Arrival

Yesterday I left England for my first trip outside of Europe eeek! I left on a plane from Luton airport and landed at Ben Gurion airport Tel Aviv. Stephen met me at the airport only arriving an hour late due to missing connections, in all it was quicker for me to fly from London to Tel Aviv than for Stephen to travel more or less 30 miles. With going through security and collecting my baggage I was waiting about 30mins. Security wasn't as bad as I thought I was asked a few questions and was let into the country yiphee!! Next was the fun bit...

Had to get a bus to a junction somewhere near the airport, then get on a coach (public bus) to the coach station of Jerusalem. At the coach station, I had to take my bag off, empty my pockets and then walk through a scanner, then put my bag through an xray machine! After using the tram (new and the ticket machines are still not working so free tram!) Stephen and I arrived at the Abraham Hostel. We went off to find food as there was a party (to celebrate 1 year of the hostel being open) we ended up at McDonalds due to it being the cheapest place there was and open! One thing I learnt of my one night in Jerusalem is that compared to Palestine its really expensive.

To the present day...after waking up at 7am we went to Dome of the Rock. I got a photograph of the outside but as I am not Muslim I was not able to go in. Afterwards was breakfast and then head across the border so Stephen could go to work. This journey was fine on the (free) tram and then got on a Sherut (a shared taxi) to Ramallah. This bit was fine and we went straight through the checkpoint. Whilst travelling in this Sherut Stephen was pointing out the Israeli settlements which are illegal and then we arrived in Ramallah. This meant a change to a service taxi (pronounced ser-vees) which is the same as a Sherut just in Palestine! This was more hair raising. Horns were being used all the time (which is common around here so Stephen has told me and I am beginning to notice) and they seem to drive fast around corners and when overtaking. Eventually I fell asleep which was probably a good thing as woke up not far from Nablus. Once in Nablus we picked up another service which took to the outside of the University where Stephen is teaching and then we walked up the steps (lots of them which made me realised how unfit I am). Now you are caught up, just waiting for Stephen to finish teaching and then off to get food! Pictures to follow