Q1YRnBsghhNTzdJ_Z30hztDrlD3TJeqBSH9YjlVpsV7UD6-6g0pDnh8OArDdolb6O1Pu2qnxqTh4UChu9ftm2LouvOG1WRentEKzxXmRdhXrhNA/s1600/DSC00694.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJKAOqjdyZe1GGUioE-PMKNeB78p92Q1YRnBsghhNTzdJ_Z30hztDrlD3TJeqBSH9YjlVpsV7UD6-6g0pDnh8OArDdolb6O1Pu2qnxqTh4UChu9ftm2LouvOG1WRentEKzxXmRdhXrhNA/s400/DSC00694.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405045124027114466" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtECdBqkdig0U7Lgh1KatzgFwZ3OhKPkfBXwIrq5hoj6TxrTjzQlzeUPuGayR4q7KgVFpCk_EfLbS1A_Vnrz6t4b_sJPeexktfqv6TgQgRVTqUAKcP3NWCQc8B_MQmuiUT8WJIC7GR-Qo/s1600/DSC00695.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtECdBqkdig0U7Lgh1KatzgFwZ3OhKPkfBXwIrq5hoj6TxrTjzQlzeUPuGayR4q7KgVFpCk_EfLbS1A_Vnrz6t4b_sJPeexktfqv6TgQgRVTqUAKcP3NWCQc8B_MQmuiUT8WJIC7GR-Qo/s400/DSC00695.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405044676711671554" border="0" /></a><br />Several more minutes walking and I was back in the district by the coast were I had spent my first day. Here's that skyline from the other side.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEB59KWM2E_VtdYzeiSv6551WjiwTZV60S7eWtxCfA2rPVmdsCgOBhuKiXHmdZgHyGWilDMJsgr9C56AoBX-q4v-udPZPuhrMEH4Ry0oDv3ZRG6HxrDuC0lUlaYrdhcrtMxLuhcVlEmWE/s1600/DSC00696.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEB59KWM2E_VtdYzeiSv6551WjiwTZV60S7eWtxCfA2rPVmdsCgOBhuKiXHmdZgHyGWilDMJsgr9C56AoBX-q4v-udPZPuhrMEH4Ry0oDv3ZRG6HxrDuC0lUlaYrdhcrtMxLuhcVlEmWE/s400/DSC00696.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405044679103557442" border="0" /></a><br />e<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidDO47GpdxKw462SvziwrJ6vTqozuOw7MKtNP4h7qOP-Rgpl9PF1A2fHKFEZNR6vn4595X6HNlemhPqLGGnE4pjcrvbwbEdvMn2WtSdCqUv2vAIeK33NDGwNFJ6i6qp39jA755k8jE8kI/s1600/DSC00697.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidDO47GpdxKw462SvziwrJ6vTqozuOw7MKtNP4h7qOP-Rgpl9PF1A2fHKFEZNR6vn4595X6HNlemhPqLGGnE4pjcrvbwbEdvMn2WtSdCqUv2vAIeK33NDGwNFJ6i6qp39jA755k8jE8kI/s400/DSC00697.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405044673298836322" border="0" /></a><br />g<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXiNu59r5NEBEtKyBB1LeNlb4sJPsKxmgvVVjCDfXvLAX3Gj2fXvDfRym9IYPVUhYsgU3e4LmjGEw8JVU3kGJNQ9sX8Niv3myV6djluHEoC5bLdfpK5mm9T4YfFJIwVphY__cJ8OZxdDg/s1600/DSC00698.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXiNu59r5NEBEtKyBB1LeNlb4sJPsKxmgvVVjCDfXvLAX3Gj2fXvDfRym9IYPVUhYsgU3e4LmjGEw8JVU3kGJNQ9sX8Niv3myV6djluHEoC5bLdfpK5mm9T4YfFJIwVphY__cJ8OZxdDg/s400/DSC00698.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405044667310867778" border="0" /></a>These are everywhere in Israel. This is to ward off the evil eye, it's a palm with an eye in the centre. I have seen dozens of variations, often in amulet form.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEj98xba3wsKnnNcsX3skquzZJkHgszI7JxszMHv07854I3Z9g3NrOH2PCEm-1T9zJdx2R56Q-3lnnLaYLFescwrQj67CsOAPoO5bGNgQy7AhrGcNgr3Yv8GganoKfJjO0lhFyO0A9RBc/s1600/DSC00699.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEj98xba3wsKnnNcsX3skquzZJkHgszI7JxszMHv07854I3Z9g3NrOH2PCEm-1T9zJdx2R56Q-3lnnLaYLFescwrQj67CsOAPoO5bGNgQy7AhrGcNgr3Yv8GganoKfJjO0lhFyO0A9RBc/s400/DSC00699.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405044659420564898" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAWHRnuiVPSV-w68LZqObwYGJjPcHH0_mwRyr9K-uesWK5h61mGQ6miaWsL5-FT57mKF__2I1AMVUn_6uLZR29luTug5X3tP449zRYcmdLp49siBKovjF82HubyHaHKyR4Wa-_Kk5qj_8/s1600/DSC00700.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAWHRnuiVPSV-w68LZqObwYGJjPcHH0_mwRyr9K-uesWK5h61mGQ6miaWsL5-FT57mKF__2I1AMVUn_6uLZR29luTug5X3tP449zRYcmdLp49siBKovjF82HubyHaHKyR4Wa-_Kk5qj_8/s400/DSC00700.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405044140685273698" border="0" /></a>Carmel market - closed for sabbath.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmNTRJu-ZhVdo51QaaHhGPnYo7IhHwyh2LYVfA6LF9NV7WbYHCv8G8bnbJsq1y7PegQTXuBE6c7UhIQgtyxMtHCwsq3l7RmvZSlD4xNp7ZSPHD0obVaEfXfx_eu_Qhze1Jd8Ug_3-absA/s1600/DSC00701.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmNTRJu-ZhVdo51QaaHhGPnYo7IhHwyh2LYVfA6LF9NV7WbYHCv8G8bnbJsq1y7PegQTXuBE6c7UhIQgtyxMtHCwsq3l7RmvZSlD4xNp7ZSPHD0obVaEfXfx_eu_Qhze1Jd8Ug_3-absA/s400/DSC00701.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405044137017208786" border="0" /></a>I don't know what this is but I like it.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyvAC3YogLwurCKzAluJLG5F-ZmSu-PV5NguY4xPh2DI0UFgAedk3tOyPdCaBL2fHLk_HvMOaA_BXg9VYlPf7pOziWo2VkTWuMUja_PpxMKdQTDN6rrXob-f8S8QyBycHds1xRf1lIrec/s1600/DSC00702.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyvAC3YogLwurCKzAluJLG5F-ZmSu-PV5NguY4xPh2DI0UFgAedk3tOyPdCaBL2fHLk_HvMOaA_BXg9VYlPf7pOziWo2VkTWuMUja_PpxMKdQTDN6rrXob-f8S8QyBycHds1xRf1lIrec/s400/DSC00702.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405044132277681922" border="0" /></a>I also like this.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy2xgBDkHriAB6uNBkxTQk5H1AJhyUkWfIvHfLkhRWUzxfn5CCLHL5JBIuul9v9gQlrr3YdE2azkiiu-oNaMM_mUJV4xcDrfOWZ-E4YbQK6hK7e6IhXlQ7CJUoF6RZ7pqaAFIsg7wJMaw/s1600/DSC00703.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy2xgBDkHriAB6uNBkxTQk5H1AJhyUkWfIvHfLkhRWUzxfn5CCLHL5JBIuul9v9gQlrr3YdE2azkiiu-oNaMM_mUJV4xcDrfOWZ-E4YbQK6hK7e6IhXlQ7CJUoF6RZ7pqaAFIsg7wJMaw/s400/DSC00703.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405044128577834130" border="0" /></a>And these, on the corner of Dizerngorff St.<br /><br />That's all the photos. I met up with Josh again in the afternoon on the beach, then went back to the Irish bar (the' cheap' one we found last night) to read more logic. Then I caught the train back. Next weekend I'm going to Jerusalem. Hoorah!<br /><br />Crikey, almost forgot - Marc's promotional video, the first draft, is now up on YouTube:<br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EexOkf7tEIk<br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/EexOkf7tEIk&hl=en_GB&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/EexOkf7tEIk&hl=en_GB&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object>Ayinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10120620659286171851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462752563299701010.post-18806134278159184612009-11-10T11:52:00.000-08:002009-11-10T12:52:37.490-08:00Shopping, Jewish ethnicity and teaAnother blog tonight because we just went to the supermarket! This was quite an experience. From much of what I had heard about Israel I expected everything to be very western and much like Britain - I should have known this was not really the case. The supermarket - which in my faltering Hebrew I can deduce is named Machsoni Khamot Chinom - was in a group of shops including clothes and stationers, and quite dirty but thrumming with activity. There was a young and quite small guard who checked everyones' bags going in. It was eye-opening to see the variety of people there, and I felt happy to see the strident multiculturalism of Israel proper. Here were people of all shades, blondes, arabs, blacks, Hasidim, all together, about a third wearing the kippur and again this was people of all kinds. There were several people of distinctly west African appearance. It was wonderful to see this, something which is often not made obvious about Israeli society: that it truly is a functioning multicultural nation but with a unifying factor which is partially religious but still transcends this. The sheer amount of different people who have been incorporated into Israeli identity is fascinating. I was aware of the Ethiopian Jews before coming here, as well as the well-known Ashkenazim-Sephardim-Mizrahim triumvirate but looking deeper into the history of Israel opens up a plethora of different communities, many from Africa, but also from China, India and Yemen, who all share in the simple fact of Jewish identity and have all been welcomed at different times, into Israeli citizenship under the Right of Return.<br /><br />There is something particularly fascinating about this for me: that Judaism (or perhaps more properly, Hebraism, for Judea was only the kingdom of one tribe of the twelve who shared the Torah) has expanded to embrace all nations and all lands, is not confined within racial or cultural boundaries but cuts across all of them. That one small people from this tiny land have effectively united the people of all the world via their diaspora and now their reincorporation into a functioning democratic state speaks of the essential unity of all humankind, of the ability to identify across cultural, national, racial and historical lines and the ability to unite without losing individual differences in a bland melting pot. Jewish identity is not exclusive: it does not refute other identities but actively embraces them. No one is <span style="font-style: italic;">just</span> Jewish, but a Morrocan, Iraqi, Russian or Igbo Jew, and each of these communities has their own distinct heritage and traditions.<br /><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_ethnic_divisions">This article</a> on Wikipedia gives some interesting background information on Jewish racial diversity.<br /><br />Anyway, I bought Soya milk, some English breakfast tea, some chocolate and a salty spicy snack (really I wanted Bombay Mix but this was asking too much). This came to 42 Shekhels, about #7 (where's the pound sign on this damn netbook?). Expensive but worth it just for the first cup of real tea in 7 days. Usually we drink a freshly brewed tea from the wormwood that grows outside. This, despite my preconceptions, is not hallucinogenic - I know because we've drunk quite a lot of it by now.Ayinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10120620659286171851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462752563299701010.post-5359732268784816612009-11-10T04:04:00.000-08:002009-11-10T07:41:43.904-08:00Delayed photos and gecko musingOn Sunday evening a large Gecko dashed into my room as I was closing the blinds. I tried unsuccesfully to track it down, but on Monday it appeared in the bathroom.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoL-K80OXbq-BT09fK51CO3rXK8kzsIXRi5quqBry17ZWSV9_MTIC1KQSpJTGgSnIHVsspM4gCcmrAeSYubBpsBeEpsvBaD_Beb69-vV2EOcfpDICaRl8LAwlCqM5CiOaId0VmYPLzTEs/s1600-h/DSC00673.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoL-K80OXbq-BT09fK51CO3rXK8kzsIXRi5quqBry17ZWSV9_MTIC1KQSpJTGgSnIHVsspM4gCcmrAeSYubBpsBeEpsvBaD_Beb69-vV2EOcfpDICaRl8LAwlCqM5CiOaId0VmYPLzTEs/s400/DSC00673.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402454715397623698" border="0" /></a>I wonder why it is that my first thought both times I saw it was not to stop and admire, but to reach for my camera. My reality is currently filtered through this lens, in the attempt to preserve and regurgitate on this blog. My internal world is constituted, given value, by the perceptions of others. Is that unusual? Perhaps not as much as we would like to think. I've been reading about Schopenhaur recently and am pleased by his articulation of the world into Will and Representation, a duality which mirrors my own thoughts about internal and external definitions of selfhood. The gecko anyway was beautiful, tremendously fast and possessing some Ninja like invisibility: take one's eyes from it for a second and it disappears, not to be seen again until hours later, in a different room looking shocked when suddenly spotted on a wall or ceiling. I tried to take it outside but it got nervous and I could see its worried rapid breaths through its porcelain skin. The last time I saw it, it was running from my bag into the corridor where it again vanished.<br /><br />Not much else has been happening over the past few days. So here are the photos from the weekend, followed by some more recent stuff.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkqJ200J1wOSXwuWoYMmyzzGARE1VcSCslJVFIz8IJdpCTN81UW4jQAP9G0uKd-MrQ2AEcGlIf4ogyNn_IIOF3v12oxDITrphoPj8XuwLVIlqKzzxBh0xbsV2TahxAPnx0nM7q8FldTbw/s1600-h/DSC00623.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkqJ200J1wOSXwuWoYMmyzzGARE1VcSCslJVFIz8IJdpCTN81UW4jQAP9G0uKd-MrQ2AEcGlIf4ogyNn_IIOF3v12oxDITrphoPj8XuwLVIlqKzzxBh0xbsV2TahxAPnx0nM7q8FldTbw/s400/DSC00623.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402448851464991058" border="0" /></a>Jonas inside the first cave. Yes, I know it's sideways. I'm just too lazy to fix it.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9cFgZHFziWshc4ejCQzVt_06I4-XMTXRn3qY7WX6p4e1Ffyva85adj-IdIaZs9nMIGE47DPvZhioWLFE701DLrUb2e4tVC97F6oXI3H1yPNRPb6T-T7PTc4U9vSJ_diCFuHhSz37MqnY/s1600-h/DSC00624.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9cFgZHFziWshc4ejCQzVt_06I4-XMTXRn3qY7WX6p4e1Ffyva85adj-IdIaZs9nMIGE47DPvZhioWLFE701DLrUb2e4tVC97F6oXI3H1yPNRPb6T-T7PTc4U9vSJ_diCFuHhSz37MqnY/s400/DSC00624.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402448849519418242" border="0" /></a><br />u<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH8wfTMfJjV83XXw-DhbhlPfMBUOl9JhVKIF8fmHrhrcG54ax4Tbh5XCf7c6DmwF5_qRXobGZW_OMKp2e14WEW3jHetutWA-iwVk0np_PGrlxtrLDzWbRgjCCIXMSAMeZt_MyuzoevRpw/s1600-h/DSC00625.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH8wfTMfJjV83XXw-DhbhlPfMBUOl9JhVKIF8fmHrhrcG54ax4Tbh5XCf7c6DmwF5_qRXobGZW_OMKp2e14WEW3jHetutWA-iwVk0np_PGrlxtrLDzWbRgjCCIXMSAMeZt_MyuzoevRpw/s400/DSC00625.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402448841667928386" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib9GCQ2l720lSlrrnseYC-3hEoeYfpRO8luN9YXKDscpAjjUdbsUtOfGndaEgWwqN57Sbl3XS_IO9zL8bhatkMTTgcJ8HObg1ItCd-l-1GB7f8ddbTt9pEiW38J5hHYKtpu1au1sAr_4Q/s1600-h/DSC00626.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib9GCQ2l720lSlrrnseYC-3hEoeYfpRO8luN9YXKDscpAjjUdbsUtOfGndaEgWwqN57Sbl3XS_IO9zL8bhatkMTTgcJ8HObg1ItCd-l-1GB7f8ddbTt9pEiW38J5hHYKtpu1au1sAr_4Q/s400/DSC00626.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402448839593851330" border="0" /></a>These caves were used to breed pigeons for food. The tiny alcoves are designed for the pigeons to perch in, how clever!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-bfNK6c1PoW-Ge1OX3wDBYTGxjst_LYAfBoqRKYkVTMIh1LXNqFRff9QV41IhBDDzEEi2m8_Q6TDXuIuT0UNfhTn7zwBld6dUEBrXm2Y7dTjydtOvRSf-4YR4Bw3jjuj8UZjztFcBU8Q/s1600-h/DSC00629.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-bfNK6c1PoW-Ge1OX3wDBYTGxjst_LYAfBoqRKYkVTMIh1LXNqFRff9QV41IhBDDzEEi2m8_Q6TDXuIuT0UNfhTn7zwBld6dUEBrXm2Y7dTjydtOvRSf-4YR4Bw3jjuj8UZjztFcBU8Q/s400/DSC00629.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402448836333801330" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN8kwBl8vGV1bDgi9KXtWCxZW0UhCL8CKGW6U9_kah97E1TRvDaDp-NOHe_aMz8HfjzQ-4W0AH_XtxDDQyO9brz0SInhisIGe4qWXZ_n-ac49t9c3f5Us2D7K_SRjMpnO1o-l0V_Rxoro/s1600-h/DSC00630.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN8kwBl8vGV1bDgi9KXtWCxZW0UhCL8CKGW6U9_kah97E1TRvDaDp-NOHe_aMz8HfjzQ-4W0AH_XtxDDQyO9brz0SInhisIGe4qWXZ_n-ac49t9c3f5Us2D7K_SRjMpnO1o-l0V_Rxoro/s400/DSC00630.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402448341836947282" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt37qvBDhXK-vSzfrZRusWSlKrsVTOxjGcQDQgC9bLP3BVnyTkIMbpH9yVVm-VtfvLTQNB12Pa0h061bsI5Gq0zpO-Yz0Q-W-fnUbyaLBpOI_TB2M16fZbIy4Ttf-hwO2q1wPZLQntjgE/s1600-h/DSC00634.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt37qvBDhXK-vSzfrZRusWSlKrsVTOxjGcQDQgC9bLP3BVnyTkIMbpH9yVVm-VtfvLTQNB12Pa0h061bsI5Gq0zpO-Yz0Q-W-fnUbyaLBpOI_TB2M16fZbIy4Ttf-hwO2q1wPZLQntjgE/s400/DSC00634.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402448338556588146" border="0" /></a>Jonas and Ben demonstrate the use of this olive press. I forget how ancient this is, but I think in the BCE rather than CE (c.300BCE)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifmO59H7LZP4RKTwxMddrLMdhMHc98alfmDjJW8C8yoFJ06Hj2mwFYruBPjnbYpSKiHM_AE0gSGrIyd8DVG1rW_f71xoMt9CpKo2Rt-bPo2q7E8emqH0Goy42saIfop77YtR_tRTYF4jc/s1600-h/DSC00635.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifmO59H7LZP4RKTwxMddrLMdhMHc98alfmDjJW8C8yoFJ06Hj2mwFYruBPjnbYpSKiHM_AE0gSGrIyd8DVG1rW_f71xoMt9CpKo2Rt-bPo2q7E8emqH0Goy42saIfop77YtR_tRTYF4jc/s400/DSC00635.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402448332863703858" border="0" /></a>All the stone parts are original, found inside this cave. The wood had disintegrated so these are replacements. This method of crushing olives is still used today in some places.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSlgJ1nq_dQGtDnFKsQk3PAADU_O9GBib5JcdxvVgxZLD45Njhl8nYxwWFOTmE0j8ukccfBJwXtDZrioQzz2LPRUZ2Gc1puF5S31NV6cxeSnAcAYH3uQNbCZpxaBnShZkiE6o97-1eq6Q/s1600-h/DSC00636.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSlgJ1nq_dQGtDnFKsQk3PAADU_O9GBib5JcdxvVgxZLD45Njhl8nYxwWFOTmE0j8ukccfBJwXtDZrioQzz2LPRUZ2Gc1puF5S31NV6cxeSnAcAYH3uQNbCZpxaBnShZkiE6o97-1eq6Q/s400/DSC00636.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402448325884289762" border="0" /></a>For the second press, these weights would be used.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1it0TQDr1KpWji_I1PgnKpj6W_FHwAlMWdbQuJF0lscDJVrugF-6wgGWtf4FquWIFujhvLEoPmui3UGG4dSvsjR7NMMd0gqeAASwHESO3l1q-MhWByBbKX6apql7mpAUEBNaeo81Ztuo/s1600-h/DSC00637.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1it0TQDr1KpWji_I1PgnKpj6W_FHwAlMWdbQuJF0lscDJVrugF-6wgGWtf4FquWIFujhvLEoPmui3UGG4dSvsjR7NMMd0gqeAASwHESO3l1q-MhWByBbKX6apql7mpAUEBNaeo81Ztuo/s400/DSC00637.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402448329271750450" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-osiFwrQZY3VmaDoNuPKTIrc1OTjif2Qs2LTPmKNzPUBjhxGdhaJyWM1j9Zc2bWrBuKFVx6RYGTMQxd-yJERylkTST-mEIHux0eXUMomQNneN7FP7ZryXbFXnnZ_SaXUGii5QefAhOmE/s1600-h/DSC00638.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-osiFwrQZY3VmaDoNuPKTIrc1OTjif2Qs2LTPmKNzPUBjhxGdhaJyWM1j9Zc2bWrBuKFVx6RYGTMQxd-yJERylkTST-mEIHux0eXUMomQNneN7FP7ZryXbFXnnZ_SaXUGii5QefAhOmE/s400/DSC00638.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402447881999536018" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEf1Y9JSqC5HrKa8zZUzzgbwK3IH2VMfMjmjk0Vhd5f_eQGz3RAtlMrKr5buU2AN495tAKRS4-qY_90_wzfYlQzUjI13H1xGqpRbjsalVhdnVM8hyaUABrhGC0UOjDo_Cf1zmqeuByhIE/s1600-h/DSC00639.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEf1Y9JSqC5HrKa8zZUzzgbwK3IH2VMfMjmjk0Vhd5f_eQGz3RAtlMrKr5buU2AN495tAKRS4-qY_90_wzfYlQzUjI13H1xGqpRbjsalVhdnVM8hyaUABrhGC0UOjDo_Cf1zmqeuByhIE/s400/DSC00639.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402447871275926434" border="0" /></a>Entrances to more of the caves.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioT7sfBshr3l69ZBV1lZidTC1dfC5L-Z8FNn8gncwq_5VTYljN07WNRxh1Pwm-iXJvBhdtOcWOL44bSsNjJT5tPWYxYt9BbslM8U-oHwbYZCBwCFkRFmbrn2n6ipY0uRus5R6uIi7hbVY/s1600-h/DSC00640.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioT7sfBshr3l69ZBV1lZidTC1dfC5L-Z8FNn8gncwq_5VTYljN07WNRxh1Pwm-iXJvBhdtOcWOL44bSsNjJT5tPWYxYt9BbslM8U-oHwbYZCBwCFkRFmbrn2n6ipY0uRus5R6uIi7hbVY/s400/DSC00640.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402447870242656338" border="0" /></a>I really got a sense in this place of how it must have felt to live in Ancient Judea - there was only the vaguest hum of traffic in the distance, just the sun and the wind; the stones, the grass and the birds. Whereas I imagine England to be a quite threatening place prior to civilisation taming it, overrun with masses of plants locked in a knotted embrace, thorns and insects always present, and the sky obscured by trees...whereas England seems somewhere that nature wrestles with humans, here in the Judean mountains I felt as if I was safe in the arms of the sky, surounded by a gentle world not of struggle but of austere peace.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXUWGouufWsb9XUwpQK_qEcbqOlV7lkQU_D7t9Ik_-2VLeCkTs34mqIbYXd9wF17WCyTfBswwOaJHMy-r9_Zhlsaingu0tMwIbP_WcES1PpZFD0Xfqszn9W2ceGVdr9NL51XWauFdL6bs/s1600-h/DSC00641.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXUWGouufWsb9XUwpQK_qEcbqOlV7lkQU_D7t9Ik_-2VLeCkTs34mqIbYXd9wF17WCyTfBswwOaJHMy-r9_Zhlsaingu0tMwIbP_WcES1PpZFD0Xfqszn9W2ceGVdr9NL51XWauFdL6bs/s400/DSC00641.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402447862357803282" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNEC7i-3xSNlT6Q77iXAaUXdYs7QaeqTeIY6N8ytEU0qMiGIr-oosCuhAdKdVHjexhglm8GAqhJUUh7MSQU8jZ4vZn9BG7n2JkrX2eJeJQGfBDs0O1B5ugjW0ETm3AjDRr7WpVs0_6sIY/s1600-h/DSC00642.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNEC7i-3xSNlT6Q77iXAaUXdYs7QaeqTeIY6N8ytEU0qMiGIr-oosCuhAdKdVHjexhglm8GAqhJUUh7MSQU8jZ4vZn9BG7n2JkrX2eJeJQGfBDs0O1B5ugjW0ETm3AjDRr7WpVs0_6sIY/s400/DSC00642.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402447857955704402" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQNZSibDjvtsB-4gnQE9xC8n4790h7qXD4q7PpuPVSJ8gCjndnGngElrCguiZTY-pXwrvrrhvYrdHPV_ciqD4M3KCO5-PSf4u8y_5LphXMJlqfua2pw5RGWccK2RGPK0Mb2rSGsNjxilo/s1600-h/DSC00645.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQNZSibDjvtsB-4gnQE9xC8n4790h7qXD4q7PpuPVSJ8gCjndnGngElrCguiZTY-pXwrvrrhvYrdHPV_ciqD4M3KCO5-PSf4u8y_5LphXMJlqfua2pw5RGWccK2RGPK0Mb2rSGsNjxilo/s400/DSC00645.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402447311953208930" border="0" /></a>I liked this strange fungal growth in the sand.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDFFIdEP-DvVdrldprSfq6dRSI_rDXXoED1DA-es4-n27UdvY9ohXcNzqrGpUArBN-IcaI71ZX_hWu0LdQDmgxnixfE9scEhDf_yYS1QVX2FlopmVNVTY1i5tjxXCmVmyxbaks6E4r1Yc/s1600-h/DSC00647.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDFFIdEP-DvVdrldprSfq6dRSI_rDXXoED1DA-es4-n27UdvY9ohXcNzqrGpUArBN-IcaI71ZX_hWu0LdQDmgxnixfE9scEhDf_yYS1QVX2FlopmVNVTY1i5tjxXCmVmyxbaks6E4r1Yc/s400/DSC00647.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402447304030305762" border="0" /></a>A recoloured drawing inside the Musicians' Tomb<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguOAKPWtHCB_TN9HNJbERATSoss9MwgqhoqhbvUPLzegIEvC38J97_T86Bdkjb-hIZZlqoSSagRoxJH-x66naerLGghxBCgwEviBSBQbIM9povPr35I6hMKyffjGDWJ1-SUcVvskNzq_k/s1600-h/DSC00648.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguOAKPWtHCB_TN9HNJbERATSoss9MwgqhoqhbvUPLzegIEvC38J97_T86Bdkjb-hIZZlqoSSagRoxJH-x66naerLGghxBCgwEviBSBQbIM9povPr35I6hMKyffjGDWJ1-SUcVvskNzq_k/s400/DSC00648.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402447303954845138" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdvFHfbs-rkYblRi8tUSWndit20m_YHXanbMyVJOOeZpCFpeyqvzwAXHTGvjZKCDyuW6A1aMWNQa_YzUfZPkcIujBq8-AaoWvbOPGqS7rzjGYkqEavSw9UeMbolikQ4Fa57NrVp1lfqQw/s1600-h/DSC00649.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdvFHfbs-rkYblRi8tUSWndit20m_YHXanbMyVJOOeZpCFpeyqvzwAXHTGvjZKCDyuW6A1aMWNQa_YzUfZPkcIujBq8-AaoWvbOPGqS7rzjGYkqEavSw9UeMbolikQ4Fa57NrVp1lfqQw/s400/DSC00649.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402447301118821218" border="0" /></a>Inside the Musicians' Tomb, these wall paintings were original but have been recoloured due to fading since the tomb was opened.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeXaUvUKR00n-t7cWqS2p0QD9Lrqw_H8SFItg6HZG-z8Ip3ehd60hpqze4cyoadUckduhHVsHDP83ob1AzS_M3CB9rQHpzK9Snyqw1waQsy0V9F44jLPU-pWsN5-QCmwIx1lq1T9tlueU/s1600-h/DSC00650.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeXaUvUKR00n-t7cWqS2p0QD9Lrqw_H8SFItg6HZG-z8Ip3ehd60hpqze4cyoadUckduhHVsHDP83ob1AzS_M3CB9rQHpzK9Snyqw1waQsy0V9F44jLPU-pWsN5-QCmwIx1lq1T9tlueU/s400/DSC00650.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402447299209994690" border="0" /></a>These animal pictures are all around the upper rim.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimb-Q47Gn8RJPAecoekKY3muZeXe1roIt7tCvLUCvYwDKmibdoi9UBLtzhXQiexLhs-ecLFcX5g7wvLCvt60-bv4BmG0OrPU9xPiSVw_Yit4PA32z_HJOOjIYNhnamYtW0_hb_ki5gT38/s1600-h/DSC00653.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimb-Q47Gn8RJPAecoekKY3muZeXe1roIt7tCvLUCvYwDKmibdoi9UBLtzhXQiexLhs-ecLFcX5g7wvLCvt60-bv4BmG0OrPU9xPiSVw_Yit4PA32z_HJOOjIYNhnamYtW0_hb_ki5gT38/s400/DSC00653.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402446756684974050" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifUjXfyQnOHL4RPiI9btZywfAlXLm8l6pokBjCIVmrah_uxrs-FmXgKFLr59ixkY27JeBkesmq7OT-Z7ruM2ZIqfsxlBiP1LGc9uPYkUxwf8L8KMkMjYZYb8Q9AELRvyfgWLCVHOFIseA/s1600-h/DSC00654.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifUjXfyQnOHL4RPiI9btZywfAlXLm8l6pokBjCIVmrah_uxrs-FmXgKFLr59ixkY27JeBkesmq7OT-Z7ruM2ZIqfsxlBiP1LGc9uPYkUxwf8L8KMkMjYZYb8Q9AELRvyfgWLCVHOFIseA/s400/DSC00654.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402446752487457554" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhstAubV5hHGkfeyk9V6ApDh8HQuflbFuVmv3w9D6ySJlZ_xD43mLEcK7ffS7-iNNQPrslw3lwMiMpO94dck3NydqbMoysnEsBuxLWOcBWodC-eRRBhzj5fsjMHmKpYlG_SqgKIXUrMdB8/s1600-h/DSC00655.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhstAubV5hHGkfeyk9V6ApDh8HQuflbFuVmv3w9D6ySJlZ_xD43mLEcK7ffS7-iNNQPrslw3lwMiMpO94dck3NydqbMoysnEsBuxLWOcBWodC-eRRBhzj5fsjMHmKpYlG_SqgKIXUrMdB8/s400/DSC00655.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402446746710813314" border="0" /></a>We found this tiny gecko!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4gvxaTe1vOjLW5_y0lx4MMTvoT9AQ_74yI8mzfhuzkVbumo_O-rt80s9r5Z9sUh9lEGUPyDIW6Bwdykek8KA-ozXFxtrHCLFNGTMQpiVna-rJFoix2ZEU6nquvp-CtFuoWdMaOZTuicw/s1600-h/DSC00656.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4gvxaTe1vOjLW5_y0lx4MMTvoT9AQ_74yI8mzfhuzkVbumo_O-rt80s9r5Z9sUh9lEGUPyDIW6Bwdykek8KA-ozXFxtrHCLFNGTMQpiVna-rJFoix2ZEU6nquvp-CtFuoWdMaOZTuicw/s400/DSC00656.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402446737073514178" border="0" /></a>A rather chaotic cactus<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzNV3O5waT9X-wOWxW-gBYllAKwnPCpMMVqX0Pzbqol48IOYzSYZmNmuz7NLtRjJmNnnV7qebQptCZ3EVQWC4qKrcenFnb0iBTdpu-ZT1PUgTIlP0HzpcTXI4PMux6TSEAgCmp6tgxP9o/s1600-h/DSC00657.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzNV3O5waT9X-wOWxW-gBYllAKwnPCpMMVqX0Pzbqol48IOYzSYZmNmuz7NLtRjJmNnnV7qebQptCZ3EVQWC4qKrcenFnb0iBTdpu-ZT1PUgTIlP0HzpcTXI4PMux6TSEAgCmp6tgxP9o/s400/DSC00657.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402446732865396690" border="0" /></a><br />Inside the bell caves. Jackdaws nest at the top of these caves but I didn't manage to capture any on film.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuUnaEtX5t3DWhP2eW8c4vGf45rHUK8Bm6eYr-2AKRpZG2HYabchHSoAV29epfvc-6dHebnY_1Wz1ucmi6OAuAYiVNDEyzcjyhqsiT35IKTyOLT3NMdYR_hNDHyQfMuvJXRoMAs4yjmDg/s1600-h/DSC00659.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuUnaEtX5t3DWhP2eW8c4vGf45rHUK8Bm6eYr-2AKRpZG2HYabchHSoAV29epfvc-6dHebnY_1Wz1ucmi6OAuAYiVNDEyzcjyhqsiT35IKTyOLT3NMdYR_hNDHyQfMuvJXRoMAs4yjmDg/s400/DSC00659.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402446166656239938" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGInyF4Wgb4COJSbott8kyKfTHLZiorhbeVhPJ2j6Z0IBjnwpTRFR4f0ScY1dqv6lXv972qDH03BoC099EAJrVe-6nrT_7akFTx-fnXFa4ew-ZAZvZmstH2C91lf-Rq79CxbHrSeGc5do/s1600-h/DSC00660.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGInyF4Wgb4COJSbott8kyKfTHLZiorhbeVhPJ2j6Z0IBjnwpTRFR4f0ScY1dqv6lXv972qDH03BoC099EAJrVe-6nrT_7akFTx-fnXFa4ew-ZAZvZmstH2C91lf-Rq79CxbHrSeGc5do/s400/DSC00660.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402446161935626066" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwnVkEuMZnkOG6Km_hrkSG6RWBmR9RhyphenhyphenXbdYWpWWHlDn-RUPTXrV89MbZQu0hajZfdYSYnYQcRVlZCufYBN8K0h-hGGw-v-BQcKgWki2VDvJTSritcFddanxxXhIF6NHQBxDPa3mEqrqc/s1600-h/DSC00661.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwnVkEuMZnkOG6Km_hrkSG6RWBmR9RhyphenhyphenXbdYWpWWHlDn-RUPTXrV89MbZQu0hajZfdYSYnYQcRVlZCufYBN8K0h-hGGw-v-BQcKgWki2VDvJTSritcFddanxxXhIF6NHQBxDPa3mEqrqc/s400/DSC00661.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402446159330113810" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_7Z74TKPJxo9nw_ibWIULtVd0Mu6yu5L84l1Qy-qSX0ZaAzrp45py1tOdVgLduoNQpzM3wTFMJ-eYCqL6AQ2asTdOfDEI7G5Na6w8QK5WNdfGthn_PtgW-mx1xrniq8Bjt06cQlnSpLE/s1600-h/DSC00622.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_7Z74TKPJxo9nw_ibWIULtVd0Mu6yu5L84l1Qy-qSX0ZaAzrp45py1tOdVgLduoNQpzM3wTFMJ-eYCqL6AQ2asTdOfDEI7G5Na6w8QK5WNdfGthn_PtgW-mx1xrniq8Bjt06cQlnSpLE/s400/DSC00622.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402449940967500738" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcWAx_u2qqTD0KasvGDV3g2YFvps2LNJecrfQsV-8IJDKrkqQ0vcstBiVlfomlol5eH2G0Bfo0t3DqK2NygsVH1yhZ2NT4-iM1iSO04M0A2mztdW9RxTBUtJ826NXLKEIUvPCJDplaAGk/s1600-h/DSC00662.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcWAx_u2qqTD0KasvGDV3g2YFvps2LNJecrfQsV-8IJDKrkqQ0vcstBiVlfomlol5eH2G0Bfo0t3DqK2NygsVH1yhZ2NT4-iM1iSO04M0A2mztdW9RxTBUtJ826NXLKEIUvPCJDplaAGk/s400/DSC00662.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402446155435057266" border="0" /></a><br />'Allah' written in Arabic in one of the bell caves. The sign doesn't estimate when this was done.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7U3R5vBB5ykHaebY66mc58XfEDfCLzPR78KcNqXE0etQjX9a-inm1LOXQH9NSJ2eP509f_OgItkZlzf4a1zapHMZAF2YZ3VJsW-awGy_Gb-hZCLansjwGArKouYPcf32Ww-IRvakaPrU/s1600-h/DSC00663.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7U3R5vBB5ykHaebY66mc58XfEDfCLzPR78KcNqXE0etQjX9a-inm1LOXQH9NSJ2eP509f_OgItkZlzf4a1zapHMZAF2YZ3VJsW-awGy_Gb-hZCLansjwGArKouYPcf32Ww-IRvakaPrU/s400/DSC00663.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402446152216560338" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And now the British Park, from Saturday.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiRaGF6HsiLu45fRav3cgg4_z99z8XP3JmP5yF0yILzLG1SvK6U72-IK3FBWOsNNbcZJog7H-rmlg4r3xr4D0D8QgqXZHV6-UKkrGianR9YzDqW9McKxAWq02Un-e7YchqYwWtih4nxVM/s1600-h/DSC00664.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiRaGF6HsiLu45fRav3cgg4_z99z8XP3JmP5yF0yILzLG1SvK6U72-IK3FBWOsNNbcZJog7H-rmlg4r3xr4D0D8QgqXZHV6-UKkrGianR9YzDqW9McKxAWq02Un-e7YchqYwWtih4nxVM/s400/DSC00664.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402445586837752386" border="0" /></a>This golf ball is at the entrance, and is in honour of contributions made from the head of the JNF Golf association of Great Britain.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Mbw2jCvvALxBD47LCiV5jzmee9q0T3blPtMcOKDvtxocUWuc9oIQGaE39sQuusvguwkNqU0V1uIQ3SyuByfDsfM3afvlPKQGOCaBKbEOVpJwueM72CUCw3vuk_1inYRLG7lQcuOcvgE/s1600-h/DSC00665.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Mbw2jCvvALxBD47LCiV5jzmee9q0T3blPtMcOKDvtxocUWuc9oIQGaE39sQuusvguwkNqU0V1uIQ3SyuByfDsfM3afvlPKQGOCaBKbEOVpJwueM72CUCw3vuk_1inYRLG7lQcuOcvgE/s400/DSC00665.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402445583207050978" border="0" /></a>Just me and my paunch, at the top of the mountain.<br /><br />Some of the great views:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJOkp2sJtN_Y3N2sbsVVqtJiBBRSKjBYu0RO0v4t7qXvtBo61fN_ciKS77pJCjujhyphenhyphen46xB9eo8MnHsDMCexKzkhgIBZzjh2NmQOfu41evQIBMZdzSqX6uINaELVZ7xK040vHBQMyipF8g/s1600-h/DSC00666.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJOkp2sJtN_Y3N2sbsVVqtJiBBRSKjBYu0RO0v4t7qXvtBo61fN_ciKS77pJCjujhyphenhyphen46xB9eo8MnHsDMCexKzkhgIBZzjh2NmQOfu41evQIBMZdzSqX6uINaELVZ7xK040vHBQMyipF8g/s400/DSC00666.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402445582387781330" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimPMpbQM7wLmDs6S3yh-ormXb1IAGBOStonCvuf3grMebf11Hsa-eLgNxAJyoqy6cf1IyydIBuai3D_U0v8xOmX2TEF6lNks0W8wSI69aUaVyr2F9V7Q_mjiJBAmppi8p28kIVsBeVCag/s1600-h/DSC00668.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimPMpbQM7wLmDs6S3yh-ormXb1IAGBOStonCvuf3grMebf11Hsa-eLgNxAJyoqy6cf1IyydIBuai3D_U0v8xOmX2TEF6lNks0W8wSI69aUaVyr2F9V7Q_mjiJBAmppi8p28kIVsBeVCag/s400/DSC00668.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402445577764830178" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The last two days I have been clearing the weeds from around the trees, as well as helping Marc with adding music to his grant application video. The video is very good and will soon be on YouTube. I have also been researching how to design some listening stations so visitors can browse the archive of recorded poetry and listen to individual pieces. I think we can set up some kind of networked digital audio players which all run off a central PC which houses the archive. This should look quite professional (better than having 10 IPods) and will also make updating the archive quite easy. Just a bit worried about having so many access points for a single hard drive.<br /><br />Josh has heard that tomorrow he can leave for his next place. This is a shame, but we will soon have a new volunteer to join us.Ayinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10120620659286171851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462752563299701010.post-23027539306725905132009-11-07T10:19:00.000-08:002009-11-07T12:29:31.189-08:00Days 4 and 5: Bet Guvrin and SabbathYesterday and today have been blisteringly hot: well into the high 20s and possibly 30 degrees C. It is good that we had the hottest days yet to do as we please rather than having to work on them. I still find it funny that winter here is better than summer in the UK!<br /><br />We went on saturday to <a href="http://www.jewishmag.com/35MAG/betguvrin/betguvrin.htm">Bet Guvrin</a>, which houses a collection of ancient caves including olive-pressing machinery and tombs. It is next to the biblical city of Maresha, reputedly built by Rehoboam. In a slightly interesting side note, Rehoboam is also the name of a <a href="http://www.champagnemagic.com/sizes.htm">3 litre Champagne bottle</a> - at the bar I worked in we had an empty Balthazar (16 litre) bottle on display. Customers used to ask how much it was, not realising that it contained nothing - I said if they gave me a fiver they could have it.<br /><br />Yesterday I joined the breakfast table in the middle of a discussion about the Israel-Palestine conflict. Marc, as one would expect, is very knowledgable about this and I listened attentively in order to learn more about the Israeli point of view from someone I believe to be compassionate and intelligent. He believes it unlikely there will be a solution in his lifetime. I find this a troubling issue because I have heard much from both sides. Each has their own narrative which, in isolation seems justified but do not appear to connect in any way. It is my nature to attempt synthesis, in order to reach a correct image of the facts; a single story which will describe events objectively and demonstrate what has happened, what is wrong and right, and what therefore is the solution. In this case I find that there is no such single story to be found. In recent times it has seemed to me that the common opinion is more pro-Palestinian than pro-Israeli: the Israelis are seen as occupiers unrelenting in their dominance and abusive in their exercise of power. The facts as they are clinically reported seem to present this case. The Israeli narrative rests on a deeper sense of cultural history and displacement which is often forgotten about in attempts to understand their actions - really there is so much about the history of the diaspora and the events of the 20th century (even without beginning on the Holocaust) which must be taken into account in understanding the background to the state of Israel and the feelings of Jewish Israelis. It is too easy to present the Jews as receiving Israel as compensation for the Holocaust. Issues of identity and the human need for community and homeland and self-rule must be related to the two thousand years of diaspora history which have always been perceived internally as exile from the ancestral home. The Versailles Treaty and the British Mandate are cases usually not brought into the discussion, for the clear reason that the multilayered complex of events is too overwhelming to integrate into the reportage of day-to-day happenings in the 21st century. It is also too easy to forget the imposed nature of any statehood in this area and the history of the Middle-East prior to the collapse of the Ottoman Empire. I am impressed by the work of the <a href="http://www.onevoicemovement.org/">One-Voice Movement</a> who seek to bring people together and share the narratives which often are not known by people on either side - or even outside - the conflict. The only conclusion I can come to about this is to refuse a single report of events, instead allowing for a multiplicity of points of view which each tell their own story. Events must always be joined together in a subjective pattern in order to give them meaning - to attempt to do so objectively and thereby acquire a true meaning is to misunderstand the essential subjectivity of meaning itself, which always occurs from within a point of view. I am certain that a peace can be achieved, but to do this requires an understanding and willing acceptance of other narratives rather than an attempt to obscure these with one's own. Peoples' interpretations cannot be shouted-down but must be listened to sympathetically.<br /><br />In other news, I have finally had an acceptance from Neot-Semadar. I had assumed they were full as they had ignored my last few emails (Josh also is trying to find a place there so far unsuccesfully). I am now in a quandary, as I have contacted the <a href="http://africanhebrewisraelitesofjerusalem.com/">African Hebrew Israelite Community</a> in Dimona, and requested to stay there for the second half of my trip. I await their reply but do not know what I should do if they also accept. I undoubtedly want to visit them as their history and lifestyle are fascinating (I won't go into detail here, their website and articles on Wikipedia offer better information than I can collate). It may be unrealistic to think I could spend just a few weeks with each. I will have to consider, but I am feeling more interested in experiencing the community in Dimona at the moment.<br /><br />No photos today - I have dozens from Bet Guvrin, and some from the British Park which we visited today but it's late, I'm tired and we go to work again tomorrow. I may add them later in the week when I have more energy.Ayinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10120620659286171851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462752563299701010.post-30624720808494828132009-11-04T10:13:00.000-08:002010-01-04T01:46:05.752-08:00Days Two and Three, at Sedot MicahSo I am at the moshav, a small development in Sedot Micah, in the Judean mountains near Bet Shemesh. I had felt a little stressed being in Tel Aviv, from the alien sense of a Middle Eastern city and little sleep plus not being able to communicate immediately with everyone around me. As I got further from the urban life I felt more and more relaxed and by the time my taxi arrived at the farm I was feeling quite positive.<br /><br />The farm is run by Marc, a well-travelled and highly educated man originally from Morroco. His plan (and his reason for being in Israel) is to build a museum of Morrocan Jewry which will house sights and sounds from his land, including recorded poetry and music. There are now five volunteers: Josh, who is German, Benjamin, who is Hungarian, Jonas, who is Swedish and Tucker, who is - can you guess from the name? - American. There is a nice atmosphere here and the routine is hard but very nice. We breakfast at 7, by which time the sun is well up and heating the air, then start work. This includes levelling the site and constructing the tire-mud walls, as well as planting trees which will provide shade. It's hard work and by 9 I was already aching so the short break for coffee and snack was welcome. We work again until 12, when we take lunch and siesta until 3, then it is back to work until sundown at 5. Then we cook and eat together before having the evening to relax. We each have a room, which I'm impressed by, though three sleep in an outhouse. Yosh and I have rooms in the house - my own is huge though lacking glass on the door (it is currently covered with a blanket which enables privacy though does little to stop sound).<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCHVMmkskIABY0Olafk0Og7OKjC8EdTYu48zD_vGlclhtKaZVouvqazDMwfK7goQ6t_Az2vFmf44Xn2Bw6hc68c7PgO4VaN9OBPbRK3cH1X2uzBsVsK-Y7kkEX7xEHp9zBl71sXb398-Q/s1600-h/DSC00590.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCHVMmkskIABY0Olafk0Og7OKjC8EdTYu48zD_vGlclhtKaZVouvqazDMwfK7goQ6t_Az2vFmf44Xn2Bw6hc68c7PgO4VaN9OBPbRK3cH1X2uzBsVsK-Y7kkEX7xEHp9zBl71sXb398-Q/s400/DSC00590.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400656338333487362" border="0" /></a>These are the buildings which will house the museum.<br /><br />I feel sort of bad because we are involved somewhat in a war against ants, who have their own development plans in the grounds. These are some impressive ants, and but I suspect the humans will win in the end. This does not stop them attacking us with their pincers however. It seems once they bite they <span style="font-style: italic;">cannot</span> let go, and if pulled will be decapitated rather than surrender.<br /><br />There follow some pictures of these creatures which I think are fascinating but readers may find creepy.<br />I<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVezj8_IACT2H7otN7ScrdOnLFcJ1IJL2LpLT1Ap6gms4HajEz4t3dYH6Q32D4KK_msn0iAQy8lDJaltt3fLr88XWUPGKY7oX58b21f34VhIMEA5Zib3wll4w3pChgYcggzguQqBk0zCc/s1600-h/DSC00591.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVezj8_IACT2H7otN7ScrdOnLFcJ1IJL2LpLT1Ap6gms4HajEz4t3dYH6Q32D4KK_msn0iAQy8lDJaltt3fLr88XWUPGKY7oX58b21f34VhIMEA5Zib3wll4w3pChgYcggzguQqBk0zCc/s400/DSC00591.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400656334327334514" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrnPnBMdu2_-UhFpqeBulQJ7xEsyis4a7s3JVZTLUl1TOBKSGQ1m0wPXlMPgXem9InPa_0gHUx7i5E2BNCA2hq8mLeu5RbEiAiTLkTS8R8e9Amh3STGGVC567OQth0oEAb6w8tHpPcMs8/s1600-h/DSC00592.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrnPnBMdu2_-UhFpqeBulQJ7xEsyis4a7s3JVZTLUl1TOBKSGQ1m0wPXlMPgXem9InPa_0gHUx7i5E2BNCA2hq8mLeu5RbEiAiTLkTS8R8e9Amh3STGGVC567OQth0oEAb6w8tHpPcMs8/s400/DSC00592.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400656332156009522" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4bD2mbs55l3Asi16WM9Qx_3lz6XeZT8nWy9VsbvXCRXJuP7TTJebgap6WUpxumS04FFM1Otej_iy2AcXxKJ5zwhWPJvt-8NmVmo788ebWXZaPEybSKIYy1s2xh1Hjr5IpFchSuTBMIQs/s1600-h/DSC00593.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4bD2mbs55l3Asi16WM9Qx_3lz6XeZT8nWy9VsbvXCRXJuP7TTJebgap6WUpxumS04FFM1Otej_iy2AcXxKJ5zwhWPJvt-8NmVmo788ebWXZaPEybSKIYy1s2xh1Hjr5IpFchSuTBMIQs/s400/DSC00593.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400655864671210146" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />A short reprieve in the form of a more pleasant insect:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOBko0Vb7Q_T2Aj0oIQybEmU7WSAXM_VsLaeIiUck_zF3mS2KMNmKb2UiIrPHxyjbgyiB1jcwhvK0_THLaQJ5ssFDBmMYyifQgj7FqpiUBVlV2BQDKpLicYtJZMUNInVK8Hnj0kzEhYjI/s1600-h/DSC00595.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOBko0Vb7Q_T2Aj0oIQybEmU7WSAXM_VsLaeIiUck_zF3mS2KMNmKb2UiIrPHxyjbgyiB1jcwhvK0_THLaQJ5ssFDBmMYyifQgj7FqpiUBVlV2BQDKpLicYtJZMUNInVK8Hnj0kzEhYjI/s400/DSC00595.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400655859349986562" border="0" /></a>Probably not the biggest beetle I've seen but definitely the biggest one I've held.<br /><br />More ants!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl7oAuFmoCOiai9EvMQe5dQ-9h-lcJ_xk-tfgw7wudV9ECNelA_knjWEFKiEY7A76K_1ywkFwxHHfkLhZ2rGTmMUznpOVjU0tQtQrp-JDmmO9Rzd2Wp7UO9nevPBADZcAHGWz0kMoTHrQ/s1600-h/DSC00597.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl7oAuFmoCOiai9EvMQe5dQ-9h-lcJ_xk-tfgw7wudV9ECNelA_knjWEFKiEY7A76K_1ywkFwxHHfkLhZ2rGTmMUznpOVjU0tQtQrp-JDmmO9Rzd2Wp7UO9nevPBADZcAHGWz0kMoTHrQ/s400/DSC00597.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400655854913795906" border="0" /></a>There are clearly several ranks in the ant community, including tiny civilian serve-ants, soldiers (some entirely black, some with red heads), flying ants, and these huge fast-running ants almost as big as my thumb which I first mistook for spiders. These seem to be scouts.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_qVSaNZHATZc2-ZrHi0XzYv8XZOMZXsMdnISy11cUo0wMr7mOUpq3UnJ8CVRleP_jSHqzI4T7rgNKl-fWIDf_AILbvs3FoJpShwn5x1Ecn42RcYdRJVG9YBkaVKSv-khUN3ky6hkvqcE/s1600-h/DSC00600.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_qVSaNZHATZc2-ZrHi0XzYv8XZOMZXsMdnISy11cUo0wMr7mOUpq3UnJ8CVRleP_jSHqzI4T7rgNKl-fWIDf_AILbvs3FoJpShwn5x1Ecn42RcYdRJVG9YBkaVKSv-khUN3ky6hkvqcE/s400/DSC00600.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400655842839757954" border="0" /></a>Flying ant who liked my hat.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9pkh3mK3n2iLpIQQyN8SFxS9FT7yU-RPQxaOyZTzfRofapmngiU_ZWaZ-oMEZMEOG_Uvlr1stAuWYYODli8OxHtWOSLZHMi-_9wOr9L9sjzC89gwUdu6jJkm8DUfmcWs0wKQvAjUvJQQ/s1600-h/DSC00601.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9pkh3mK3n2iLpIQQyN8SFxS9FT7yU-RPQxaOyZTzfRofapmngiU_ZWaZ-oMEZMEOG_Uvlr1stAuWYYODli8OxHtWOSLZHMi-_9wOr9L9sjzC89gwUdu6jJkm8DUfmcWs0wKQvAjUvJQQ/s400/DSC00601.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400655842445252498" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVuCmg5RGQJ8WyNc6t2FDIwaeWG4FMxhyphenhyphen7B8SsYmSke1lWFy3EPm_KzKJDEYbRl_sPIYKlQ_N08lbe4BePA_Mp-V6XlFobFHktUqpfoSoJgnvTxvQJoD9OQSBBTQ6sYR06C6P_D3OsNSw/s1600-h/DSC00602.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVuCmg5RGQJ8WyNc6t2FDIwaeWG4FMxhyphenhyphen7B8SsYmSke1lWFy3EPm_KzKJDEYbRl_sPIYKlQ_N08lbe4BePA_Mp-V6XlFobFHktUqpfoSoJgnvTxvQJoD9OQSBBTQ6sYR06C6P_D3OsNSw/s400/DSC00602.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400655301844451826" border="0" /></a>Part of the worksite and sunset.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8LhiBJm_Xs_IgG2-nzJ7G9H4GhS4x-WTCP2WbgosLMQ3ukqgPnX-K0ueKkttpVjco9oqOT0dMF291N0djHWPIg45LgxJJyRrHfzGMiFT-4rOe106MKMDfIk4y_L5yPGTl_9yAFTCwZno/s1600-h/DSC00604.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8LhiBJm_Xs_IgG2-nzJ7G9H4GhS4x-WTCP2WbgosLMQ3ukqgPnX-K0ueKkttpVjco9oqOT0dMF291N0djHWPIg45LgxJJyRrHfzGMiFT-4rOe106MKMDfIk4y_L5yPGTl_9yAFTCwZno/s400/DSC00604.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400655305668753490" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRAqcPPsnrcRu8Ge70ZZFtmje3oRjGBRgat0dG96yQAOJDctQ4hd1nLxfSKUKraYlGLIqpEMfxW4hB-TYh43t2laKnsZl4BLUpaPOWkTPEjvYGsAwQ1jnzHTA9ByIIP8RblH5jpUi1ciA/s1600-h/DSC00606.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRAqcPPsnrcRu8Ge70ZZFtmje3oRjGBRgat0dG96yQAOJDctQ4hd1nLxfSKUKraYlGLIqpEMfxW4hB-TYh43t2laKnsZl4BLUpaPOWkTPEjvYGsAwQ1jnzHTA9ByIIP8RblH5jpUi1ciA/s400/DSC00606.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400655301227183282" border="0" /></a>Jonas mixing the mud-concrete-manure mixture which we apply over the recycled tires to make the walls.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB4miq-0b8ZwHLpSaDaw9eNEITiLLsl0PdEejmzmBSRpDmHeliv-20DkX6EUnq9C610oIk69wjlx9bgJVD3p4t15FvKA8Z4vr4d5WhJVtPHF-qFFVOxjo74TznHuqkYEl7efPB9-Qqnbs/s1600-h/DSC00608.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB4miq-0b8ZwHLpSaDaw9eNEITiLLsl0PdEejmzmBSRpDmHeliv-20DkX6EUnq9C610oIk69wjlx9bgJVD3p4t15FvKA8Z4vr4d5WhJVtPHF-qFFVOxjo74TznHuqkYEl7efPB9-Qqnbs/s400/DSC00608.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400655294908111362" border="0" /></a>The outhouse where the others sleep.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhICpnjgOUSvWr2RTbl-nZEXeohY3wmL-m5zUR87T8lwhwcWEP5Unse_52Or0mhAEZ1rWgVAWklUDwf3cjhiCANMpTcFbm68OIIABQnnvJFIc9C1D51VOs6NzmZds3qghuGCuTJH93t4mE/s1600-h/DSC00609.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhICpnjgOUSvWr2RTbl-nZEXeohY3wmL-m5zUR87T8lwhwcWEP5Unse_52Or0mhAEZ1rWgVAWklUDwf3cjhiCANMpTcFbm68OIIABQnnvJFIc9C1D51VOs6NzmZds3qghuGCuTJH93t4mE/s400/DSC00609.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400655292550090946" border="0" /></a>Tire-mud wall in progress. This morning we entered the site and found half of it collapsed. This was unfortunate as it is time-consuming and hard work to rebuild.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic-9IyGLVyZVz80CJF1uRbndezNCMpZoB6eXtKK8N_r4kVys2WdjPABPxtuSbplNr_UostNhUrCXFcuEFbNCElYgrVNJ3-mFqVVZLoW0QzQ9j2IvmR1LTvfksLrhcaUt78kB60KDS0brw/s1600-h/DSC00612.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic-9IyGLVyZVz80CJF1uRbndezNCMpZoB6eXtKK8N_r4kVys2WdjPABPxtuSbplNr_UostNhUrCXFcuEFbNCElYgrVNJ3-mFqVVZLoW0QzQ9j2IvmR1LTvfksLrhcaUt78kB60KDS0brw/s400/DSC00612.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400654725208594258" border="0" /></a>A soldier ant. Look at those jaws!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEici69UMyI4DwyjzofPf5Az1Q0Jk8eO5_o3ufraThyphenhyphenvc8qkLwtvdX1FV0XaPltfNrGCFFDcOPLyduVPv24VUUnFFwO4u3s-8i_KJOr0cF3dgcyNCb2i95kJYzGn5Ie-A0o4Yq8B-roHikg/s1600-h/DSC00613.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEici69UMyI4DwyjzofPf5Az1Q0Jk8eO5_o3ufraThyphenhyphenvc8qkLwtvdX1FV0XaPltfNrGCFFDcOPLyduVPv24VUUnFFwO4u3s-8i_KJOr0cF3dgcyNCb2i95kJYzGn5Ie-A0o4Yq8B-roHikg/s400/DSC00613.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400654718363450370" border="0" /></a>Josh found this baby praying mantis. It is the second he has seen.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirtVQIoC3YsrrRHq83du07lvcApeQvEUeeVCHUEB4LI5X_ml8CzBfenMRfmV4Z0JUCgMAg67RrVVtXCL_I_B-hDDJRCoXYifIWFP8a4ry4IkSJJflfiyPm4gso-au-fnYR93nWn10sLv8/s1600-h/DSC00615.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirtVQIoC3YsrrRHq83du07lvcApeQvEUeeVCHUEB4LI5X_ml8CzBfenMRfmV4Z0JUCgMAg67RrVVtXCL_I_B-hDDJRCoXYifIWFP8a4ry4IkSJJflfiyPm4gso-au-fnYR93nWn10sLv8/s400/DSC00615.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400654719179735714" border="0" /></a>Soldier ant fighting a woodlouse.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9LGOrVNwtA56NMdEVnrqUFQnXiB6g8GAy6RE-gpox0rvAmgwcVefyiQojZ2kK62mqHE4o9Fuj98NPTueS3ufbvgWGRBeKE6uUZeJqWZDG0IS_QcRavxbmB3B1MYQw_thc1jPv8Asslkw/s1600-h/DSC00617.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9LGOrVNwtA56NMdEVnrqUFQnXiB6g8GAy6RE-gpox0rvAmgwcVefyiQojZ2kK62mqHE4o9Fuj98NPTueS3ufbvgWGRBeKE6uUZeJqWZDG0IS_QcRavxbmB3B1MYQw_thc1jPv8Asslkw/s400/DSC00617.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400654713003129826" border="0" /></a>Josh at the ready.<br /><br /><br />The other guys are all nice. They have all spent time at other kibbutzim around Israel, and are here for varying periods of 1 week to 4. I think I will stay the longest and am not sure whether new volunteers will join us later. It feels surprisingly not-odd to be in overwelmingly male company, considering most of my friends in Lancaster were female. I like the fact that there is no pressure to be laddish in the way there often is with English guys. In the evening most people hang out in the lounge but there is no big social thing going on - people are reading or surfing, or talking to friends and family. It's nice to be able to have company while getting some internal space.<br /><br />I realise that I like the way foreign people speak English - the lack of absolute proficiency leads to unusual but intuitive grammar which I find satisfying. I have found, also in the past, that my own expression adopts this sense of frankness without the buffering or semantic prevarication I use around other native speakers. In order to make oneself understood I tend to mimic the inflections of the listener. It made me think today about the trouble I have in communicating verbally, and why I have to plan sentences before I say them - and I tend to speak in the same way I write for this reason. An example: I was going to write "I'm going to give this more thought". But if I was speaking here to someone, especially one of the non-Americans, I'd just say "About this, I will think more." It communicates the same thing but the order of the concepts is different, and simpler I think. I've thought previously that one of the problems the English language faces is the vastness of its vocabulary and amount of different ways the same thing can be said - or, very similar things can be articulated precisely. This leads to a very precise language where meaning is parsed definitely and subtlety is pinned down with specific solid terms. The comparative lack of flexibility in other languages' expression (especially something like Hebrew) allows (or demands) a direct frankness which I like.<br /><br />I was slightly worried about food; that I would not have enough of the right things to eat here. This is not the case! We eat very well, and are free to take what we like from the kitchen. The staple is tahini (sesame seed paste), which Marc has infinite methods of combination both sweet and savoury: with carob, with lemon juice and parsley, yoghurt, cinnamon, as a drink, a spread or a dip. Yesterday we made an unusual humus with onions, parsley and several other ingredients. The main meals have also been very tasty, usually a variety of plates to help ourselves to rather than a single pot. Yesterday Marc made Borsht, a soup of vegetables and beetroot which was very good.<br /><br />Tomorrow Marc is taking us on a trip: we go to a nearby site of interest which I think involves caves and stalagtites. It is also Benjamin's birthday and Yosh's on Saturday so we will celebrate tomorrow night. Every Friday and Saturday we have off, as is the custom in Israel - Sabbath begins sundown on Friday until sundown Saturday. For those unaware, traditionally days begin at sundown for Jews: meaning that in Genesis the 7 "days" go from evening till evening, not morning till morning. This makes sense, as darkness precedes light, the first creation.<br /><br />More tomorrow or Saturday, depending on how busy/drunk we are.<br /><span style="padding: 1px 4px; position: absolute; -moz-appearance: tooltip; z-index: 10000; cursor: pointer; left: 506px; top: 5411px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">save</span>Ayinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10120620659286171851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462752563299701010.post-21767595661365251692009-11-03T12:02:00.000-08:002010-01-04T01:44:36.334-08:00Day 1: arrival in Tel Aviv<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbReDdulmh46_h0mNUWhiip2f_xVae2gBEl-tduqJ1spdwcSvtPeYlR8SlAMby_091nKe6uD2r4H3sG9EjAZKfsa7FP5BzdWBB7K72m_fgKkwJWozXicUktmKNz6uQCsjKEEyiAqJvyBw/s1600-h/DSC00554.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbReDdulmh46_h0mNUWhiip2f_xVae2gBEl-tduqJ1spdwcSvtPeYlR8SlAMby_091nKe6uD2r4H3sG9EjAZKfsa7FP5BzdWBB7K72m_fgKkwJWozXicUktmKNz6uQCsjKEEyiAqJvyBw/s400/DSC00554.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400212302289010514" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I am Israel! How cool is that?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">My flights were quite pleasant. I had to change at Schiphol Amsterdam, an airport I have been to twice previously. I was glad to have a familiar stop-off mid-journey. Flying KLM rather than budget airline was quite an eye-opener: free beer on the flights and a selection of reading materials in a variety of languages (I chose the international edition of the Guardian). The meal was as rubbish as you'd expect, though my mood was slightly lightened by its packaging: the box attempted to sell the company with the inspirational slogan </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:arial;" >One should eat to live, not live to eat.</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> My sense of irony remains intact.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I arrived at 2.30AM, which was a bit odd - no time to stop and explore the airport or even take in the new sights and sounds, as I made the mad dash to my hostel in order to get as much sleep as possible before being kicked out at 10 the next morning. The one cool thing I did take a moment to capture was the menorah outside Ben Gurion airport (above).</span> Note: you can always enlarge pictures to their full size by clicking on them.<br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">The next morning I ambled through the streets and found Carmel market. I was attempting to read the Hebrew on one cafe when I noticed an elderly gentleman apparently wafting me away with his hand. I apologised and began to move on but realised that the gesture is like a wave - it is attract rather than repel attention. He asked in broken English whether I liked humus and then led me into his friend's establishment. </span><br /><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4BDCzf0UE8oCEwfgFv2mUsv5UAA4w92sIOPJ4BdMqJPW5y8r5BWYbdAjaXoVxQanwHPqv2RTd4V-_VD3ETQzODZ5esumIQPeIE0j-spJcRelFuI30Ik8ZtWbqB6BNO3asdeafa5QjFW0/s1600-h/DSC00555.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4BDCzf0UE8oCEwfgFv2mUsv5UAA4w92sIOPJ4BdMqJPW5y8r5BWYbdAjaXoVxQanwHPqv2RTd4V-_VD3ETQzODZ5esumIQPeIE0j-spJcRelFuI30Ik8ZtWbqB6BNO3asdeafa5QjFW0/s400/DSC00555.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400212300756221730" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">This was my first Israeli meal. Sadly no felafel, just humus. It was tasty, very smooth, but with no lemon juice - nice but I suspect it will not be the best I have. In case you're wandering, yes those things in the top plate are chunks of raw onion, cut as you would an apple.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I walked to the beach front. Some of the architecture is awesome.</span><span style="text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;" ></span><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMnvmoOMFrLFnTBdOiUPBYRNzPnNImTKbuUPjKKUgcTHa_bIIK4fPqRshLJzxwwv0dmqO_K8BF9mX7IiMi_MXA_Yt7J5WDAGT-VlJBzMNkf19NRzwH5fLtZ3Ht6mxko7fdKat8oBZw030/s1600-h/DSC00557.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMnvmoOMFrLFnTBdOiUPBYRNzPnNImTKbuUPjKKUgcTHa_bIIK4fPqRshLJzxwwv0dmqO_K8BF9mX7IiMi_MXA_Yt7J5WDAGT-VlJBzMNkf19NRzwH5fLtZ3Ht6mxko7fdKat8oBZw030/s400/DSC00557.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400212296486790530" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu42hW4iVucSh5N7Wz4tjVpJ5gdRwWEiJSJO3eQvZ0V667x6PoskWzfLCGYetI1tJ6KFY6rTtc_miSDtHuolYT2XZz_TqWjiz1wg0TlBAiU8OCK7D2cPt8Xwe1sA_vh59RBTqoQA4BNkg/s1600-h/DSC00560.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu42hW4iVucSh5N7Wz4tjVpJ5gdRwWEiJSJO3eQvZ0V667x6PoskWzfLCGYetI1tJ6KFY6rTtc_miSDtHuolYT2XZz_TqWjiz1wg0TlBAiU8OCK7D2cPt8Xwe1sA_vh59RBTqoQA4BNkg/s400/DSC00560.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400212291883053570" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTNXmN4iJuvNSmGNKnOLSSCYquthYVKk-0AUTmr-WMz5ogttY2ovXdl9TRytuOXvFM8hbCyGL2nnNFrZcgwr3H1kwOXiBLI4hYCuzEfDWc69pwFTJr1GeNOUspR_kDY-mjARklNwgSIJk/s1600-h/DSC00563.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTNXmN4iJuvNSmGNKnOLSSCYquthYVKk-0AUTmr-WMz5ogttY2ovXdl9TRytuOXvFM8hbCyGL2nnNFrZcgwr3H1kwOXiBLI4hYCuzEfDWc69pwFTJr1GeNOUspR_kDY-mjARklNwgSIJk/s400/DSC00563.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400211850953990770" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRgyFcPx3CbhkV2F1L5GpJiEkGE8_vGaHarLjEFp85irdzJihNQOCiS65A-rHnqX8V8-7ku8nluM5xsAfkqF6YcKhRwenMqHindV4g0KkxITl67ZCAcT60QQLz2_V6JjpwwYm0yOX0M3A/s1600-h/DSC00565.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRgyFcPx3CbhkV2F1L5GpJiEkGE8_vGaHarLjEFp85irdzJihNQOCiS65A-rHnqX8V8-7ku8nluM5xsAfkqF6YcKhRwenMqHindV4g0KkxITl67ZCAcT60QQLz2_V6JjpwwYm0yOX0M3A/s400/DSC00565.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400211849619779122" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">However at points it still feels like a city-in-progress.</span><br /><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwqe4XTesQprUc3Fdpz8EVXJ7ZlnVtqacErvPx1Iedz7UKvaUQMnHIxCBS1akZ5WnpDh_oY23_yAiB9GunbgwWYYtW2SxhHf0kdlz-KPoQ_vn5jymxCEri4YaCf5HcT9gL-_WsWVczjLI/s1600-h/DSC00566.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwqe4XTesQprUc3Fdpz8EVXJ7ZlnVtqacErvPx1Iedz7UKvaUQMnHIxCBS1akZ5WnpDh_oY23_yAiB9GunbgwWYYtW2SxhHf0kdlz-KPoQ_vn5jymxCEri4YaCf5HcT9gL-_WsWVczjLI/s400/DSC00566.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400211843948142594" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I found this bilingual memorial stone. I don't know what language the right side is in (cyrillic?)</span><br /><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjnulKD0G1aFtkLWjqYYcS3gxb6U5cTB8tqYCqE0sSlaKXnN3u5uWx9Lc8KdF5Ao8su-5Q1l_us43rOjbyNC5A-W-5NNQlekwNwIV5Qcv9h3tRSkqs-Pgk2rM7_BKG0k-u9ZfOeousH-4/s1600-h/DSC00567.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjnulKD0G1aFtkLWjqYYcS3gxb6U5cTB8tqYCqE0sSlaKXnN3u5uWx9Lc8KdF5Ao8su-5Q1l_us43rOjbyNC5A-W-5NNQlekwNwIV5Qcv9h3tRSkqs-Pgk2rM7_BKG0k-u9ZfOeousH-4/s400/DSC00567.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400211839635339442" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiJM-MMizbyngQxQJEkyDYyX4Vkn5k0XdbjeKEc_4zAklhqBqz-JlNqt9lPjfBE0YaRJwGpVPo0soW-_WBzLenihUZbII6-WCzjddXRA_9Wvn2MXBGEveF7AtP1Yu9aAGuraTVxNmZZBE/s1600-h/DSC00569.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiJM-MMizbyngQxQJEkyDYyX4Vkn5k0XdbjeKEc_4zAklhqBqz-JlNqt9lPjfBE0YaRJwGpVPo0soW-_WBzLenihUZbII6-WCzjddXRA_9Wvn2MXBGEveF7AtP1Yu9aAGuraTVxNmZZBE/s400/DSC00569.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400211833309440834" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYbZrgR8jCmk8E_Oy1LBeQ8V0Y40g6r6fK1ziGJyEwjZcR8cN9_9D5nFS6TmxKTVWc1A_qrAwx2zyfnz0QIsnV6zqWkWhHfN6v1lFhfDEu5VR6BdomfWVJOX-kwGj60KDLr4BEVLch7DM/s1600-h/DSC00570.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYbZrgR8jCmk8E_Oy1LBeQ8V0Y40g6r6fK1ziGJyEwjZcR8cN9_9D5nFS6TmxKTVWc1A_qrAwx2zyfnz0QIsnV6zqWkWhHfN6v1lFhfDEu5VR6BdomfWVJOX-kwGj60KDLr4BEVLch7DM/s400/DSC00570.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400211362061742706" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">The 'Fashion Bar' is not looking its best...</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicgf-6Au5JTOkzKKIGMnED-0VNNyaTNQoelkL3i3W_fgz6N-3JZ9tusQwlkyrhMYyNOFaqRxRaG0GILh7dhP6T9ayKPS4YJwUFWomgNedEDSt94X9hgwidloudAB0zi6hKTHjYsP-mWCk/s1600-h/DSC00571.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicgf-6Au5JTOkzKKIGMnED-0VNNyaTNQoelkL3i3W_fgz6N-3JZ9tusQwlkyrhMYyNOFaqRxRaG0GILh7dhP6T9ayKPS4YJwUFWomgNedEDSt94X9hgwidloudAB0zi6hKTHjYsP-mWCk/s400/DSC00571.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400211359734522034" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">The waves were impressive. Some people were surfing which I imagine to be quite a dangerous pursuit given the proximity of large rock formations.</span><br /><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEMsS0Akh5pNqbwbWInnEF5UCha4f7jDR7SzZmKGP02HR6BF6Axv51FK26BzaONWmvQSB0ZrlTUkhDFyIKnhY54zsCBkC2eTAjz82ilHR9Aa05YHlfACWXplrBdmmV2kKqvl3Mr3FEirY/s1600-h/DSC00572.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEMsS0Akh5pNqbwbWInnEF5UCha4f7jDR7SzZmKGP02HR6BF6Axv51FK26BzaONWmvQSB0ZrlTUkhDFyIKnhY54zsCBkC2eTAjz82ilHR9Aa05YHlfACWXplrBdmmV2kKqvl3Mr3FEirY/s400/DSC00572.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400211355675912562" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipWjsg3jWCec8euyDf4heSd5JeaFmtnbgdFO-z1i5lGMxMVyzNgdRQQ9-EUhyeCqKPrxqJYRdJdsKKGr214R7ZW2oC3mNWK2KbgHsmNu9DE7G3_znLYS9ZFcfsfwwk5RlyA2cvtTPYzfE/s1600-h/DSC00573.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipWjsg3jWCec8euyDf4heSd5JeaFmtnbgdFO-z1i5lGMxMVyzNgdRQQ9-EUhyeCqKPrxqJYRdJdsKKGr214R7ZW2oC3mNWK2KbgHsmNu9DE7G3_znLYS9ZFcfsfwwk5RlyA2cvtTPYzfE/s400/DSC00573.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400211345756772562" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I discovered where all the cool cats hang out</span><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQl4Fm1AuBRXDC7trSzryPvZcfaxa34uLR1N3krOTmT9eh87Ld7K60LYSCrvEXlRgCCGPv_YLlULKYDUde2eF64NHH0PddKwSYEKyKoxvo_boAZX18zKQexdUdvJ9_XDGEmswhzBhssOw/s1600-h/DSC00575.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQl4Fm1AuBRXDC7trSzryPvZcfaxa34uLR1N3krOTmT9eh87Ld7K60LYSCrvEXlRgCCGPv_YLlULKYDUde2eF64NHH0PddKwSYEKyKoxvo_boAZX18zKQexdUdvJ9_XDGEmswhzBhssOw/s400/DSC00575.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400211341023939634" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;"><br />And found myself drawn to this rock</span><br /><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4YgjWuqQ2L6GY5iKqHkT5LoSfQExMryN6tXqdHwQzR9f5aM-TzjQ5sdZJ2dPQSXkWXBWFUehdzIKooYQ87WHqJtwNV_uKoTgETkXWSIujwqcx4lINYmrs5umKQnp4JOcpV7u3KZgp9aU/s1600-h/DSC00576.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4YgjWuqQ2L6GY5iKqHkT5LoSfQExMryN6tXqdHwQzR9f5aM-TzjQ5sdZJ2dPQSXkWXBWFUehdzIKooYQ87WHqJtwNV_uKoTgETkXWSIujwqcx4lINYmrs5umKQnp4JOcpV7u3KZgp9aU/s400/DSC00576.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400210750868280658" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Can you see why?</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyCYGXMXcnepzSqgv5gzawCZwqTbxEmZgFu27sW46yU2oGuRASk5YdwaZvtMTaobPPhU1gv6d5XFk3wiJsaAkrt2zthRGVA0sq-KV0BoZmLwU1jluhk2a6KC6PooiB55dFwW6mdG-gbTA/s1600-h/DSC00577.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyCYGXMXcnepzSqgv5gzawCZwqTbxEmZgFu27sW46yU2oGuRASk5YdwaZvtMTaobPPhU1gv6d5XFk3wiJsaAkrt2zthRGVA0sq-KV0BoZmLwU1jluhk2a6KC6PooiB55dFwW6mdG-gbTA/s400/DSC00577.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400210744475321826" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">(There is a tiny kitten peering out at me)</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Happily a few minutes later its mother reclaimed it.</span><br /><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDaxObT0Mdq2Vu82FBmQqMWF_LBgwqI4T_uiG8lB_bQWYf3O7ps-BQr4h0nvda5M6eDGiF5REZrZdCLqpEiXdR-gVRK7dtH3a8STlMhVwiE789aEO2XAFMK3ruopHk1S97EzIYN7fQJPs/s1600-h/DSC00579.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDaxObT0Mdq2Vu82FBmQqMWF_LBgwqI4T_uiG8lB_bQWYf3O7ps-BQr4h0nvda5M6eDGiF5REZrZdCLqpEiXdR-gVRK7dtH3a8STlMhVwiE789aEO2XAFMK3ruopHk1S97EzIYN7fQJPs/s400/DSC00579.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400210735840257762" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimb6iSsqZwkYLYf-niUbZtUNN-SRG2j2j4Wrnfsk9p9JBwPCAmkVtzVlv8pFj8ozkz_ZqgGYywE7JzBM8uhzCJYsQT4pzp81VbFbSN0kLKO_dDqUAs92FI1Zu1-IoL43vZGU1hyFj-rsM/s1600-h/DSC00580.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimb6iSsqZwkYLYf-niUbZtUNN-SRG2j2j4Wrnfsk9p9JBwPCAmkVtzVlv8pFj8ozkz_ZqgGYywE7JzBM8uhzCJYsQT4pzp81VbFbSN0kLKO_dDqUAs92FI1Zu1-IoL43vZGU1hyFj-rsM/s400/DSC00580.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400210730963502658" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglRcqgaH3lmD_3rnfCG0ABxBk5dwXQn_Ty1DyH_eZLbJFk1-eRX57LFzMVvA7zaRd07Cvo1nPaPmW7TieuTPZruHYpZyW79HrlFYcejWswgknnsediqjRek3jx9LByR8GcK_aP4yRpUjk/s1600-h/DSC00581.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglRcqgaH3lmD_3rnfCG0ABxBk5dwXQn_Ty1DyH_eZLbJFk1-eRX57LFzMVvA7zaRd07Cvo1nPaPmW7TieuTPZruHYpZyW79HrlFYcejWswgknnsediqjRek3jx9LByR8GcK_aP4yRpUjk/s400/DSC00581.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400210724650155634" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">This is the Etzel museum. Etzel were one of the Israeli volunteer forces during the Arab-Israeli struggles prior to the formation of Israel as a state. I felt slightly uncomfortable inside as I have heard differing accounts of the battles, particularly Deir Yassin of which Etzel were an important part. This museum, as is expected, strongly promotes a narrative of liberation, highlighting the wrongs of the Arabian side without admitting any such wrongs on Israel's part.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE2fe6sj2uCKSv2v9yWzUXpdpd4QmoqMHPZ2qqBjj2qoQEAURCW6HCOzeDntdmw6bXCVHegGujDZVSBzXZhFSAmPWzU7z3Gmf3Yne0XEEjMPr-LH482cEkYG5AoKYRJvxFvqgQ_ig-8Hw/s1600-h/DSC00583.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE2fe6sj2uCKSv2v9yWzUXpdpd4QmoqMHPZ2qqBjj2qoQEAURCW6HCOzeDntdmw6bXCVHegGujDZVSBzXZhFSAmPWzU7z3Gmf3Yne0XEEjMPr-LH482cEkYG5AoKYRJvxFvqgQ_ig-8Hw/s400/DSC00583.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400195891487824562" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">A playground? No!A public outdoor gym, by the beach. A very good idea though not practical everywhere.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgovbWZyL5I_0WJ5-mOQvsvGKM-cpBPeU8ykyLdY6iHxY90uHb8gZXVrSgdi3Z3NPBXILMbsGKYYIm1EULZBYO5AqeguNarPw0W4qc7mUqlFOFXodsXl5aHe0EyL7C9x890-CK8-Y0SfEs/s1600-h/DSC00585.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgovbWZyL5I_0WJ5-mOQvsvGKM-cpBPeU8ykyLdY6iHxY90uHb8gZXVrSgdi3Z3NPBXILMbsGKYYIm1EULZBYO5AqeguNarPw0W4qc7mUqlFOFXodsXl5aHe0EyL7C9x890-CK8-Y0SfEs/s400/DSC00585.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400195881864346402" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">There are many of these house crows in Tel Aviv. They are coloured an attractive black and blue-grey.<br /><br /></span><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjouAIc0PGXzdEb0f1-VWOm4K5hd4C4-76pVycfGqRkpy0Vbs0S-wttrjf2GqoCpx8Gj5jVrlQG3ZIFoLodSQ8WGhLtSMBxp5-tF5D9lo-LZeAM9DiHvS6sIsCV0udVM3gdo0G32hqKsvo/s1600-h/DSC00587.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjouAIc0PGXzdEb0f1-VWOm4K5hd4C4-76pVycfGqRkpy0Vbs0S-wttrjf2GqoCpx8Gj5jVrlQG3ZIFoLodSQ8WGhLtSMBxp5-tF5D9lo-LZeAM9DiHvS6sIsCV0udVM3gdo0G32hqKsvo/s400/DSC00587.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400195884040493618" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4TdOz_IPLvXJF9ISfn-lTYDPdklsQLAwWqYYJGIyWAWsIMFhGLKX-KXT9KZZuljkCkN49Aktc9YfdDo4_UbAG51gn1z17Y4qQIgBqJucMOG2VBv3nrAmko-ykuEYS5VHZFuPs63Tp3m4/s1600-h/DSC00588.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4TdOz_IPLvXJF9ISfn-lTYDPdklsQLAwWqYYJGIyWAWsIMFhGLKX-KXT9KZZuljkCkN49Aktc9YfdDo4_UbAG51gn1z17Y4qQIgBqJucMOG2VBv3nrAmko-ykuEYS5VHZFuPs63Tp3m4/s400/DSC00588.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400195877860374658" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Somewhat typical of Tel Aviv, the combination of urban decay and modernism.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDDwSh56fLRLdbIa46CB0gzEUqWxWpq5qYZGXIjE9TdjBq6N5ZM9wMIEEacgQUxAAxMdb254T2F3ipF32w_1Uyqqjq_8v44aBrsK9PF5bAIwqwoXZZq4o3N28DMJoJ09EN_eD2sJqp2q0/s1600-h/DSC00589.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDDwSh56fLRLdbIa46CB0gzEUqWxWpq5qYZGXIjE9TdjBq6N5ZM9wMIEEacgQUxAAxMdb254T2F3ipF32w_1Uyqqjq_8v44aBrsK9PF5bAIwqwoXZZq4o3N28DMJoJ09EN_eD2sJqp2q0/s400/DSC00589.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400195875331633410" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">I particularly liked this tree in one of the more suburban parts of Tel Aviv.<br /><br /></span>Eventually I found the train station and made my way to the Moshav in Sedot Micah. I have been here less than 24 hours now, lunchtime is almost over and I will blog again tonight or tomorrow about this place.<br /><br /><span style="padding: 1px 4px; position: absolute; -moz-appearance: tooltip; z-index: 10000; cursor: pointer; left: 466px; top: 223px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">save</span><span style="padding: 1px 4px; position: absolute; -moz-appearance: tooltip; z-index: 10000; cursor: pointer; left: 456px; top: 383px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">save</span>Ayinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10120620659286171851noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462752563299701010.post-1698475327332469142009-10-10T06:49:00.000-07:002009-10-12T05:16:47.900-07:00Planning My Itinerary!<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:arial;" >With little more than three weeks until I fly to Israel, I am excitedly counting down the days and planning the three months I will spend there.</span><p><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I will spend six weeks each at two different </span><span style="font-family:arial;">farms. These are </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://artengine.ca/eliany/html/sedotmicah/tableofcontentsedotmicah.html">Sedot Micah</a><span style="font-family:arial;">, a small project run by artists in which they are planning to build a museum for the history of Morrocan Jewry. This looks like a really interesting project and something I will be pleased to be involved with. This farm is located roughly halfway between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Apparently you can hear coyotes at night!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://artengine.ca/eliany/images/sedotmicah/frontoffarmhouse.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 351px; height: 265px;" src="http://artengine.ca/eliany/images/sedotmicah/frontoffarmhouse.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /></div><p><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family:arial;">The second farm is a large established K</span><span style="font-family:arial;">ibbutz in </span><span style="font-family:arial;">the middle of the Negev desert called </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://www.neot-semadar.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=70&Itemid=134">Neot Semadar</a><span style="font-family:arial;">. This is well known, having its own Wikipedia page, and looks stunningly unique. The architecture is amazing, they are completely self-sufficient and the whole thing seems like a hippy dream come true. I can't wait to look around and meet the people who live here full time!</span><br /></p><p><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Zea-9REilck0OVcYSZpzXyHQC1Gu0tXeGn7gL7vu8GrTIGiSWcyoT5tBfSatbDVU16GLGjxuEgCbG_DxBBR1NuoDgSgp88rWbJqfiVLQZe0HijiFpSjWFzzX2PJZOVChbjS2EiY_asc/s1600-h/1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Zea-9REilck0OVcYSZpzXyHQC1Gu0tXeGn7gL7vu8GrTIGiSWcyoT5tBfSatbDVU16GLGjxuEgCbG_DxBBR1NuoDgSgp88rWbJqfiVLQZe0HijiFpSjWFzzX2PJZOVChbjS2EiY_asc/s320/1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390983066700541474" border="0" /></a></p> <p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">note - this is just the Arts Centre at Neot Semadar! You want more? OK then...</span><br /><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglDpAr1btK3XdQXkvJUU7eHGa2lTjttkJV2svEzpZzAeb4t51PINxCYzFHfIPp27uS_SnRWvb7ZanXxkJ8zW7htaxrMEKrGwwFdJUdhYNzAbkvOxNkb1YFB86SOgslPXgZ49h2RF3on4M/s1600-h/2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 237px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglDpAr1btK3XdQXkvJUU7eHGa2lTjttkJV2svEzpZzAeb4t51PINxCYzFHfIPp27uS_SnRWvb7ZanXxkJ8zW7htaxrMEKrGwwFdJUdhYNzAbkvOxNkb1YFB86SOgslPXgZ49h2RF3on4M/s320/2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390983777684701490" border="0" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p> <p><br /></p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOkTiFTVVF45OIzEaKmQYaqWbucTyNkI0Xj9MsubdL_Esx7siLqXqhYpJEPGt-ArZeSOnMSmGrlWhOlEr6RnzXjDIPkHlanr0kEKiO5_V6qQqg3Md3wIMHg3PLc1BYAzFp93kWoAXnGso/s1600-h/3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 235px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOkTiFTVVF45OIzEaKmQYaqWbucTyNkI0Xj9MsubdL_Esx7siLqXqhYpJEPGt-ArZeSOnMSmGrlWhOlEr6RnzXjDIPkHlanr0kEKiO5_V6qQqg3Md3wIMHg3PLc1BYAzFp93kWoAXnGso/s320/3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390992513649523314" border="0" /></a></p> <p><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:arial;">This is the winery and some other random part of the kibbutz (right) which looks fantastic. There is a </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://www.neot-semadar.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=74&Itemid=138">slideshow</a><span style="font-family:arial;"> of more images available.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">So taking the maximum duration available on a tourist visa, 3 months, and six weeks at each farm, this leaves me one week roughly spare. I've bought a Rough Guide to Israel and begun deciding what my itinerary must include.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I arrive in Tel Aviv in the early hours, so am staying in a hostel the first night. So my first day in Israel I'll have a few hours to look around "Israel's New York"; although I know this will be mostly time for acclimatising rather than trying to take anything in. Specific attractions will have to wait.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">After my six weeks at Sedot Micah I'm going to go to Jerusalem (I think! This reminds me I need to look into hostels because this will be mid-December and not only will Christians be starting to flood the city for Christmas, but Jerusalem is a popular destination for Jews at Hannukah). There's far more to see there than I can possibly fit in but I must visit the Wailing Wall and the Temple Mount as well as the Al-Aqsa Mosque. There are about half a dozen important synagogues in the Jewish Quarter, of which I would dearly love to see all but I doubt this is possible. I will settle for seeing the four Sephardi synagogues which hail from the 17th Century. Hopefully I will also get to see some of the Old City's Christian history - the Church of the Holy Sepulchre sounds particularly impressive.</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.goodforthejews.com/FUNNYPICS/Temple%20Mount%20no%20Mosque.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 596px; height: 399px;" src="http://www.goodforthejews.com/FUNNYPICS/Temple%20Mount%20no%20Mosque.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">A particularly reverential image of the Temple Mount (I think that's Al-Aqsa Mosque on the far right)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Next I travel the c.300km down to Neot Semadar. There will be a noticeable increase in temperature as I enter the southern desert region - though I doubt I will ever be cold. "Winter" in Israel stretches from 16-25C. I plan to explore the desert during some of the time I'm not working. I'd love to see Qumran and Masada but I don't think I'll time, because...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Neot Semadar is relatively close to the city of Eilat, which borders onto the Red Sea. This is the tourist paradise of Israel - fortunately there is more to it than that as it is host to an amazing diversity of marine and bird life: being on one of the principal migratory routes for European birds fleeing the harsh winters. Hopefully I will not be too late to see some wonderful creatures there. I may lok into doing some scuba diving while I am there, though I will have only two or three days, depending on how much time I decide to spend in Jerusalem.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">From here it will be back to Tel Aviv for a day before my flight back (at some stupidly early time in the morning...still trying to decide whether to book a hostel for the few hours sleep or stay up and sleep on the plane. Hmm...). And that's three months gone! It seems like such a short time!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I hope these pictures haven't spoilt anything. I'll be blogging as regularly as I can with my thoughts, experiences and pics.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="padding: 1px 4px; position: absolute; -moz-appearance: tooltip; z-index: 10000; cursor: pointer; left: 874px; top: 612px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">save</span></p>Ayinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10120620659286171851noreply@blogger.com0