being in the back of a station wagon, facing the other way. There was also a water container in the back that leaked, but only on my side. Thus, when we finally got to the trail head, not only was I totally carsick, but the bottom of my backpack was soaked, along with the seat of my jeans. The hike up was fun, we followed our Bedouin drivers and just climbed straight up the mountain side. It would have been more fun for me if the world hadn’t been tilting the entire way. Needless to say, it took me a bit longer to get to the top.But oh my goodness. The view! The view put the one at the Monastery and the High Place to shame! Absolutely phenomenal. You could see all the way to Israel
There’s a little shrine built at the top. The tomb itself was a big stone box like thing with Hebrew writing on it. Next to it was a 
guestbook, which we all signed. The shrine is a holy place for Muslims, and it can double as a mosque, as was evidenced by the presence of a qibla (the niche in the wall of mosques that points towards Mecca) and rugs. You can climb up on the roof of the shrine, up very narrow steep stairs, and that’s where we ate our snack and hung out. The breeze up there felt wonderful, and getting some food and water in me helped get rid of the dizziness. Even though there wasn’t as much to see as some of the other sites we’ve been at, I think it’s one of my favorite places we’ve been to.
I made a comment while we were up on the roof, gazing at the desert spread out before us, “Can you imagine wandering around here for 40 years?”. The Old Testament seems a bit more real where you’re looking at the desert where the Israelites lived. And the Bedouins in their tents are probably very similar to how the ancient people in the area lived.
We stayed up there for awhile, then hiked down. Just FYI, the hill was steep. Very steep. And the Bedouin drivers leapt down it like they were one of the goats they shepherd. On the way back, Caleb, Cameron, Thomasina and I grabbed the back of an open truck. It was dusty and bumpy and MUCH more fun:
Interesting cultural note: The old man in the back wouldn't talk to me or Thomasina. He only greeted Caleb and Cameron, and when he asked a question about me (how tall I was, how old I was), he didn't ask me, he asked Caleb. And when I answered, he didn't look at me. It's so different. The only attention we get here is catcalls from young men in the village when we walk by ("Very nice!!!"). Other than that, we're pretty much ignored (except by some very kind shopkeepers =]). I can't wait to get back to a place where I can walk down the street and I don't have to avoid looking men straight in the eye, and I can wear shorts, and if someone catcalls me I can do something back, and I can talk to men and be treated like an equal. It's so frustrating.
In his defense, the old man wasn't trying to be rude or put women down. He was actually acting in what he considered a very respectful way. But still...
Four more days here. Wow. How does time go so fast?
guestbook, which we all signed. The shrine is a holy place for Muslims, and it can double as a mosque, as was evidenced by the presence of a qibla (the niche in the wall of mosques that points towards Mecca) and rugs. You can climb up on the roof of the shrine, up very narrow steep stairs, and that’s where we ate our snack and hung out. The breeze up there felt wonderful, and getting some food and water in me helped get rid of the dizziness. Even though there wasn’t as much to see as some of the other sites we’ve been at, I think it’s one of my favorite places we’ve been to.
I made a comment while we were up on the roof, gazing at the desert spread out before us, “Can you imagine wandering around here for 40 years?”. The Old Testament seems a bit more real where you’re looking at the desert where the Israelites lived. And the Bedouins in their tents are probably very similar to how the ancient people in the area lived.
We stayed up there for awhile, then hiked down. Just FYI, the hill was steep. Very steep. And the Bedouin drivers leapt down it like they were one of the goats they shepherd. On the way back, Caleb, Cameron, Thomasina and I grabbed the back of an open truck. It was dusty and bumpy and MUCH more fun:
Interesting cultural note: The old man in the back wouldn't talk to me or Thomasina. He only greeted Caleb and Cameron, and when he asked a question about me (how tall I was, how old I was), he didn't ask me, he asked Caleb. And when I answered, he didn't look at me. It's so different. The only attention we get here is catcalls from young men in the village when we walk by ("Very nice!!!"). Other than that, we're pretty much ignored (except by some very kind shopkeepers =]). I can't wait to get back to a place where I can walk down the street and I don't have to avoid looking men straight in the eye, and I can wear shorts, and if someone catcalls me I can do something back, and I can talk to men and be treated like an equal. It's so frustrating.
In his defense, the old man wasn't trying to be rude or put women down. He was actually acting in what he considered a very respectful way. But still...
Four more days here. Wow. How does time go so fast?
No comments:
Post a Comment