Tuesday, April 12, 2016

J is for Jerusalem

There are a number of interesting places the visit that begins with a J.  Japan is a beautiful country with the majestic Mt. Fuji and the rugged Izu Peninsula with numerous hot springs to wash away your troubles.  I spent three weeks in Japan after graduating from college.  And then there’s Jakarta, hot and dirty but also vibrant, where you are awakened by the mosque call to prayer early in the morning.  But I’ve also been there.   So how about Jerusalem.  The name of the Holy City implies a city of peace (-salem comes from Slalom).    But it’s not a city that’s seen much peace in its long history. 
Photos from Wikipedia 



Jerusalem was the city in which David decided to make his home and later his son Solomon built the temple—a temple destroyed in one of the less peaceful times of Jerusalem’s history when Babylon invaded.  It has seen many other invasions over the centuries—the Persians, the Greeks, the Romans (a couple of times), the Moslems, the Crusaders, the Turks, the Brits, the Zionists…   In my visit, I’d take along a copy of Mark Twain’s Innocents Abroad and try to walk his steps, visiting the touristy areas of the city. 

19 comments:

  1. Another place I would like to go though I would probably choose Japan first since I've only spent time there in their airport. I would definitely like to do a bit of traveling in Japan.

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  2. It would be amazing to see, but I'd be too concerned about safety.

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    1. But there are a lot of dangerous places--I would still risk it.

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  3. Maybe there will be a time of peace in that part of the world, but right now I see very little hope for it. I find it ironic that what's supposed to be one of the world's holiest cities is constantly in danger of being overrun and conquered.

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  4. what lovely word : Jerusalem.
    A place always I wanted go Sage :))

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  5. I would love to visit the Holy Land, too. My niece (the one who lives in Turkey), her husband and great niece (age 6) just left Israel - they visited Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Young Mina asked where the holes were? :) (Her spiritual education seems to lacking somewhat.)

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    1. I hope they have a good trip and that you get to visit, too

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  6. Wow I can't believe how many places you have visited! I am going to Japan in May for the first time and I can't wait. I enjoyed seeing your photos of Jerusalem as I'm not sure I will make it there anytime soon. I hope all is well!

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  7. I would love to see Jerusalem, but I don't think I'd ever be brave enough to actually go there.

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    1. In tour groups it might be safer--It would be a place I'd stick to groups instead of going on my own

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  8. I too would love to visit. I just feel the region is too unstable.

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  9. I don't think Jerusalem has had any long periods of sustained peace. Such a shame.

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  10. Yes, the Holy City is a place I intent to go in the next few years. But I think I'll be spending little enough time there once I've visited the old town. Of course the only issue nowadays would be they truly interesting places require you to shuttle back and forth through a Trump style wall.
    Something for you http://www.jstor.org/stable/3137039?seq=3#page_scan_tab_contents
    What I want to see in the pools of Solomon.

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