It started yesterday when we set off to visit my favourite tailor near Thapae Gate, the heart of the tourist area of the city just outside the moated Old City – and received a welcome fit for royalty and the usual service with a smile. But more of that later. Today started with a visitContinue reading “Rediscovering Chiangmai”
Category Archives: Travel
Delayed in Doha!
It all started so well! My bright young chauffeur arrived on the dot of 4.30a.m., full of life as ever. We were at Heathrow Terminal 4 by 5.00a.m and by 5.15a.m. I was at the Boarding Gate dreaming of coffee and wondering when the Pret I had noticed nearby would open. All formalities were doneContinue reading “Delayed in Doha!”
One final visit to the Wall
Not quite such an early morning – but a really interesting one which started even before I had really left the hotel. The Sephardic House is extremely well situated for a quick stroll down to the Wall. Strange how, biblically, all the Psalms talk of going UP to Jerusalem! I certainly felt the need toContinue reading “One final visit to the Wall”
An early start on the Temple Mount
I had promised myself an early start and that’s what I had – breakfast at 7am and straight down to the entrance to the Temple Mount aiming to beat the tourists on the first day access was possible for a week. That worked and I was among the first up the ramp. But I wasContinue reading “An early start on the Temple Mount”
Another day in the maze of Jerusalem’s Old City
I remember my mother, having read the diary I wrote during my first visit to Jerusalem in 1978, saying, ‘It feels as if you’ve been somewhere special’. She was a gifted singer one of whose favourite sacred songs was “Holy City” and this visit has reminded me of the scenarios it presents. You can findContinue reading “Another day in the maze of Jerusalem’s Old City”
There’s still more to see (or see again!)
I’m old enough to have to look at photographs I’ve taken each day to remember the order in which things happened – for example I forgot to tell you that on my first venture out of the hotel I found a jewellery shop called Moriah where they take bits of the Temple Rock from excavationsContinue reading “There’s still more to see (or see again!)”
Walking the Old City
One of the things I love about the Old City of Jerusalem is its size: it’s easy to get everywhere and the longer you walk the more shortcuts you find. Apparently Thursday and Monday are the busiest days at the Western Wall as they are the favoured Bar Mitzvah days – that very important ceremonyContinue reading “Walking the Old City”
Back in Jerusalem (so soon!!)
Had you asked me in May whether I expected to return to Israel after my June visit, I would probably have said ‘No’, but then I found a project to work on and decided that, to get the bee out of my bonnet, I needed to return sooner rather than later. Fares were reasonably pricedContinue reading “Back in Jerusalem (so soon!!)”
A short trip to Petra and Wadi Rum
When I heard that friends who have lived in Israel for three years hadn’t been to Petra, just across in Jordan, I was keen to have them visit before returning to the US in July, so agreed that during my visit before they left we would do a short trip. We left Even Yehuda whereContinue reading “A short trip to Petra and Wadi Rum”
The ancient port of Caesarea
All I remember from our visit to Caesarea forty years ago is the amphitheatre but now there’s a whole National Park with a number of the major buildings from the Roman and Byzantine periods and before being excavated. It’s all by the sea so makes for a very pleasant day out with some restaurants rightContinue reading “The ancient port of Caesarea”
Living the Journey 