Update from the Road: Pictures from Israel

Before we move the blog on to Jordan proper, i thought it would be a good idea to share a few more pics with people from the past week in Israel.


Before the photos, want to add that we have been monitoring the political climate across the Arab world quite closely. Impossible not when the places where protests are happening are so close and the tension is increasing so quickly. Thankfully, all still appears well here in Jordan, an oasis of calm in this fast moving and seemingly out of control regional instability. Since we know that these thigns can move very, very fast and the flash point can come from seemingly nothing, we are keeping our heads low and doing what we can to avoid attention. Honestly, there is no palpable sense of tension on the streets here, at least in the downtown area of Amman where we are staying and spent the evening eating yummy and cheap falafel on the street and drinking refreshing iced lemonades in a cafe.

It is scary to see the violence and anger multiple across the region so quickly (and beyond to Europe) and we can only hope that tension eases soon before something as bad, or worse, than what has already happen takes place. Truthfully, even though everything is calm here I am somewhat relieved that our itinerary takes us out of Jordan to more secular locales in less than 48 hours.

 

Now, on to happier subjects; here are the pics.

Swimming in Med - Tel Aviv at sunset. The med feels absolutely perfect, incredibly refreshing.

 

Yummy spices in the market, i am really loving the Shawarma

 

The super impressive and tranquil Baha'i Gardens from the top of Mt Carmel

 

The Med from the ramparts of 5000 year old Akko

 

View across ancient Nazareth

 

Mu @ a roughly 5th century Mosque near the Isreal/Jordan border around Jericho

 

The dead sea, salt flats stretching out to the dying/drying sea. We actually drove the length of the Dead Sea on the Jordanian side of the sea this afternoon. Amazing to think that this massive body of water is over 400m below sea level.

 

The Negev desert, about 100k north of border crossing in eliat on our last monring in Isreal

 

Lastly, i am taking a bunch more pics on our travels that i can share on the blog. As a result, i wanted to share the urls for the entire albums. If you want to see more pics, check them out.

Full album from the John Muir Trail: https://picasaweb.google.com/107842809281323581448/JohnMuirTrail

Full album from first 5 days on the road: https://picasaweb.google.com/107842809281323581448/TheDreamDays15