Returning home
Wednesday was a serious day. We went to Yad Vashem which is distressing and makes me angry at the inhumanity of the Holocast. Afterwards we met Yahan a Jew who works against demolition of Palestinian houses. He showed us how Yad Vashem while an excellent museum has an agenda about Israel and is built on the site of demolished villages. We went to see the outskirts of a mental hospital where the village was where Palestinians were massacred in 1948 leading to evacuations. In the evening we had an excllent session with Christian and Mulsim young ladies - the account of the El Al search was disgusting and I will certainly l never fly with them again. I am still puzzling over apartheid parallels but there is hope that the women might change things.
Thursday 26.3.15 To the Dome of the Rock at 7 a.m. We were very priviledged to go into both mosques and the Muslims prayed under the actual rock. Wonderful stained glass and mosaics and decoration. The Al Aqsa mosque is huge – 7 aisles and most impressive. It was sad to hear about the fire and security problems. We then visited the museum with our guide and saw beautiful items and books. We left via the souk and had delicious apple strudel and coffee at the Austrian Hospice. I did a drawing of a minaret from the garden. We went on the roof which has a spectacular panoramic view of the city do did another sketch. We saw some nice crib figures and they said come back with credit card. We visited the Garden tomb on the way back – very peaceful. After lunch went with Barbara to the Palestine heritage museum which has an interesting collection and the director took us round. We saw a fabulous book on the Dome of the Rock. We walked to Sambuca and bought a wooden angel and spices. The final discussion was good but cut short so the Muslims could go to Al Aqsa to pray. The Dean provided drinks in his apartment and we had lamb for the final banquet and then we had presentation of certificates with lovely tiles from the college.
Thursday 26.3.15 To the Dome of the Rock at 7 a.m. We were very priviledged to go into both mosques and the Muslims prayed under the actual rock. Wonderful stained glass and mosaics and decoration. The Al Aqsa mosque is huge – 7 aisles and most impressive. It was sad to hear about the fire and security problems. We then visited the museum with our guide and saw beautiful items and books. We left via the souk and had delicious apple strudel and coffee at the Austrian Hospice. I did a drawing of a minaret from the garden. We went on the roof which has a spectacular panoramic view of the city do did another sketch. We saw some nice crib figures and they said come back with credit card. We visited the Garden tomb on the way back – very peaceful. After lunch went with Barbara to the Palestine heritage museum which has an interesting collection and the director took us round. We saw a fabulous book on the Dome of the Rock. We walked to Sambuca and bought a wooden angel and spices. The final discussion was good but cut short so the Muslims could go to Al Aqsa to pray. The Dean provided drinks in his apartment and we had lamb for the final banquet and then we had presentation of certificates with lovely tiles from the college.
Friday woke early and up for 7 a.m. Eucharist with Richard
in the cathedral. Clocks went forward an hour. I read and we sang 2 hymns.
Amjan interviewed me for the website. We set off to go on the walls but found
that you had to get on at the Jaffa gate and found them closed! We had tried at
the Austrian hospice again but did not have enough cash so got cribs at the
Greek Orthodox shop. Later Barbara gave us the figures which was very kind of
her! We left at 1.20 and got to the airport OK. The questioning was quite
simple and we got through without a hitch. The others went a different way for
the Luton flight and several were questioned. We finally left at 5.50 and landed at Heathrow at 9 - got the car OK and drove home. 2 Tablets to read and picture in Catena with William - straight to bed.
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