Puffins on Lunga
I actually took upwards of 200 pictures… but here are a few of the best:
Category: Travel
More Scotland
St. Conan’s Kirk Ferry to Kerrera Thistle and Gylen Castle (Kerrera) Foxgloves on Kerrara
England and Scotland
Robin (the UK kind) sitting in the garden Some flowers along the Thames Jedburgh Abby- destroyed in the 1500’s Scottish Highlands along the walk from our B & B
Reflections from Sderot
Visiting Sderot felt a bit too much like disaster tourism. I kept wondering how those who live there felt when we drove by in our bus. Are they used to it? Do they consider visitors flooding their town to be a second wave of disruption, preventing them from getting on with the normal lives that I’m sure they want to live? I would have liked to ask that question to someone in Sderot, but unfortunately the group wasn’t given this opportunity. We did however, have a fascinating meeting with the mayor of Sderot, David Buskila. Buskila has the difficult role of trying to restore order to a town filled with constant disruption. He can quickly quote the number of rockets that fall in a given year, and describes vividly the 15 seconds between when an alert is issued and the rockets land. Of the statistics that was most difficult to hear, we learned that 25% of the residents of Sderot are afflicted with post traumatic stress disorder. But what was most surprising was what he said next: The children in Gaza are also suffering. Do you think they are responsible for this violence either? How can their parents vote freely
Love- of what exactly?
I remember the first time I got off the plane in Tel Aviv. The excitement at every little thing. Falling in love with Israel, my country.The foreign landscapeThe ancient treesThe street signs in Hebrew, Arabic and EnglishCNN internationalSpeaking Hebrew to ‘real’ IsraelisThe sense of historyJerusalem stone Between that visit and now, I’ve been in Israel a number of times.Each visit less and less exotic. This time, as I sat in the sherut from the airport to Yerusahalyimwith the sun setting golden over the Jerusalem mountainsand the moon, nearly full faintly on display,It should be more romantic.Instead I felt empty. Perhaps it was not Israel that I lovedbut traveling. Since that first visit to IsraelI’ve seen more foreign landscapesmore ancient treesstreet signs in many languages.I’ve watched other tv channelsspoken in more languagesand seen more historyand more stones. There are memories I relish moreand places where I have felt more free.What is Israel to me?Why do I feel so empty?
Scenes from Marrakech
A few more photos taken on our last day here. Outside Mosque Mouassine Mosque de la Koutoubia Lanterns for sale in Place de Ferblantiers (Tim’s favourite place name in all of Marrkech)
Marrakech- מלאכות
This morning we went to the tanneries and the dyers’ market. Men working leather Piles of skins mid-process Trying out the finished product (we ended up buying the scarf) Newly dyed yarn.
Hiking in the Atlas Mountains
Today we got out of the busy city and went hiking near Imlil in the Atlas Mountains. Loads of fun! Mosque Bab Doukala from the rooftoop of the riad (just around sunrise) The view on the hike Women doing laundry- taken from the rooftop when we had lunch villages along the hike view on the way down.
Marrakech day 1.5
Saw more of the city, but most of it is moving so quickly (or so dark) that it’s hard to get sharp photographs. Here are a few highlights: Donkey and cart- these negotiate the alleyways along with mopeds and motorbikes and lots of people. Stork with the High Atlas mountains (we’re going there tomorrow) Stork on the walls of Palais El Badi- It was in use for less than 100 years! Now it’s a home for storks and pigeons.
Marrakech Day .5
We’re arrived safely, and all is (insha alla) well. Here are a few pics to prove it: Tim waiting for the train at Casablanca airport- enjoying the station’s free (!) internet Details at Medrassa Ben Youseff Chair at Medrassa Ben Youseff Tim at Medrassa ben Youseff Details at Medrassa Ben Youseff Tim’s parents are here too (admiring the details at Medrassa ben Youseff). We’re all having a good time