Check out my update to the Cruising section of my website, http://www.thepurplemuse.com/id35.html.  We completed our four part cruise around the world.  Now we have to decide where we are headed next.

TPM 

On our recent cruise we spent three days in Israel attempting to see and experience as much as possible.  Our goal was to add on to the knowledge we gained in the fall of 2011 when we made our first visit (two days) to Israel.  After almost seven years of exploration cruising and visiting many nations around the world I have concluded that there is no nation I have visited that is as interesting and intellectually stimulating as Israel.  I often explain to people that have never visited Israel that I look at Israel from three different but interrelated perspectives, historical, religious and current events.  There is simply no place as interesting or important as Israel on earth.

On day 1 we visited Masada and the Dead Sea.  On day 2 we visited Jerusalem.  On day 3 we visited Acre or Acco as our guide called it.  Each day was a unique experience.  Some of the most interesting aspects of our visit weren't the big name places highlighted as our destination for the day.  Israel is incredibly interesting just looking at it from the bus or SUV as we journeyed to our destinations.

The Masada fortress/palace was incredible.  We took a cable car from the bottom to the top of the plateau. We saw some people walking down the steep path from the top to bottom.  We didn't see anyone attempting to walk up on a very hot day.  How does anyone build a fortress on top of a near impossible to get to mountain in the middle of a desert? And do it about 2000 years ago, simply amazing!  Our guide told our group the story of the Masada mass suicide.  We saw the remains of the Roman legion camps and siege wall surrounding the base of the mountain.  We could see the remains of the Roman legion siege ramp used to break through the walls of the fortress.

The Dead Sea is an absolutely amazing place. The current water level depth of the Dead Sea is a fraction of what it was in the past.  The uncovered bottom land of the Dead Sea reveals a landscape that I have never seen in any other place.  It was strangely beautiful.   I walked into the Dead Sea and put my hands in the water.  It felt like light oil.  It didn't feel like water.

On day 2 before entering into the old city of Jerusalem we went to the top of the Mount of Olives. We had a magnificent view of the old city and much of the modern city of Jerusalem.

I had two primary objectives for our trip to Jerusalem and the entire cruise.  My number one objective was to walk on the Temple Mount (Mount Moriah), home of the Dome of the Rock and former home of the Second Temple.  During our preparations for the cruise our tour company advised us we couldn't go onto to the Temple Mount despite the fact that I read in several places that it was possible but the opportunities were limited.  We were in luck.  Our guide knew exactly what to do and our timing was near perfect.  The Temple Mount was open for one hour during the afternoon of the day of our visit to Jerusalem.  We stood in line for about 20 minutes.  It took 15 minutes for Israeli security to process the line and get to us.  We then walked on the wooden bridge up to the top of the Temple Mount.  The Israeli security presence was significant.  It is not often that one walks past riot police with all of their equipment ready for action, if needed.  We walked around the Temple Mount for about 30 minutes.  I touched the outside wall of the Dome of the Rock.  We were not permitted to enter the Muslim mosque or the Dome of the Rock because we are not Muslim, but we had every opportunity to view Jerusalem from one of the most historical and important areas in the world.  It was an amazing experience.  We exited the Temple Mount through one of the gates accessing the Muslim quarter of Jerusalem.

We walked through much of the old city on our visit but didn't have the opportunity to see everything we wanted to see.  There is so much to see and simply not enough time.  After we left the old city we headed for the Israel Museum to see the second of my two primary objectives, the Shrine of the Book, the home of the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit.  It was amazing.  In addition to the Shrine of the Book, we also spent time at the Model of Jerusalem in the Second Temple Period.  The 1:50 scale model of Jerusalem in 66 AD represents Jerusalem at its peak a few years before it was destroyed by the Romans.  After being in the old city earlier in the day it was wonderful to visualize much of the old city and some of the currently visible ruins as a vibrant city at its peak in ancient times.

Acre was also interesting.  Our tour was focused on the Crusader period.  Acre was the major port in the area for hundreds of years.  When the British took control of Palestine they built at new port at Haifa, the beginnings of the major industrial port that exists today.

During our three days we saw many amazing historical sites.  But some of the most interesting aspects of our trip is what we saw driving through country.  On our drive from Haifa to Jerusalem, we passed by areas that were fenced or walled with double loops of barbed wire on top of the fence or wall.  These were Palestinian only areas or areas with both Palestinian areas and Jewish settlements.  We saw good roads from Palestinian areas that intersected with the main highway completely blocked by barriers.  I have heard the term "Jewish settlements" used many times but I was not prepared to see small cities, including high rise buildings, being built in the Palestinian areas.  During our prior trip to Israel, I passed through Israel into the West Bank and saw the wall separating the two areas.  I didn't have the same feeling this time.  The miles of fences and walls with barbed wire looked ridiculous, completely out of place in this ancient land.  There is no doubt in my mind that these fences and walls will not last forever. They will be destroyed at some point of time by people that will no longer tolerate them.

Two of the most interesting drive around items are Israel's agriculture and water distribution system.  The history of Israel's agricultural development is extremely interesting.  We got bits and pieces of information about the development of a few of Israel's prime agricultural areas.  Israel has become an extremely productive agricultural nation through extremely hard work and intelligent use of its water supply.  We saw a variety of irrigation systems as we drove through agricultural areas.  One can see water pumping stations all over the country.  Different colors of water pipe reflect the different quality of water and its intended use.

I have mixed emotions about Israel.  I have tremendous respect for its people.  They have created an extremely successful nation out of the limited resources available to them over the past 66 years.  At the same time, one cannot look at the fences, walls and barbed wire separating Israel and Palestinian areas and accept this situation as rational.  It looks completely artificial because it is artificial and won't last forever.  I don't know how long it will take before the barriers come down, but they will.  The land we know as Israel or Palestine was been in a state of warfare for much of its history.  My belief is that the wars are not over.  The only question is the timing for the next one.

Israel is an incredible place.  I encourage everyone to visit if you have the opportunity.  You can make your own judgments about Israel's history, religious issues and secular events.

TPM   

Today I got my haircut for the first time in seven weeks, generally not a big deal and certainly not worth mentioning in a blog!  Jackson Browne's famous song, Running On Empty, was playing in the background.  How appropriate it was.

Eight days ago, my wife, Laura, and I were walking on the Appian Way in Rome, on the last full day of our six week trip that included our 35 day cruise.  We were looking forward to seeing some of the sights we had never seen before.  Except, by late morning it was clear to me that I wasn't "right" and needed to end our touring and head back to the hotel.  As the hours went on I got weaker and weaker.  Somehow we (mainly Laura) managed to pull it together and get to the airport the next morning.  We then had a very uncomfortable flight home.  United coach on a 767 is for midgets.  Somehow I avoided being sick on the flight.  When we reached our house I headed straight for bed and crashed.

Today, was the first day I have been out of the house, doing anything productive, including doing routine errands, like going to the cleaners and a brief stop at the grocery store.  There was no way I could have or should have driven a car before today.  The past week is lost in time.  It was a period of sickness, weakness, hallucinations, lack of sleep and jet lag. It was crazy. Yesterday and today I finally began to catch up on some of the things that needed to be addressed when we got home, but more remain to be done in the days ahead. I am actually beginning to feel close to normal.

What happened to me?  My wife and I believe that my primary problem was developed from food poisoning, some bad clams on our Tuesday night in Rome.  We don't believe my illness had anything to do with the cruise ship.  But we really don't know.  Our great trip ended with me running on empty and worse during the week after we got home.

Hopefully, my energy level will pick up in the near future and I can finish my blogs about our trip.

TPM

We have arrived in Rome at the conclusion of our cruise.  However, I am not done writing about our experiences and impressions. I have just started writing about our three days in Israel with much more to do.  We will be touring in Rome during the next two days before we fly home. Thanks to Mr and Mrs. Dion for their encouragement regarding my efforts to make www.thepurplemuse.com interesting and informative.  I hope to complete my blogs about our trip during the next week to ten days.

TPM