It was a hazy February afternoon in 2014 when I made the hike up to the Mount of Olives, a mountain ridge venerated by the Jewish, Christians and Muslims alike.
I passed through vast Jewish cemeteries, a few pilgrims and tourists and some churches and other historical sites before I halted at the peak and sat for a while witnessing 5000 years of history right in front of me. I did overhear some people talking about vandals and troublemakers that roam around but I was for some reason high on adrenaline and totally undeterred. It was getting a bit dark as I started my descent but I returned to the old city in one piece and with a great sense of accomplishment.
The pictures I took could have been way better. But thanks to my photography skills and unconducive weather, they were rather low on quality. But what makes them special are the glimpses of the layers of history laid over one another. Cutting through the Jewish cemeteries on the mountain, through the valley, Muslim graveyards around the old city wall and the Golden gate(which happens to be sealed), your eyes finally settle on the Temple Mount. The golden dome and the Al-Aqsa Mosque make you think of what all went here. Perhaps, I would have to spend countless hours to write about the significance of this walled city.
What started as a mere curiosity after watching a Hollywood classic, culminated in a week long trip to the holy land, wandering through the streets, witnessing rich culture and traditions, taking a chance and interacting with strangers and in the end making some good friends all the way! While I did some good research before I stepped into Israel, what I regret the most is my failure to write about my trip.
As I embark on my next adventure in exactly a month, I feel this is the time for me to be a bit more motivated to start blogging about my adventures. As one would expect, this is not only a way for me to reminisce these experiences easily, but also an opportunity for my friends and family to learn about my little explorations.
But wait, I don’t mean to limit this to a travelogue. To begin with, I do have some other interests and second I am not such a voracious traveler that I can generate content about traveling on a regular basis.
How about wine, food, TV, History? And I am not sure what else my life has in store for me!
Thanks.
A blog about nothing. 