In Jerusalem by the wall
Shalom.
Bettertobebuddies has arrived in Jerusalem after 2 days of biking from Amman. With a little bit of luck and hospitality from other people we did it, but it was far from easy. Most of the day yesterday we spent on the Israeli border. Before that our breaks broke again and we almost missed the very last bus to transport us through “no mans land” between Jordan and Israel. Basically a single ticket to chaos.…..Palestinians, aggressive 19 year old militaries in sunglasses, bettertobebuddies and a confused Frenchman on a bike at the border. For those who thinking in terms of going to Israel with an Iranian stamp in your passport should think twice. After 4 hours when the cleaners were close to finish and the other staff started to go home it was 2 people left in the waiting hall…. Viktor and a blind Palestinian in a wheelchair. It went well in the end thanks to bull shitting, Yuval Oren and the kind girl in the security desk but we strongly doubt if we will get out of here. A dessert road surrounded by mines and a couple of checkpoints later we arrived to Jericho on the West bank, where we spend the night.
Today we prepared for entering Jerusalem like David himself coming home to his own land again….. We walked the last 5 km after the wheel to the trolley cracked- Viktor carrying the bob and Philip leading the bike. The day started 4 a clock in Jericho at 300 meter below sea level (the world’s lowest point) and ended in Jerusalem 800 meter above sea level… Enough said, we have hitched, destroyed breaks and wheel, struggled with Israeli boarder staff, biked in horrible heat in horrible terrain but we made it to Jerusalem! It feels fantastic and weird at the same time. Israel is a strange place and the view from our hostel roof explains it best. To the left you have a Christian church positioned next to a mosque which basically is in one piece with the holiest Jewish spot that lies just beside an Armenian church. Gates, checkpoints and loads of militaries control who goes where. Surrealistic and really hard for two Swedes to understand.
We will spend 2 more days in Jerusalem before we bike to Bethlehem, Ramallah, Nablus and Tel Aviv. Stay tuned everyone!
Viktor and Philip.
