One more for the road

[chani]

After Azrac we went back West to Madaba where you can see an old map of Palestine in a Byzantine Church. Mount Nebo, famous for its mosaics, is nearby. My digital camera was almost down then.

This mosaic is from Mount Nebo (where Mose's grave is according to the Pope).

 

 

More photos later hopefully when the films are developped!

We also went to Bethany, the supposed place of Jesus' baptism by John the Baptist. Jordan is full of "Bible places", and I wanted to see them even though I'm completely Godless and don't even define myself as a Christian. I guess it's because those places mean something for other people that I find them appealing. It's hard to explain but I'm moved by sacred places while remaining completly outside of the religions they are bond to. I felt the same in India (in Varanasi or in Sarnath), in Egypt (Karnak Temple), in Mexico etc...

There aren't a lot to see in Bethany, and you have to take a shuttle with a guide so the visit is too organized (probably for security reasons), but it still represented something, spiritually and politically as well. Spiritually because of the Christian faith and politically because we got near Jordan river, which is barely a brooklet there for all the water pumped out by Israel upriver. Once upon a time it was really a river and if a man named Jesus was baptized there, he saw a river.

Suddenly you realized how water is the key element in the region (something we felt even strongerly in the Wadi Rum) maybe more than religion or nationalism. Being there, I couldn't help thinking of Gaza (it was a few days before the withdrawal) and the way water was divided up between settlers and Palestinians. No I won't start a political rant, but in Jordan you can't only visit archaelogical sites and not see the actual situation in the region or in the Jordanian society (I'm mostly thinking women's rights here) and some things are simply shocking indeed revolting.

But back to Jordan river which is also a border (with armed soldiers...). I'm happily surprised by how this photo came out, because I do remember the rock was moving and I was mostly trying to not fall in the river ! I think my friend took a great picture here.

The trees behind me are in Israel.

 

Comments

[fraidycatx3.livejournal.com]

You look marvelous Chani! It's nice to see you having a good time on your travels. Thanks for sharing.

[jans-intentions.livejournal.com]

Cool picture!

[candlelightfrot.livejournal.com]

I was thinking about water and the farmers down in the valley when I looked at your shot of Pella from above. Water is life. It takes living in a desert to drive that simple fact home.

[kazzy-cee.livejournal.com]

Very good shots. I love that mosaic.