From Jerusalem to Tel Aviv…

I had booked two more tours, but both were canceled (Bethlehem & Jericho and Masada & the Dead Sea). The former for safety reasons, the latter for rain/flooding reasons, but both because there are not enough other tourists. So, I was on my own to explore, and I did want to see more of Jerusalem…

My YMCA Three Arches Hotel is right across the street from the King David Hotel, infamously bombed in 1946, so I checked it out. Then, my waitress from the previous evening had suggested I see the Mishkenot Sha’ananim neighborhood, so I did. On the way, I encountered the Montefiore Windmill. Voila…

Next, I went back to the Old City to visit the Tower of David Museum. Lots of great interactive displays, an interesting layout, and some contemporary art…

I can imagine redoing my Old City tour several times, just to comprehend it all, but I settled for going back to the Christian Churches, perhaps the more complex manifestations of a religion, what with the varieties and all? I started with the Ethiopian Coptics, but then went to the massive echoing cistern beneath the Queen Helen Church. (BTW, Helena was Constantine’s Mom and was she the reason he converted the Roman Empire to Christianity?)

Then, I went back to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, to meditate with the jackhammers, and contemplate some art. I was particularly drawn to Calvary and the Tomb of Jesus and spent some time there. The ceilings of the former are quite compelling. Neither the rich history nor the poor spirits visited me or my imagination, secular nothing that I am.

Eventually, I left the Old City and took a ride on the light rail to the end point and back – an interesting view of the city and commuters. It was raining, sometimes furiously, so rather than explore more, I groceried back to the hotel and went to bed early.

The second cancelation allowed me to go to Tel Aviv a bit earlier…

My driver, Itzik/Isaac, thought the buses here at the beginning of this batch might be Palestinian terrorists being exchanged for Israeli hostages since they were escorted by military police!? And the poster with the faces shows those hostages, and in both cities one can find the phrase “Bring them home now” refering to the on-going crisis that started on October 7, 2023.

The rest of this batch is me walking south on a distinctly lousy beach day (blustery cold) in Tel Aviv to Old Jaffa. There were some intrepid surfers trying to make sense of some chaotic waves, and lots of views. (Gotta come back in the summer!)