No visit to Palestine would be complete without a visit to Ramallah. The stated ambition of the Palestinians is to have their capital in East Jerusalem, but for now, Ramallah is the de facto capital of Palestine. I’ve already shown you Yasser Arafat’s tomb whose surrounding buildings serve as the home of the Palestinian Authority … Continue reading
The highlights may be up in the north of Israel, but the Negev covers more than half of the country and the desert has a charm in and of itself: A sandstorm developing in the Negev: And, of course, one can find many interesting things in the desert too: Visit it while you can though, … Continue reading
Hidden away behind high walls and enormous wooden doors, the Armenian Quarter is one of the less visited neighborhoods in Jerusalem (and therefore one that I like more). They still use those doors too – the gates to this city within a city are closed early each evening: Of course, apparently having the most cats … Continue reading
The highlights – such as the Wailing Wall and the Dome of the Rock – are in Jerusalem’s Old City, but modern Jerusalem which surrounds the Old City is more dynamic and interesting than many people give it credit for: Some of the residential neighborhoods in the hills surrounding the city: The Mount of Olives … Continue reading
It’s been a while since Israel and Jordan have been at war, but the border region between the West Bank and Jordan is nevertheless a grim place… …with plenty of mine fields and other obstacles to persuade the Jordanians that it wouldn’t be fun for them if they attacked Israel again. Not many people make … Continue reading
Tel Aviv reminded me a lot of a weird mix of Miami and Los Angeles… The second largest city in Israel, it is definitely the most modern and, as home to the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange as well as numerous corporate offices and R&D centers, is the most economically significant. Secular and cosmopolitan, Tel Aviv … Continue reading
A view down into the city of Nablus from Mount Gerizim: Upon making the offhand comment in Israel that we were traveling to Nablus, the reaction was almost always one of horror and a warning that Nablus was full of militants and/or terrorists. I suppose this is somewhat understandable. The Battle of Nablus that took place … Continue reading
The Velvet Rocket 