Jerusalem

   

... how West Bank was suddenly no longer just something on TV but something outside the car window, how rain swept through the Mount of Olives, how the Jaffa Gate led to some of the quarters (the Jewish, the Muslim, the Christian and the Armenian), how the call for Shabbat echoed, how the faithful prayed in front of wall filled with messages, and how sweets tired cheeks and sahlab warmed hands.

Tel Aviv

ברוכים הבאים תל אביב

Vibrant and young; from the beach, cafes, markets all the way to Old Jaffa with amazing hosts.

Happy New Year, 2011.

Eilat

A grand total of 18 hours, the most times officials hopped in and out for document check, the best view al lado, the slickest crossing in a visual way (with cafe attached), and the very direct "Why?"(to which I still don't understand why I did not reply with MY); Together with what was merely the equivalent of Farmers, I will remember Eilat for the restoration of normality. This is what happens when you have standards.

Sharm el Sheikh

as good as it gets

 

As opposed to most obvious for the Red, this was where "the most elegant outfit" was found at the Old Market, where the premise of Camel was like the set of an American sitcom, where we befriended (or befiended) Mohammed, where the unusual waterfall (and later the solid precipitation) kept us well at sb like home... none of this would have any made sense without Ozge and Deniz needless to say.

Luxor

as good as it gets

Karnak was impressive. Most good things in the valleys though, either remain as mental images, or there is always the internet. Although walking along the Nile was not half as exciting as imagined, and way too many minutes were spent on the phone, there were also things like the red tent of mourning, Bob Marley, the most happening street corner and the street food, Egyptian stuffed pigeon....

and the world in Arabic.