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Hello again.....<br/>

Jerusalem & Palestine

Summer_81_de
2005-12-23 15:52:53

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Hello again

i just returned from a loong trip, in fact I did 3 things today. My day started with an attempt to walk around the old city on my own until I found out that my lacking sense of orientation lead me into the most remote corners of the city.. just far away from all sights. So in the end I decided to get a travel guide. he took me around town, I visited all important and holy places here in the old city. I was thinking about taking a trip to Bethlehem but he wanted to charge me 300 shekels for it!!! The staff from my hostel recommended me to catch a bus to the checkpoint and get a palestinian taxi from there. And this appeared to be the best alternative as it was quick and much cheaper. The westbank is very calm in many areas today and so it was a truly great experience to spend time there. My taxi driver, a lovely palestinian man whose wife just gave birth to a little girl today, showed me around bethlehem. We visited the place where the angels appeared to the shepherds, the place where jesus was said to be born born and some places in town. Afterwards my driver drove me to "herodion national park" around 10 min way from Bethlehem where you still can see remains of king herodes palace.

Palestine is a country that makes me smile and cry at the same time. Smile because of the beauty and kindness of the people, cry because of the anger and frustration and often even the resignation you see in their eyes. My driver, Nayef, told me that before the start of the intifada in 2000 he never had big problems to get his money in through tourism. He has a shop and a taxi and for both i was the first customer for the day even though it was already afternoon. In some moments I didnt know what to say anymore. After 10 minutes they shared their entire life, and they all just want one thing: PEACE! What can a single person do about this. Nothing. You may be able to give them some money but this doesnt fix their destroyed dreams and lifes. Nayefs brother gave me a small peace dove out of olive wood as a good bye gift.... When I wlked back to the checkpoint past

the wall (that separates the palestinian territories from the Israeli side) anotehr man begged me to buy a few necklaces. He was so persistent and all I could say was no because I already spent all my money I had on me in Bethlehem and with my driver...

Im disgusted about politics, about humans who believe to be better than others.... on either side! People killing INNOCENT ones, this counts for the Israeli actions as well as for the suicide bombings (which fortunately havent taken place for a long time anymore) Extremists on both sides are the ones should stop their brainless actions. The civilians are the ones who are going to suffer from all this especially the palestinians

Bethelehem has been calm and peaceful for 8 months now and people hope that peace will remain even though everybody doubts it. How glad we all can be that theres a god who takes care of us and all of us know that the trouble, depression and unjustice on this planet wont prevail into eternity. I'm stil so emotional
Anyway.... tomorrow im probably leaving for cairo. Culture change again... Its gonna be a long trip. Will write again once im there

P.S. i almost
painting...

forgot... after my return from Bethlehem area I visited the mount of olives from where i watched a beautiful sunset over jerusalem