We Will Remember Masada… and not let it happen again!

Today I went to Masada, which is a historically significant place here. I admit I had never heard of it until about a month ago when the travel agent suggested that I see it. It's on the top of a large rock near the Dead Sea. The significance is that there is a large fort built on top (by King Herod among others) and it was inhabited by Israeli inhabitants. The Romans (yes this was some time ago) wanted to attack the fort and so they staged a siege. It's quite a ways up to the top so it took them about four days to get there. Meanwhile, the Israelis soldiers decided that rather than end up slaves, they killed themselves so when the Romans got there… SURPRISE!

Apparently the Israelis now have this "We Will Remember Masada" as their Mantra now and vow never to get themselves in a position where they are attacked with no way out again.

At Least I think that's what it is. I find myself sorta of tuning out when the tour guides get on their political high horse. (Bad tourist… no biscuit). It was interesting in a "hey this is a Unesco site and I'm on top of a mountain when a great view of the River Valley sort of way. But remember that I had really never heard of it.

Then we went to the Dead Sea. I've been there before in my Kuwait life, but it was interesting to see from the other side of the sea. It's only 8 miles across at this point and so I stared at Jordan (as I stared at Israel when I was on the other side) wondering what was happening over there.

This is my friend N whom I met yesterday. We were supposed to be on the same tour, but things got complicated and so we went to the Dead Sea separately. It was his first time and he had a ball he says. I stole this picture off Facebook (with his approval). I don't do pictures of myself in a bathing suit, but you can be assured that I had a similar look (covered with therapeutic mud). Today I met some fun people from France, England and Sri Lanka. Travelling alone isn't so bad if one is willing to say Hi first.

Also, we saw a Bedoin man and his young son. I am very familiar with this site from life in Q8. I sorta felt like "home" when I saw the man with his camel parked on the side of the road. He was selling jewelry and rides on the camel. It's an honest way to make a living right?!

I found that I missed seeing camels! (go figure) So I had to enclose a photo of this handsome guy. I am not sure why he was foaming at the mouth, but he wasn't making any painful noise, so maybe he was just brushing his teeth.

Morning Day 2 Random Thoughts on the day after Shabbat

Scenes from the Wailing Wall

Notes on the above photos: I seem to be fascinated by taking photos of Jewish people. I don't know why, maybe it's because it's a stereotype, maybe it's because I just find them fascinating.  The woman with the book to her face is not hiding, she's praying and kissing the book in prayer. The group photo is my tour group. People from India, Equador, Taiwan, Israel, Belgium, Phillipines and America traveling just  to understand the world. As one said, "and that's why we travel so we understand." Beautiful words.


After watching the opening ceremony for the Olympics (something I wouldn't have been able to do at home as we don't have cable), and channel flicking through Fox new (yes!), BBC (oh I've missed it) and a variety of other channels, I am constantly amazed by the "same/same" ness of the world.

Now before you think I'm about to launch into a great political/cultural commentary (which I'm really not capable of doing), let me say that living in Kuwait for the past five years really helps me understand Israel. It's like I needed the five years in the Middle East (ME) to really try and understand where I am at this point. First of all, the food is very similar (which took some getting used to in Q8). The full breakfasts with everything from smoked salmon (a favorite!) to fruit to chocolate cake (yes!) reminds me of my favorite breakfast haunts with my Breakfast Buddies. The very friendly public face in dealing with people that Arabs use is evident here in Jerusalem. It's a little hard to explain to North Americans but there's a different sense of customer service in this part of the world. I've missed it.

However, please don't misunderstand me… I am not about to say that the people of Kuwait have lived the same life as the people of Isreal. I'm just starting to peel away my understanding of what it must be like to live in an area that some parts of the world don't even recognize as existing. And to understand the intricacies of the decades of hate and mistrust and fear would take way more knowledge than this seasoned traveller can conjure. That's why I like to travel with David because he's my walking wiki-guide to world stife.

 Yesterday when we went to Bethlehem, our tour guide E (a fantastic Israeli-Argentian man) went with us to the border (yes there is a border within the borders here) and then we met up with another tour guide who took us across. E went with us, but he didn't speak while we were in Bethlehem except in whispers. Later he told me that it's because if he even opens his mouth, the people will immediately know he's from the other side (Jewish) and he could get killed. Wow! *Granted, he was a great story teller and that could have been for effect, but who makes up stuff like that?!

We were taken to a "Christian Cultural Center" and it was explained to us (in a really nice way) that by buying souvenirs from them, we are helping them survive. It's a nicer version of saying "and my cousin owns the shop and we all will benefit from your purchases". The young man, who must have seen my eyes pop when I viewed all the nativity scenes made of Olive Wood, was VERY attentive in helping me select purchases. Every time he would show me something "better" (i.e. more expensive) and then asked me why I didn't want to purchase something of more quality. I have a budget, I'd tell him. And then he would smile as if to say "but lady you've got enough money to travel here and that's more than I have so why won't you buy my wares". There's a similar aggressiveness here that exists throughout the ME, so I was used to this sales technique. Yes there is good customer service, but one has to wear a certain metal jacket on the pocketbook AND  the heart. Because they are "good" at making you feel guilty if you don't purchase more.

Right at the border there were two men who tried very hard to get me to purchase items. One was successful, the other was not. Both used charm, guilt, hard sell and desperation as a part of their scheme. I can't say why one was more successful than the other--maybe I was worn down, maybe I felt sorry, maybe because he put the item in my hard and then kept haranguing me to give him more money (after telling me I could give what I wanted!). As I go through these experiences I always think I would love to get these guys into a classroom and have them talk about the theory and logic behind Hard Sell. I used to want get a Kirby Vacumn Salesman, a Used Car Salesman and a traveling Mormon (7th Day Adventist, etc) in a classroom and quiz them on their techniques and hard skin.

WHOA--I just re-read what I wrote and yes I am all over the place. Sorry-blame it on jet lag, blame it on trying to sound smart while drinking my 3rd cup of coffee and eating my chocolate cake (Hey-I had to eat it, it's the day after Shabbat!) Please excuse my ramblings.

What I'm trying to say is that I am so glad I have an opportunity to experience this "forbidden" culture. I am enjoying myself, learning a lot and just beginning to process all of what I am seeing and feeling. Tomorrow I meet up with Anna, who has been living here since August. I can't wait to see her (for obvious reasons) but I also am curious to see what she thinks after living here.

And now, I'm off to the Dead Sea a place where I've been before, except on the other side of the "Lake". We'll see if it's Same-Same.

Oh, by the way… Shabbat is the holy day of Jews. I don't really understand it, but let me say this… I learned that the hotel has a special elevator for those celebrating Shabbat. I know I don't understand why, but "Scoop Brown" is definitely going to find out why.

Shalom!

WWYWTSJ? (What Would YOU wear to see Jesus?) Day 1 in Israel

This is what I chose to wear: Good ol' Red, White and Blue and be proud of my American Heritage. 

Touring through Jerusalem and Bethlehem was an unbelievable experience! There is SO much history: Religious, Cultural, Political.  Pictured here is the Dome of The Rock (where the Ark of the Covenent once stood. It's a very important Islamic site. AND very pretty.

This is where the manger stood… as in THE manager. Wow

 I'd like to believe that God/Allah/my Guardian Angels were smiling on me today as I toured. This is in the church where the manager stood. Actually, a Christian, Armenian AND Jewish churches now stand in this one spot. (they share)

And this lil window is in the spot where the Last Supper was held. Again, it's shared by Islam, Christian and Jewish faiths.

 Statue of King David. Almost as cute as my own David (you're welcome honey)

 This is where Mary, mother of Jesus has a tomb. Not that she's buried there… I found out today (after 54 years of being a Christian) that it is believed that Mary is "sleeping" in heaven and she didn't die. At least that's what the tour guide told me. And who am I to argue? It's his country!

 At the Wailing Wall, an important site in Jewish history. There's a whole lot that I learned today about this location. As the guide said "it's all we have left" (the Jewish people).

 The 11th station of the Cross where Jesus was nailed to the Cross. The mosaic depicts the event. This is in an amazing place where I finally broke down. Too much history and information to process. I rebounded though.

This is a Christian Franciscan priest (monk?) at the site where Jesus tomb was located. The line to see the actual tomb was three hours long so we walked around the outside. Still, quite overwhelming.

Sitting at the Istanbul Airport…without a beer ;-(

I am in Istanbul after a very long delay in Minneapolis getting to Toronto. We finally landed at 10pm last night giving me 30 minutes to clear customs and find my gate. I made it, but I am sure it was great comic relief watching the old lady huffing and puffing while running, dragging a robins egg blue suitcase.

My first introduction into what kind of adventure I am about to have came when I tried to exchange money for Israeli "shekels". NO WE DO NOT HAVE SHEKELS said the lady behind the currency exchange like I had offended her. Oops--sorry. I hope the nice person at the Tel Aviv airport can help me find money or it's going to be a REALLY interesting trip.

I am sitting in the exact chair I always sit in at the Istanbul airport (okay so I've only been here twice before, but I've always sat in the same chair). I am waiting patiently (since that is my new middle name) for the waiter to come and take my beer order. I figure it would be very rude (Ugly American-eque) to grab the beer from the Frenchman sitting to my left. Not that I NEED a beer, it's just that Turkish beer is very VERY good. I just wanted to experience it again. I even searched my blogfiles to find the picture of the beer I took last time I was here.

Oh well, no beer, no harm, no money spent (there David---aren't you proud of me?!)

Next time I write I'll be in Israel, hopefully safe--and with shekels in hand.

Cheers

AND THE ADVENTURE BEGINS….

See Nadine smiling at the gate of her plane to begin leg #1 on her trip of a lifetime. The route I've chosen (to save money) is Minneapolis-Toronto-Istanbul-Tel Aviv. I was SUPPOSED to leave Minneapolis at 4 pm Wednesday and arrive in Tel Aviv at 830 pm Thursday night.

See Nadine Smiling as she learns that the flight is delayed due to bad weather in the Toronto area. Oh well, it's not delayed too badly. She can still make her dinner plans with friends in the Toronto airport.

See Nadine Smile as she learns that the friends in Canada got stuck in their driveway (which is only 900 feet long) trying to leave for the airport. Sigh! Nadine will not be seeing friends that she hasn't seen in a number of years. Oh well, at least she's going to have lots of time in the airport to have a nice dinner, albeit alone.

See Nadine Smile (less brightly now) as she learns that the flight is delayed for a second time, this time only giving her 1.5 hours to make her next flight. Oh well, fortunately she is optimistic AND an experience traveller AND she knows that things like this are out of her control, so she can just deal with it.

See Nadine get out her credit card and get online because having the computer along is a great babysitter. This will keep Nadine smiling.

Stay tuned for details… the fun has only begun
(Nadine is still smiling….)

PACKING PACKING PACKING
Uffdah… what to put into one suitcase to last one month that includes climates of 68F, 33F, rain, sun and modest coverings?!
I started packing about three days ago and thought I had it covered. But then a last minute panic attack sent me back to the drawing board  (Drawing closet?) and ended with me switching suitcases with my daughter. She's not traveling with me, but I am bringing a full suitcase of her clothes. (SHE has clothes in three different countries, but that's another topic)
A smart person would have just three pairs of pants, 6 shirts, a coat and two pairs of shoes.
What fun is that?!
I'll let you know if I made the right decisions.

Hello? Are you there? It's me... Nadine

Dear Friends, Family and Random Blog readers

YES! I am still alive, and YES! I am enjoying life in Pelican Rapids. I've decided to renew the blog postings as I am preparing to take the trip of a "lifetime" (or at least this lifetime).

I will be gone for three weeks, travelling without David, but not necessarily alone.
My current plans (inshallah) are:
Feb 5 depart Minneapolis, via Toronto, via Istanbul to arrive in Tel Aviv on Feb. 6. Anna Leigh lives there (for a bit more) and I am visiting her (and the country). Unfortunately (OR I guess FORTUNATELY) she will be leaving Israel when I arrive as she's got an interview in North Carolina at Duke University. I'll be doing some site seeing, resting (and re-acclimating to the culture) until she returns. Stay tuned for pictures.
Feb 9 Anna returns to Israel. "HER PLAN" is that we rent a car and drive around areas of Israel that she's not seen. Again, stay tuned for Details.
Feb 10 and 11 I get to be HAPPY MAMMA as I watch Anna perform in the Hebrew University production of AIDA. She plays the role of a slave where she's got "A song AND a death scene".
Feb. 15 We depart Israel for Bremen, Germany, home of Jacobs University. Anna is returning there to finish up her last semester of undergrad.
Feb 16-18 I am hoping to be in Hamburg Germany, visiting Dietmar Bethge, the former 1980 Rotary Exchange student and his lovely wife.
Feb 18-22 I will be between Berlin (visiting German Dennis, Rotary Exchange student Pooja in Berlin) and/or Godsister Marion in Aachen. Details being worked out.
Feb 23-25 Travelling to Amsterdam and taking an opportunity to see her through local eyes.
Feb 25-March 1 Flying to Dublin, Ireland to see Kuwait friends JER and MR. Can't wait to see these fine ladies and explore Ireland through their eyes. JER is Irish and I've been "warned" that it's tough to keep up with her in a pub. We shall see.

Current plans is that it will be a planes, trains and automobiles type of adventure. I'm excited about seeing all of these sites--some of them for the first time, others as a re-visit.

I'll do my best to keep posting pictures and comments.
Thanks for reading and we'll write again next week!
NOW, it's time to pack.....