Eight months ago, Yoela resigned from her job with both hope and fear. Hope that she would be able to reinvent herself, and fear that it might be too late, that she didn't have what it takes, that she wasn't enough. In short, what we all tell ourselves at some point. She gave herself six months to achieve something, turned the hourglass, and started small - a garden on the roof of a building. Maybe coffee and sandwiches, maybe yoga. How many tons of soil are even allowed on this roof?

Two days went by, and she received a strange message from someone in South Africa - can you write me a few words about yourself?

Yada yada yada

In two days, we are flying to Costa Rica, after countless goodbyes, tears, and a lot of love. I feel like I've run out of words a long time ago, that my past is already quite far from me, and the future is still not available in my imagination. Wandering in space, looking for a foothold. Then, in a moment of weakness, three promises to the oracle, Nitzan - I will stop eating sugar, we will arrive at Midburn next year, I will write a blog for Shabbat.

So far, it sounds really boring to me, but we'll see.

Jerusalem, Day 3

Today in the morning we took the tram to Yad Vashem, also known as the Holocaust Museum. We had obtained free tickets for the museum in advance and were supposed to be there at 11 o'clock.

The tram, also known as the streetcar line of Jerusalem, is close to our hotel. Tickets can be obtained from the machine and are quite easy to get. Payment can be made in cash or by credit card.

We treated ourselves to a day ticket, which costs 17.5 shekels with the rechargeable card, which is about 4.40 EUR. For that, we can take as many rides as we want with the tram and all the buses throughout the day.

So we took the tram, which feels like it departs every 5 minutes towards Mount Herzl. This terminal is also our destination. From there, it's only a few meters to Yad Vashem.

Upon our arrival, we exchanged our online tickets for a postcard-sized piece of paper, which granted us entry to the museum. The ticket exchange takes place in the first building. There, you can also buy an overview map for 12 shekels (3 EUR) or rent an audio guide for 30 shekels (7.50 EUR). In the same entrance building, there are restrooms and a café where we will conclude our visit later with a cool drink. But first, we enter the museum on time. It is built in a triangular shape. Conclusion: Super well done! There are countless exhibits here on the topic of the Holocaust. During World War II, the Nazis killed almost six million European Jews. We refer to this genocide as the Holocaust.

I have rarely seen such a touching museum. You walk in a zigzag through a prismatic, triangular building that is divided into many smaller rooms. There are TVs everywhere, on which eyewitnesses talk about their lives. Many signs in Hebrew and English explain the exhibited items. Everything is very vivid, factual, and at the same time moving.

At the other end of the prism, you leave the museum and have a unique view of the new Jerusalem.

But Yad Vashem is not finished yet. It is followed by a huge area with additional memorial halls and lots of greenery. You can constantly find sculptures and art that fit into the history and reflect the history.

Unfortunately, taking photos is not allowed in the museum, so I have to rely on public images.

Taking photos is allowed again in the outdoor area. We take the opportunity to play the 5 lab caches at Yad Vashem and visit the Rememberance Hall, the Children's Hall, and other places in the sun and in the green. The labs are well placed, so it's a nice tour.

We conclude our visit to the Holocaust Museum with a cold drink and a short visit to the souvenir shop. Overall, our conclusion is that it is very well done. The topic is familiar to us, many people in our group have already visited concentration camps in person, so it was less interesting to walk through a reconstructed gate with the inscription "Arbeit macht Frei". The audience here is more than international and maybe some people are dealing with this sad chapter of history for the first time.

For me, I then took the tram part of the way back to the market stop, which is named among the top 10 attractions of Jerusalem. The Mahane Yehuda Market is located in the center of Jerusalem and reflects the original Jewish everyday life (quote from the IsraelMagazine). Actually, I imagined it to be bigger. However, it spreads across several streets and narrow alleys, so you may not be able to perceive its size correctly. The Mahane Yehuda is considered THE food market of the city of Jerusalem. You can find everything from fruits and vegetables to baked goods, fish, and meat here. And sweets!!!! The market covers more than 1500 meters. You can find locals and tourists alike here. The vendors are happy to offer something to taste. Noise, smells, and lots of vibrant colors - you can marvel at something new on every corner.

We were particularly drawn to the dried fruit in small cubes, which is used to make tea. But it is also delicious when eaten raw.

And since admiring so much fruit, vegetables, meat, fish, and sweet and savory pastries makes you hungry, we sit in the "food street". Here, you can get something to eat from the kitchen or from one of the many small stands. There are fish and chips as well as falafel and shawarma.

After so many impressions for the soul, for the nose and eyes, and the enjoyment of a delicious meal, the day comes to an end for me.

While you can see many photos of Petra, Jordan from the Geocacher group in Israel today, I took plenty of time to visit the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem.

As it happens when you have a lot of time, I left much too late and so I could already feel the midday heat when I left the hotel.

I tried to walk in the shade of the houses for the few meters from our traditional accommodation to Damascus Gate, one of the four entrances to the Old City.

It noticeably got cooler after entering the Old City. And unlike yesterday's Saturday, there were significantly fewer tourist groups around. Today, strolling along the stands was cozy. But that wasn't my goal today.

I took the path from the Damascus Gate straight ahead to reach the Wailing Wall, the Western Wall.

After a brief security scan, I was already on the large square in front of the Wailing Wall.

There were significantly more tourists here than I expected. And the piece of wall that men and women share for their suffering is much smaller than I thought.

I stood somewhat undecided on the square. There is little instruction on how to behave. I had obtained some information from a sign before the security check. No eating or smoking, appropriate clothing, no cellphones, and no photos on the Sabbath and Jewish holidays. Okay, today is Sunday, so am I allowed to take photos?

What always helps is looking at what locals do. Or other tourists, in this case preferably of the same sex. And it really helped. Taking photos, even of police or people up close, seemed to be no problem. I could have even stepped forward to the women's side towards the Wailing Wall. But that wasn't my intention at all. So I found a spot on a ramp, opposite the Western Wall. The spot was in the shade, slightly elevated, and hardly anyone passed by there. I actually endured there for about 2 hours and observed the colorful bustle on the square.

As I said before, I had imagined the piece of wall to be larger, i.e. wider. And I had imagined it to be more lamenting. It is anything but quiet on the square. Not surprising with so many people, visitor groups with guides, etc. But I couldn't even hear loud wailing at the wall up close.... Everything is calm and relaxed. The police officers present everywhere are also relaxed. Yes, there are many female uniformed individuals with machine guns in hand. Still relaxed, even when they walk across the square in large numbers. I didn't feel insecure for a second regarding safety. Rather, I felt uncertain about how to behave.

I once again had to realize that I started this trip with too little information.

Since I am also a geocacher, I tried to solve the local Earthcache on the square. As always, I still need to do some research, but the direction for the answers is clear. The main focus of the Western Wall Earthcache, GC6F370, is on the plants growing out of many cracks in the wall.

I left the Western Wall square with many, many colorful impressions. It would be a shame not to have visited this place.

Beforehand, there were ideas to take public transportation to the Mount of Olives and then take a leisurely walk through the Garden of Gethsemane towards the Old City of Jerusalem. This idea appealed to most participants, so after a delicious typical breakfast, we headed towards the bus station.

The hotel is not far away, and it didn't take long to find the right bus. The ride to the Mount of Olives didn't take long, but it saved us some altitude.

Once there, we followed the crowds of tourists (yes, it's quite busy here) and first visited the last footprint of Christ in the Chapel of the Ascension. The Chapel of the Ascension is located on the highest point of the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem, east of the Old City. It is believed to be the place from where Jesus ascended to heaven.

Next, our path led us to the Pater Noster Church on the Mount of Olives. Here, the Lord's Prayer is written in 140 languages on the walls. Honestly, the line was too long for us, so we enjoyed the view from the terrace and took some photos. The church is said to have been built on the spot where Jesus taught his disciples the Lord's Prayer.

We then continued our journey down many flights of stairs towards the Garden of Gethsemane. We initially passed by the entrance and visited an observation deck. The path we had just taken led us back down almost to the level of the Mount of Olives, passing through a cemetery with newer graves. We took some beautiful photos, snapped selfies overlooking the Old City of Jerusalem, and then entered the Garden of Gethsemane through the impressive entrance facade of the Church of All Nations.

By now, our group had spread out a bit, as there were slower runners, faster runners, photographers, and the group composition almost naturally formed.

After visiting the Church of All Nations, we went to the Tomb of Mary. Again, countless people were there - tourists, photographers, believers - all mixing together, and you could see various forms of faith.

Next, we made the short ascent to Lions Gate, one of the gates of the Old City of Jerusalem.

We let ourselves wander through the Old City, grabbing snacks or having freshly squeezed lemon juice - and simply enjoying the experience.

One of our group's fixed points of the day followed, and we met at the Austrian Hospice. A fantastic event venue, a spot was reserved for us, and we were greeted with a warm "welcome." Here, we finally had the opportunity to enjoy the promised Sachertorte, which was denied to us on the last trip to Vienna. Today, in the Austrian café in the heart of the Old City of Jerusalem, the coveted cake was available and just right for the afternoon. When local geocachers and the reviewer responsible for all of Israel also showed up, the day was perfect.

We are exploring as geocachers in a very historically significant country. And whatever one may believe - this day in Jerusalem was truly impressive.

Yesterday I went on a 4-hour tour of the Old City of Jerusalem. I traveled there by train. You book the ticket on the RAF card. 37 ILS there and back. 40 minutes ride - no inspections whatsoever. Take the tram to Jaffa Gate. Then Old City, Church, Western Wall, and Temple Mount.

Conclusion: You can do the whole thing on your own, without a guide. You won't be bothered anywhere - not even for buying things. There are nice things there and cheap.

Today's weather is rather changeable, so let's go to Haifa today. It's a 1.5-hour train ride. I have to be back on the train by 3 pm at the latest, as there are no more trains after that. Taking the train was easy - not much different from ours, and the signs are also in English.

In Haifa, it's best to go directly to the bus at the train station and take bus 136, which goes all the way up.

I walked a bit, you can see the golden dome from below. First, let's have a cappuccino - didn't sleep much last night. The gardens are beautiful. Unfortunately, tourists are currently not allowed inside. I talked to a tourist couple. Of course, they were from Cologne :))

After asking around, we found the bus to go up.

The view from the top was magnificent.

Walking down is very pleasant. Then I took the bus to Mc Donald's - that's automatically downtown.

The girl from my room said I must try falafel. So I searched with Google and found it - so delicious - they really deserve their 5 stars and it's only 15 ILS.

Then I walked down slowly to the train station, feeling pleasantly full. It was really nice weather for that. The train was already there at 2:30 pm. But first, I had to charge my phone. They have charging stations with all plugs at the train stations.

On the train back, I lay down and slept - it's good to be only 5'3" tall.

Today it is very hot and the sea is calm, so in the morning we will go to the beach and in the afternoon to Carmel Market. I will spend some time in the water. You have to walk far because it is very shallow. Then cook some food and quickly go to the market. It's only 15 minutes away. Bought delicious grapefruit and melon. But away from the main path, in the side streets. The prices at the market are more than abstract. Now I'm going to Jaffa - walk around the old city a bit.

Today is the last time I change hostels. It goes to the boutique hostel right on my favorite beach. I hope the rooms are nice. I'm at the Gia on the rooftop right now and planning the next few days. I have 2 gays in the room - weird guys. People here aren't up for a conversation. But you can sleep well here.

It might not be a good idea to move to a beachfront hostel on Independence Day because everyone is really on the beach watching the Flug Show.

The Boutique Hostel is the opposite of the Gia Hostel. Chic on the outside and more than worn on the inside. I have no idea where the high ratings come from. I changed straight from the 12-bed mixed room to a 6-bed women's room with a sea view. The kitchens in the hostels aren't all that great, but this one tops it. No cutlery and the stove doesn't look like it can be used. Showers are extra here, outside of the room. 2 floors and no elevator. Beds aren't great either.

25.4. Gia Hostel 2nd day

Wow - slept really well last night, just like at home. Had the room to myself. Since I was out all day yesterday, I had to get some groceries this morning for breakfast. The breakfast here at the hostel costs 49 ILS and there's hardly anything offered. So I went out and to my surprise, there was a great store right at the big intersection. Not shown by Google. The best so far. Found everything I need and not expensive. Products similar to Germany. Bread, brunch, sour cream, banana, pudding, cheese, tofu, milk - 72 ILS - 15 €.

Still have to go out today and recharge my RAF card and my SIM card, both are empty. So - the surroundings are really deceiving - everything is nearby - bus station right outside the door - shop to recharge the RAF card - phone shop for SIM cards - it's all there. Then I'll just go to Dizengoff for a short while and then back - cook some food. Today is my office day - transfers, laundry, etc. And today I'll update my blog for you, so I'll finally be up to date.

Eine Stunde Fahrt nach Jerusalem. Keinerlei Passkontrolle auf der ganzen Fahrt. Frage mich, warum ich das teil überhaupt mitschleppen musste. Dann Stop am Abraham Hostel in Jerusalem und neue Fahrgäste. Danach 1 h Fahrt nach Massada - Strecke sehr Berg und Tal - toll für die Ohren und viele Serpentinen. Dort 2 h Zeit - es soll angeblich 37 Grad sein - finde es angenehm warm mit leichtem Wind. Massada toll anzusehen und leichte Orientierung mit dem Plan. Wasser, Toiletten, Kaffee - alles da und normale Preise. Dann 20 minuten bis En Gedi - 1,5 h Zeit. Ist ganz anders als vorgestellt. Kaum Grün - keine Tiere zu sehen !!! und überhaupt keine Ausschilderung des Weges. Ich wandere seit ich klein bin und bin sportlich -aber das da war echt schwer zu laufen. Gestein mit Geröll drauf, nasse und rutschige Steine - durch Wasser laufen - Weg nur erkennbar, weil ab und zu an der Seite ein Geländer angebracht war - echt heftig. Wasserfälle sind toll aber sonst nicht viel zu sehen.

Great weather - so sunbathe on the beach. The water is too cold this time. But sunbathing is great. Rest in the afternoon and already packed a bit. Getting a birthday cake. In the evening, going to the bars on foot. There are 5 of us. Then off to the Thai restaurant. Thanks guys - I already miss you.

Left for a city tour to Tel Aviv Jaffa at 10:15 am until 1 pm. Very interesting - see photos. Then went shopping for food and cooked - spaghetti and tomato sauce - everything else is unaffordable.

Today I'm moving to the Abraham Hostel. It's located very centrally. Everything is easily accessible by bus and with Google, you always know where you are. It's a 5-minute walk from the bus to the hostel. The hostel is bigger - everything is a bit older - bed frames, mattresses, bedding, everything has seen better days, but it's okay. The rooms are spacious with a window on each side and curtains for darkening at night. I forgot to take pictures of the room. There are 12 beds and almost all of them are occupied. Breakfast is included and really delicious. There's water, cappuccino, and tea - everything you need. The rooftop is very nice. I went into the city in the afternoon. The houses here are really amazing and all different styles are next to each other - it's incredible.

Another girl is arriving - she's only staying for 1 day - it was cool to chat.

Today I took the bus to Gordon Beach - bus station 2 minutes away from the hostel. Bus 4 or 10 to the beach - only 5 minutes. This beach is really beautiful - clean water and not cold - there is an air show. I rented a beach chair with an umbrella - 6€. There is also delicious Greek food nearby. Super clean at the beach and everything is there, lockers, showers, etc.

07.-09.02.2022 • Once again, I got on the bus, this time for a 4.5-hour journey to the southernmost part of Israel, Eilat. I didn't have high expectations for the city, which according to reports from other travelers, is said to only offer expensive hotels and shopping malls. However, I can't say that my low expectations were met in any way. The city was incredibly expensive and dirty. It was a strange mix of grand and run-down buildings, streets full of cars but no pedestrians or signs of life. But the cherry on top was the cost of the PCR test that I needed for my planned border crossing into Jordan. 200€... So instead, I decided to make a detour west instead of heading east. A detour via Egypt, for which I didn't need a test and which turned out to be the right decision in hindsight.

31.01.-07.02.2022  •  From Jerusalem, I took the (free) bus to Kibbutz Ein Gedi, which is located on a hill directly by the Dead Sea. There, I managed to find the cheapest place to sleep in Israel: €12 per night for a whole 6 sqm where I could pitch my tent. I liked the place from the beginning and decided to spend a little longer here, enjoying the peace and quiet of the unique surrounding landscape, only occasionally interrupted by the reggae music from the camp or passing helicopters. Every day I met new people who rarely stayed for more than one night, so I got to know many of them in a short time. When I had to say goodbye to this special place after a whole week, I was a little bit sad... but the urge to move on was stronger...

28.-31.01.2022 • Free of charge, I continued my journey to Jerusalem and Hananel, a friend I had also met in Athens. On the first day, the city overwhelmed me with its diversity and strong military presence. It was completely different from what I had imagined. Instead of a sleepy, historic town, Jerusalem greeted me with modernity, heavy traffic, and a vibrant nightlife. I spent the first night on Hananel's sister's couch after an evening trip to the Dead Sea, where I immediately fell in love with the region. The Old City of Jerusalem was also very impressive, with Muslims, Jews, Christians, and various ethnicities seemingly coexisting peacefully. I spent two more days in a hostel, where I had the chance to meet many interesting people.

27.01.-28.01.2022  •  After a few more beautiful days with "extreme weather conditions" in Crete, it was time for everyone to say goodbye again. Everyone goes their own way. And mine brought me back to snow-covered Athens by plane on the 26th of January and 8 hours later to the largest city in Israel and at the same time the most expensive city in the world: Tel Aviv-Jaffa! I already felt the price difference when checking into the hostel. A whopping €16 for the cheapest hostel, which is twice the price of what I paid in Athens. 6 eggs, 250g of coffee, and a loaf of bread: €22. This unfortunate circumstance quickly drove me to the next city, where I was going to meet old acquaintances again.

Caesarea Maritima

There we could admire the magnificent city that King Herod built back then.
In addition to an amazing view of the sea, there was also the arena for the gladiator fights, as well as an amphitheater and the old and new harbor.

It's strange to know that countless people lost their lives on this spot for the amusement of Roman soldiers, and we are now strolling around here and have no idea about it (unless you've seen '300').

The theater was tested by us for its acoustics. Works perfectly ;).

We continued towards the Dead Sea.
Quickly grabbed an ice cream at the gas station (if you go to refuel tomorrow, please take a moment of remembrance for us: the price per liter is €1.93) and Kenan also learned that it is impolite to eat McDonald's junk (=meat) in an ice cream parlor (=milk). Got it?

As mentioned before, Israel is extremely diverse. We notice this now, especially as we drive through the desert after a day of forests, water, and animals, and there is nothing but sand as far as the eye can see and maybe a camel standing there (but it could also be a mirage).

Mud on the face and an air mattress feeling without an air mattress

When we arrived at the Dead Sea, the view and the experience of floating in the water made up for the proud price of €15/person (what an expensive public swimming pool). I still have salt in my ears.

Wherever the river flows, it brings life. Yes, the water of the Dead Sea becomes fresh, so that there are creatures everywhere in it. Ezekiel 47:9 ESV

Just a drop of this sea on your lips and you will realize...ok, so if this ever turns into fresh water, then it's really over.
So as far as my salt balance is concerned....it's covered.
For the next three months.
At least.
Well...at least I'm now free of impurities (and woe to me if I'm not).

New trend: Instead of bar hopping, now it's border hopping

Today we drove a total of six hours until we arrived at our next accommodation for the next two nights. From the Lebanese border to the Jordanian border. Kenan drives and drives as if it were his destiny. I have already pointed out to him several times that with his driving skills, he could easily get an LKW- or bus driver's license for this car 🤷‍♀️ (coming soon: Kenan's bus trips - Israel/Germany in just 24 hours).

Tomorrow we will visit the Masada fortress and then we will drive to En Gedi.

This is the synagogue mentioned yesterday, where Jesus taught. Here's the story:

Fifteen years ago, people in South America started praying about how they could support Israel. They had the impression of building a hotel in Magdala.
When construction began, they discovered a synagogue (the picture shows the pillars and the altar on which the Torah scrolls were read), the marketplace, some houses, and a harbor with fishing. It's amazing how it all came together, right? By the way, the hotel is currently being built right next door ;).

A church was built above the fishing area, with six (four are visible) chapels.
Don't they look amazing?

Each painting (except for the last picture, which is not painted but real 😉) points to a story that happened in or around Magdala.
Have fun pondering ;) (as a true influencer, I would now naturally give something away, but I'm an apprentice and haven't quite arrived in the social media business yet).

Next stop: Capernaum. The house where Peter lived with his mother-in-law and where she was healed by Jesus. Next to it is a synagogue.

By now, the thermometer has risen to 28°C and we need some cooling off. Solution? We get baptized!

That was a really special moment for all of us. Moshe traveled here together with his wife to baptize Paul and Romana in the Jordan River.
We weren't alone, but with some others from all over the world who celebrated with us, and some fish that somehow look bigger than they do in the photo....

31.03.2019

The journey began in the morning with a flight to Tel Aviv for a tour in the Holy Land. Already during the transfer to the hotel in Tel Aviv, one could clearly feel the rhythm of the city, which we later encountered in many other places - everywhere there was the sound of the best 90s trance and techno. The city itself has a very European and modern feel, with a beautiful beach promenade and an oriental market.

01.04.2019

After the travel group had gathered in the lobby and we had met our tour guide Benzi and bus driver Asmi, we went to Jaffa. From here, the area of present-day Tel Aviv was settled in the past and there is still an old Crusader site. We continued by bus through Tel Aviv to Caesarea. Here we visited an ancient city built by Herod in Roman times, of which parts such as the Hippodrome are still preserved. Then we visited Haifa, with a very good viewpoint over the city. In Akko, an ancient Crusader city, we stopped for a short visit and explored the small alleys and secrets of the medieval city. Amazing vaults and fortifications kept appearing, which is not surprising in such old cities that have been conquered and rebuilt over and over again. In the evening, we drove to our accommodation. It was located in a kibbutz. A kibbutz is a socialist-communist commune originally established as part of the settlement and development of the newly founded State of Israel. However, today in many kibbutzim, only the community spirit remains, and so there are also simple hotels in them. The bunker facilities between the dreamy cottages were alarming.

02.04.2019

A sacred day lies ahead. We went to the Sea of Galilee, where Jesus performed many miracles during his wild years. We visited Tabgha, the site of the miraculous multiplication of the loaves with the feeding of 5000 people, the mountain where the Catholic Sermon on the Mount is said to have taken place, with the church of the Beatitudes paid for by Mussolini, viewed the remains of a 2000-year-old ship from Jesus' time, and took a short boat trip on the Holy Sea. In addition, our guide took us to the Golan Heights that day to show us how close current events can sometimes take place. He showed us a mountain from which we could see the hard border with Syria and a UN security camp. Officially, Israel illegally annexed this area during the 1967 Six-Day War. However, on site, a much more complex picture always emerged, and one finds arguments for all parties involved in this more than 2000-year-old conflict over territories.

03.04.2019

We drove past the site of the miracle of the wine multiplication to Nazareth to visit the Annunciation Church. This is where the virgin Mary is said to have learned about the coming birth of Jesus from the Archangel Gabriel. Then we continued south. On the way, we visited a well-preserved mosaic floor from a synagogue about 2000 years old, which was quite trendy at the time. Jericho was also on the way, and we could catch a glimpse of the caves on a mountain where Jesus is said to have fasted and prayed for 40 days. In the oldest city in the world, we also bought tasty dates, which are abundant here. Jericho is located in the West Bank, another territory of Jordan that was illegally annexed by Israel at that time, where Palestinians still live autonomously to this day. Our Israeli guide showed us that both ethnic groups actually only want peace. However, this is very difficult with countless tribes, different perspectives on past events, deep differences in faith, etc. So the goal is to secure the status quo so that everyone can live in peace as much as possible. It is striking that progress and technology are far behind in Palestinian territories compared to what was seen in the core of Israel. In other words, it is clear that no money is being invested in these areas and that there are checkpoints and military border controls everywhere around these areas. A brief stop also showed us the spot where Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River. It was truly amazing how within a few kilometers the vegetation changed from lush green, blooming meadows to dried-up shrubs and finally to desert. Finally, we arrived at the lowest point on Earth - the Dead Sea, 400 meters below sea level - and slowly immersed ourselves in the water. You experience a strong buoyancy at about 34% salt content and float almost in the water. However, the water does not taste good and you should not get it in your face. A felt layer of oil forms on the skin, and you also do not dry out. But there is no better wellness experience, and we enjoyed the evening in the best weather.

04.04.2019

The next morning, we went to Masada. This is a mesa where Herod the Great built a fortress. In the year 70 AD, a heroic battle took place here that is part of Israel's history. The Romans besieged the fortress, on which 1000 Jews were said to have taken refuge, for several years, and after storming the fortress, they allegedly only found enemies who had already taken their own lives. The view was breathtaking, and we felt like we had arrived in the desert. We then went to Jerusalem and immediately went up the Mount of Olives, from which we had a wonderful view of the Old City and the Dome of the Rock. We also made a brief visit to Yad Vashem, a memorial for the Jewish Shoah/Holocaust. In the evening, we visited a very beautiful market, where you can find all kinds of spices, bread, halva, and everything you need for the upcoming Shabbat.

05.04.2019

Today we visited the Old City of Jerusalem. We started on Mount Zion, stood in the room of the Last Supper, entered the city, and explored the different quarters. The differences between the Armenian, Christian, Jewish, and Muslim quarters were clearly visible. It was interesting to see that all these cultures seem to live together peacefully, despite seemingly insurmountable religious differences. However, police and young soldiers with machine guns were present everywhere. Highlights in Jerusalem were places located in a small area, such as the Western Wall of the Jews, the Dome of the Rock with the Mosque of the Muslims, and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre of the Christians. The Old City is a mixture of all the sacred places of all religions, and almost every stone has its own story and holiness. We walked the Stations of the Cross with all 14 stations, squeezed through alleys overloaded with market stalls, and were simply amazed by the atmosphere that revealed itself. In the evening, we went into the city on our own. We immediately noticed that there were no public transportation and the streets were empty. The Jewish Shabbat begins on Friday evening with a dinner with family and lasts until Saturday evening. During this time, all shops are closed and observant Jews do not drive cars, make fire, etc. Depending on the level of religiosity, Jews adhere to their 613 commandments on this day. We were very surprised when we visited the ultra-Orthodox neighborhood of Mea Shearim. It presented us with a picture from a time 100 years ago. The only visible use of electricity was the street lamps. No cars, no cell phones, no technology could be seen. The streets, however, were full of traditionally dressed Jews in black with large hats, and the whole family was present. People were walking, praying, and children were playing loudly and freely in the streets.

06.04.2019

Today we visited the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, and the Israel Museum. Here, an impressive model of the city from the time of Jesus was shown, as well as the first written evidence of today's Bible stories. Then we went to Bethlehem to the alleged birthplace of Jesus, where a huge church now stands. On the way to Bethlehem, which is located in the Palestinian Autonomy Area, we drove through parts of the controversial newly established Jewish settlements and saw the newly built wall in East Jerusalem. For us, it is incomprehensible that this structure is supposed to serve security. In the evening, we had a conversation with a German-Israeli who clarified open questions and presented her view on the difficult situation in the country. Then it was time to say goodbye to everyone.

07.04.2019

After breakfast, we returned to Tel Aviv and flew home.

All in all, it was a highly interesting and packed week with endless impressions. On the one hand, I feel overwhelmed by all the holiness and the different religions in this corner of the Earth, and on the other hand, this trip contributed to a better understanding of all sides involved in current political issues. The situation on the ground is not easy and somehow almost unsolvable. However, everyone shares the desire for peace and security.