[matilda] In Tiberias

[Benjamin Major]

Have just arrived in Tiberias, Israel, today. The crossing went fine- the 
Jordan valley is very beautiful. Yesterday I went with Magdilana and Alex to 
Umm Qais on a tip off from the owner of an internet cafe who said that it 
was a lovely place- it was, a real hidden gem! Imagine it- a hill top Roman 
and Byzantine city with extensive remains of the collanaded street and 
basillicas- with the most magnificant views you can imagine, from there you 
could see Jordan, Syria, Israel and Lebabnon- the Golan heights right in 
front, and the sun setting over Israel. It is a long way from the desert 
now- everything is very green.

So yes, the crossing went well. The valley was peaceful, I had to walk for a 
while; quiet- birds were singing, people working in the fields; then all of 
a sudden come military checkpoints, and a pleathora of departure and arrival 
points. Once again I came across the strange phenomena of the Israel customs 
being entirely staffed by females. Groups of soilders you saw at the bus 
station were also mixed males and females; it is also funny to see women 
once again wearing liberal clothing after a month of veils- a reminder that 
I have left the Islamic world far behind, even though all I've done is 
crossed a river.

Here, cars with western music blasting out of the windows patrol town. Even 
on the peaceful Tirberias lake, or Sea of Galilee, which I went to see at 
dusk today where it was looking misty and enticing, there is a disco boat 
going up and down the lake that fills the otherwise quiet evening with 
thumping samba sounds and people having fun. Call me a ridiculous puritan (I 
am), but I can't see what's so fun about it; I want my coffee shops back : (

I am hoping to find a hiking route tommorow. I hope this is possible- it is 
the Jewish holiday now till sundown on Saturday so no public transport will 
be running.

Good evening all.

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