Views from Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam

Sunset toward Tel Aviv - Jaffa.

The beautiful Alayon Valley.

The Latrun Monastery.

Serene's tree -- a gift for my daughter when she was born, planted at the Fred Segal Friendship Library at Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam. See post: http://jetsetmom.blogspot.com/2011/02/tree-planting-at-neve-shalomwahat-al.html

Few things are harder for me as a mother than to leave my kids at home, while I fly off to some place far away. The greater the distance between us -- and the more number of days away -- the harder the goodbye. One of the few things that eases the empty heart is going to places I love. No where is that more true than my home away from home at Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam, the "Oasis of Peace."  My extended family and friends who live in this special village established by Palestinians and Jews who have made a determined effort to live, work and educate their children together set an example for not only the Middle East, but the world. They are proof that people embroiled in a long-standing, bitter conflict can still find ways to respect and understand each other. My work takes me here a few times each year, and as much as I miss my own children, I hope that my small efforts lend its way toward a more peaceful future for them, the children at the "Oasis of Peace" and all those in Israel-Palestine.

On the road to Jericho, Palestine

On the road to Jericho -- mama & baby camel.

Baby Camel!

Downtown Jericho.

Downtown Jericho.

Lunch in Jericho.

Delicious!

Making bread.

Sweets.

A few years ago, a colleague and I started making multiple trips to Israel-Palestine and Jordan. During one of those first trips, a rental car agency warned us to be very careful driving at night as camels tend to wander onto the roads. I grew up in the Midwest so I know the damage a deer can do to vehicle. I didn't want to imagine what a camel could do. We diligently went on "camel watch" each time we took to the roads after dark. But, we never saw a camel. During our most recent trip to the region, we finally got to see camels roaming the roads. We've never been more excited to see a mother and her calf wondering along the roadside near Jericho.

The city of Jericho may be one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities on earth. Archaeologists have unearthed remains dating back 11,000 years. Today, Jericho is located in the West Bank, Palestine some 850 feet below sea level not far from the banks of the Dead Sea. Its Jericho Cable Car whizzes tourists to the Mount of Temptation in just five minutes. From there its just a short walk to an ancient monastery chiseled in the mountain side. A great place for lunch -- the people are friendly, the food is delicious and nothing beats the desserts!

Mudding it Up at the Dead Sea

Covered in Mud at the Dead Sea.

Salt!

View from the Beach.

That's me -- impossible to drown in the Dead Sea.

The shores of the Dead Sea are nearly 1400 feet below sea level making it the lowest elevation on land on earth. It is also one of the world's saltiest bodies of water. Its salinity makes it impossible for any life forms to flourish, as well as easily possible to float. It is 8 times saltier than the ocean. The Dead Sea has attracted visitors for thousands of years where tourists slather on mud from its banks and bob freely in the waves.

Climbing Masada -- The Snake Trail

Masada is an ancient fortification overlooking the Dead Sea dating back to between 31-37 BC. During the siege of Masada by Roman Troops, more than 960 Jews committed mass suicide rather than fall at the hands of a Roman invasion. Its cliffs are 1300 feet high. Its takes about 45 minutes to hike the Snake Trail straight up or less than 5 minutes by cable car. Sunrise brings the coolest weather and the best light for photos. At 6am, just as the sun was rising, I hiked straight up its Snake Trail -- more than 700 steps, so that I could always claim to have conquered it one step at a time.

Arafat's Tomb in Palestine

Built next to the compound where he had his headquarters for many years, this mausoleum contains the tomb of Yasser Arafat, a mosque and a garden surrounded by water. An honor guard stands at his tomb, the water symbolizes a journey since it was his desire to be buried in Jerusalem. A laser beam points to Jerusalem from the top of the minaret. (See: http://www.palestinepilgrimage.org.uk/places-to-visit-in-the-holy-land/ramalah/arafats-tomb/)

From Palestine to Mahmoud Darwish

The people of Palestine built the Mahmoud Darwish Museum. No foreign donations were accepted.

Memorial to Mahmoud Darwish where he is buried.

The Mahmoud Darwish Museum is part of the cultural center of Ramallah.

An outdoor theater at the museum seats more than 500 persons.

The Mahmoud Darwish Museum opened in 2012.

Steps leading up to the museum.

Perhaps no one is more loved by the Palestinian people than Mahmoud Darwish. Buried in Ramallah, West Bank, Palestine, Mahmoud Darwish (1941-2008) was Palestine's National Poet. An author and a poet, Darwish's literary works are cherished at the Mahmoud Darwish Museum (Al-Biryeh Garden). In his work, Palestine became a metaphor for the loss of Eden, birth and resurrection, and the anguish of dispossession and exile.

Qalandia Checkpoint entering Ramallah, Palestine

Entering the city of Ramallah.

Israeli guard tower at Qalandia Checkpoint.

Graffiti on Wall of President Yasir Arafat and Marwan Barghouti.

This road leads [to] the Palestinian Authority. The entrance for Israeli Citizens is Forbidden, Dangerous to your lives, and is against the Israeli law.

The city of Ramallah located in the West Bank, Palestine is just 6 miles north of Jerusalem, but it will take you an hour to get there either through the Qalandia Checkpoint or on roads that lead around the Separation (Apartheid) Wall. It is the defacto captial of the Palestinian Authority and serves as a strong political, economic and cultural center for the Palestinians. Entrance for Israeli Citizens is forbidden, as is exit for the Palestinian residents who live locked under Israeli military control.

I have visited Ramallah dozens of times in during the last 16 years -- and almost 40 trips to Israel-Palestine. The food is amazing. The hospitality is always warm. And, the city offers great hope for the future of Palestine. I pass easily through checkpoints using my American passport, but for Palestinians who aren't allowed to pass through at all -- it is a prison.