Our last day in Jordan, and Trish and I go our separate ways after breakfast. She is heading to the Dead Sea on the Jordan side (Hank and I will see it from the Israeli side), and then heading back to Cairo. I have decided to see Mt. Nebo and Madaba, and then to the airport and on to Tel Aviv!
Mt. Nebo is the spot where Moses viewed the promised land and was told he would not enter it. He died nearby. The Jordanians talk about Moses, and Aaron (his brother), and the biblical city of Moab like living breathing things. (There was even someone reading the passage aloud from the Bible at what is thought to be the exact spot.) A church in honour of Moses was later built on the site. There was purportedly a magnificent mosaic on the floor of the church, but it is under restoration. (There is always something you can't see!) Nonetheless, the views to the Dead Sea, Jericho, and the Jordan Valley were spine-tingling, when you thought about who saw it before you.
Chills. Really.
In the neighborhood is the town of Madaba. One third of the population is Christian, one of the largest Christian communities in Jordan. (By the way, according to the guide, there are no Jews in Jordan!) I saw only one of the churhes, St. Georges, and the mosaics were truly spectacular.
And so, good bye Jordan, Hello Israel. I was really sorry to have missed seeing Karnak, the ancient crusader castle involved in the battles between thr crusaders and the armies of Saladin, and Aqaba, the famous port. But it is always good to leave something for next time!
Before I go, one important thing which pretty much surprised me. Not one soul I talked to, involved in the tourist trade or otherwise, indicated the least little bit of hostility to Jews or Israel. Every one of them to a person expressed the wish that we could just all get along From their mouths to God's ears!
The trip from Amman to Tel Aviv is only 40 minutes. (Everything is so close here, conflicts - and refugees - cross over borders - really, it is going to be get along or die. And it is not just the Israeli's; right now - at least according to the Jordanians - Egypt is turning the gas tap on and off to suit its political needs. And the longer I am here, the more similarities I see among them all!)
Back to reality, i.e., me. Nothing makes me feel quite so sophisticated as navigating a new airport. Ben Gurion Airport is a zoo - Vancouver fols, think planes landing from Bombay and Hong Kong at the same time - and immigration is serious about wanting to know why I wanted to come to Israel - but the usual rules apply - get a good line at cusoms, be first in line for the ATM. grab a legal taxi, and you're off! Hank has chosen a wonderful hotel in a great location in Tel Aviv, but more about that tomorrow. You're up to date now, and all this sophistication has made me tired!
Mt. Nebo is the spot where Moses viewed the promised land and was told he would not enter it. He died nearby. The Jordanians talk about Moses, and Aaron (his brother), and the biblical city of Moab like living breathing things. (There was even someone reading the passage aloud from the Bible at what is thought to be the exact spot.) A church in honour of Moses was later built on the site. There was purportedly a magnificent mosaic on the floor of the church, but it is under restoration. (There is always something you can't see!) Nonetheless, the views to the Dead Sea, Jericho, and the Jordan Valley were spine-tingling, when you thought about who saw it before you.
Chills. Really.
In the neighborhood is the town of Madaba. One third of the population is Christian, one of the largest Christian communities in Jordan. (By the way, according to the guide, there are no Jews in Jordan!) I saw only one of the churhes, St. Georges, and the mosaics were truly spectacular.
And so, good bye Jordan, Hello Israel. I was really sorry to have missed seeing Karnak, the ancient crusader castle involved in the battles between thr crusaders and the armies of Saladin, and Aqaba, the famous port. But it is always good to leave something for next time!
Before I go, one important thing which pretty much surprised me. Not one soul I talked to, involved in the tourist trade or otherwise, indicated the least little bit of hostility to Jews or Israel. Every one of them to a person expressed the wish that we could just all get along From their mouths to God's ears!
The trip from Amman to Tel Aviv is only 40 minutes. (Everything is so close here, conflicts - and refugees - cross over borders - really, it is going to be get along or die. And it is not just the Israeli's; right now - at least according to the Jordanians - Egypt is turning the gas tap on and off to suit its political needs. And the longer I am here, the more similarities I see among them all!)
Back to reality, i.e., me. Nothing makes me feel quite so sophisticated as navigating a new airport. Ben Gurion Airport is a zoo - Vancouver fols, think planes landing from Bombay and Hong Kong at the same time - and immigration is serious about wanting to know why I wanted to come to Israel - but the usual rules apply - get a good line at cusoms, be first in line for the ATM. grab a legal taxi, and you're off! Hank has chosen a wonderful hotel in a great location in Tel Aviv, but more about that tomorrow. You're up to date now, and all this sophistication has made me tired!
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