יום רביעי: תזכורת היכן אנו נמצאים
Day Four: Reminder of Where We Are
Check Point
Check point. I saw my first M-16 today and I hope my last. We were stopped and pulled over by security at a checkpoint as we left the West Bank and re-entered Israel. Needless to say, we were all very nervous, especially when the guard had the driver pull over so that another person could question him and our guide. They asked if we were bringing anything into Israel that we should not and if anyone gave us anything to take into Israel. Well, no.
We were allowed to pass and we all breathed a sigh of relief but we also moved on with a clearer understanding of the tensions that exist in this land. Something as simple as going X amount of miles from the South to the North is fraught with danger and even rejection. Because the truth of the matter is that we could have be detained from our itinerary longer and even turned around. A small inconvenience for us but for the Palestinians it is more than that. That stop is more than a check point. It is a stop point.
We were allowed to pass and we all breathed a sigh of relief but we also moved on with a clearer understanding of the tensions that exist in this land. Something as simple as going X amount of miles from the South to the North is fraught with danger and even rejection. Because the truth of the matter is that we could have be detained from our itinerary longer and even turned around. A small inconvenience for us but for the Palestinians it is more than that. That stop is more than a check point. It is a stop point.
Bet She'an: New Day, new mountains to climb! Ughh with these mountains already...
When we finally got to the site we found a full Roman city in the midst of Israel that was amazing. After climbing 200 ft up the side of yet another hill, we found antiquities that represented Egyptian and Canaanite civilizations. If you look at the picture below, you will see that the Egyptian sculpture has on sandals that are amazingly like the ones that I was wearing. Good design never goes out of style.
Tel Megiddo
Armegeddon: Canaanite city and block that they supposed was used for sacrifices. Try to get info on the walls, fort and tunnel
Nazareth: Islamic Response to the Pope's Visit
Ibilin: Arab-Israeli Christians, who knew?
Once again it has gotten too late for me to complete this entry. As I fall further and further behind, it becomes less likely that the incomplete days will be completed any time soon. I missed a day because there was no Wi-Fi in Ibilin and tomrrow we will be on the road much of the day. God willing, I will be able to get this thing done and the entry from today.