Sunday, July 21, 2013

long procrastinated

I've been wanting to do a post on Israel ever since I got back, but have been putting it off because it seemed like a daunting task. almost two weeks, mostly in Jerusalem, leave me with so much to tell, that I don't think I'm upto it. so I'm taking the easier way out, by this substitute of a photo-blog on it. more later sometime. or maybe in spurts.


- The heart of the conflict:
1. The stone that began 'the world' and housed the 'Arc of the covenant' in its 'Well of Souls'
2. The point where Abraham was called on by God to sacrifice Isaac
3. Where Mohammad ascended into heaven
4. Earlier Solomon's Temple
5. Now 'Haram-ash-sharif'
(there are conflicting legends to some of the above claims)


- The mosque next door, in the direction of Mecca


- Mount of Olives
the oldest olive trees in the world, apparently all siblings


- Praying as close as can get to the 'Holy of the Holies'




- Church of Gethsemane
Next to The garden of Gethsemane, where apparently is Mary's tomb
Also the garden where Jesus met with his disciples to rest. And where he was apparently arrested and betrayed.


- The Dead Sea
Probably will be no more, in 30 yrs or so, the way its shrinking. So salty, it chokes you, threatens to blind you. There's a nudist bit of the beach for those who want it.


Beautiful people, beautiful music.


Holocaust Museum.


Can't possibly cover everything... oh yeah and I kissed an Israeli old man on his cheek because he asked for it by giving me two old books for just 10 shekels. don't have his picture. and I fell in love with the Jewish headscarf (tichel) and have been wanting to wear it ever since.

Friday, July 12, 2013

some reading..


http://www.bu.edu/arion/archive/volume-18/colin_wells_how_did_god_get-started/