two emotional experiences.
-two weeks in December, 2007 -shared taxi from Amman, capital of Jordan, to Damascus Gate in the Old City of Jerusalem -stayed with local residents (hospitalityclub.org, couchsurfing.org) as a way to meet and be with local people -signs in Hebrew, Arabic, Amharic, Russian, and English; international feel -Four quarters in the Old City: Jewish, Muslim, Christian, Armenian -public mini-bus into Palestine to see Bethlehem, Manger Square, Milk Grotto Church -on return, Jay had a very disturbing incident at checkpoint with Israeli soldiers: they treated harshly some women who appeared to be Muslim -day trip to Ramallah, in Palestine; tomb of Yasser Arafat; headquarters of Palestinian government -spent a night in modern Tel Aviv; bauhaus buildings in need of paint job; mostly seemingly Israel people -Israel is about 14% larger than New Jersey -day trip to Masada, on the Dead Sea; Dead Sea is lowest point on earth (414 meters, 1350 feet below sea level) -Jay had another emotional moment: staying in a Muslim-run motel, Jay cried at the way people mistreat one another from false assessments, felt sadness and despair -earlier, he took a day trip to Haifa, home of the Baha'i World Centre, saw Baha'i garden 42 minutes 02-21-22 debug comment |