Thursday, March 18th
Got up this morning in Jericho and had a leisurely breakfast in the hotel. Jericho= The City of the Moon.
Our first stop was at a sycamor tree where somebody kissed the tax collector many years ago and now it is the congregation point of merchants of local products. We bought some camel bone necklaces here.
Off to the 8th C. Hishoms Palace, an 8th C. archeological excavation and the beginning of Arab architecture. We saw the mosaics on the floors and we picked up some ancient glass and ancient pottery. We chased goats down the street trying to get a picture. We went inside to the small museum where one of the refuges gave us a tour and sold us a book and some postcards. We saw a lot of school kids getting off a bus.
Next we went to Tel Es Sultan in Old Jericho. Cable cars stretch up the mountain but this is for tomorrow. We hiked up the hill and saw the Italians digging in the excavation site. This was the worlds first city and the first tower ever built.
Then we went to the earliest Sinagogue with 5th C. mosaic with black a nd white heart design signifying blood and mourning, a minorah and a palm tree. Three armed guards let us in to the site but they seemed friendly.
Now off to Remallah, on of the four holey cities. We found out what a pain a checkpoint could be. While battling through the traffic going every which way we watched young men with bottles hidden behind their backs heading towards the checkpoint on foot thru the traffic. Off went the bottles- paint bombs, landing on the Palestine army armored vehicles and in return there were shots fired in our direction towards the gang of boys which were tear gas and rubber bullets. Some of the bullets hit our van with a thud but no damage was done and we found it quite excitibng. The tear gas was stinging eyes outside as evidenced by tears flowing and hankerchiefs out but didn't hurt our eyes. I did feel the fumes in my lungs for several hours but not too bad. We were trying to get pictures out the windows but our cameras are too slow and so many trucks in the way. Unfortunately my good camera has stopped working and no repair shops in sight. The refuge camp near here where the boys are coming from is called Kalandia. We are getting a feel for the Palestinean situation here and how desperate they feel with their lives.
Next we stop at the market in Remallah. Our guide questioned whether or not we really wanted to get off the bus in this very crowded, old city, local market but the 9 of us don't want to miss anything. Off we go- it is really crowded with locals and no other tourists anywhere to be seen. People look at us like we are something strange but they say hello and are friendly. We have some interesting local food which we take on the bus.
Yaser Arafat's grave and memorial at the PLO headquarters where he spent 4 years in captivity is next. We are not allowed to photograph the headquarters but can take a picture of the simple grave and 2 armed guards. Our guide was a personal friend and admired him as a simple man who was trying to do good.
Everywhere we have been today we have encountered adolecents, mostly school girls from local schools and from Jeruselum. They were anxious to communicate, friendly, and full of questions for us. They all wipped out their cell phones to take our pictures but many were adament that we not take their pictures. Laurel went on another camel ride- can't miss any opportunity to get on the camel!
Got up this morning in Jericho and had a leisurely breakfast in the hotel. Jericho= The City of the Moon.
Our first stop was at a sycamor tree where somebody kissed the tax collector many years ago and now it is the congregation point of merchants of local products. We bought some camel bone necklaces here.
Off to the 8th C. Hishoms Palace, an 8th C. archeological excavation and the beginning of Arab architecture. We saw the mosaics on the floors and we picked up some ancient glass and ancient pottery. We chased goats down the street trying to get a picture. We went inside to the small museum where one of the refuges gave us a tour and sold us a book and some postcards. We saw a lot of school kids getting off a bus.
Next we went to Tel Es Sultan in Old Jericho. Cable cars stretch up the mountain but this is for tomorrow. We hiked up the hill and saw the Italians digging in the excavation site. This was the worlds first city and the first tower ever built.
Then we went to the earliest Sinagogue with 5th C. mosaic with black a nd white heart design signifying blood and mourning, a minorah and a palm tree. Three armed guards let us in to the site but they seemed friendly.
Now off to Remallah, on of the four holey cities. We found out what a pain a checkpoint could be. While battling through the traffic going every which way we watched young men with bottles hidden behind their backs heading towards the checkpoint on foot thru the traffic. Off went the bottles- paint bombs, landing on the Palestine army armored vehicles and in return there were shots fired in our direction towards the gang of boys which were tear gas and rubber bullets. Some of the bullets hit our van with a thud but no damage was done and we found it quite excitibng. The tear gas was stinging eyes outside as evidenced by tears flowing and hankerchiefs out but didn't hurt our eyes. I did feel the fumes in my lungs for several hours but not too bad. We were trying to get pictures out the windows but our cameras are too slow and so many trucks in the way. Unfortunately my good camera has stopped working and no repair shops in sight. The refuge camp near here where the boys are coming from is called Kalandia. We are getting a feel for the Palestinean situation here and how desperate they feel with their lives.
Next we stop at the market in Remallah. Our guide questioned whether or not we really wanted to get off the bus in this very crowded, old city, local market but the 9 of us don't want to miss anything. Off we go- it is really crowded with locals and no other tourists anywhere to be seen. People look at us like we are something strange but they say hello and are friendly. We have some interesting local food which we take on the bus.
Yaser Arafat's grave and memorial at the PLO headquarters where he spent 4 years in captivity is next. We are not allowed to photograph the headquarters but can take a picture of the simple grave and 2 armed guards. Our guide was a personal friend and admired him as a simple man who was trying to do good.
Everywhere we have been today we have encountered adolecents, mostly school girls from local schools and from Jeruselum. They were anxious to communicate, friendly, and full of questions for us. They all wipped out their cell phones to take our pictures but many were adament that we not take their pictures. Laurel went on another camel ride- can't miss any opportunity to get on the camel!
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