March 22th 2013- Jericho, Israel/ Palestinian Authority

envelope22.03.2013
Jericho, Israel/ Palestinian Authority
When I hear the name Jericho my first thoughts are about “Gaza and Jericho first” – the agreement that first gave the PA control over cities.
So It make sense that I expect Jericho to be a city, like Gaza. Tall Buildings, Dense population, with agriculture around it.

That isn’t Jericho. Jericho, claimed to be the first place people settle down (8000BC!), the place that the people of Israel first conquered when they enter the city (after circling the walls of it seven times) – Is not a city.

 

The reason people settle here was because of Ein es-Sultan spring, making the city an Oasis in the middle of the desert. So the people of Jericho works in agriculture making the place a hugh green village in the middle of the desert =)
Great place to visit =) The absurd is although Jericho is only an hour from my parents’ home, I never visit it – because it was in list of dangerous of places to Israelis to visit. We covered ourselves as tourists and got in. Everybody knew we are Israelis, but the Palestinians welcome us as long we are only tourists =)

Enjoy the Pic!

Take Care
Gad

Jericho from Dir al-Cartanel (Monastery of Temptation)Jericho from Dir al-Cartanel (Monastery of Temptation)Jericho from Dir al-Cartanel (Monastery of Temptation)Jericho from Dir al-Cartanel (Monastery of Temptation)

The impressive building of the Russian church and his well trimmed gardenThe impressive building of the Russian church and his well trimmed gardenThe impressive building of the Russian church and his well trimmed garden

The Funicular climbing to the CartanelThe Funicular climbing to the Cartanel

Jericho - the grey and the green - from the FunicularJericho - the grey and the green - from the FunicularJericho – the grey and the green – from the Funicular

The Cartanel on the cliff aboveThe Cartanel on the cliff above

The entrance to the CartanelThe entrance to the CartanelThe entrance to the Cartanel

The main corridor of the Cartanel: On one side the rock and on the other doors to rooms of pilgrims who want to meditateThe main corridor of the Cartanel: On one side the rock and on the other doors to rooms of pilgrims who want to meditateThe main corridor of the Cartanel: On one side the rock and on the other doors to rooms of pilgrims who want to meditateThe main corridor of the Cartanel: On one side the rock and on the other doors to rooms of pilgrims who want to meditate

Caves on the rock, on the corridor sideCaves on the rock, on the corridor sideCaves on the rock, on the corridor side

The Chapel of the Greek Orthodox Church of JerusalemThe Chapel of the Greek Orthodox Church of Jerusalem

he rock on which Jesus set forty days and forty, nights fasting and meditating during the temptation of Satan. The name Cartanel, comes from the Latin word for forty QuadragintaThe rock on which Jesus set forty days and forty, nights fasting and meditating during the temptation of Satan. The name Cartanel, comes from the Latin word for forty Quadraginta
As one lady said – “He sat here? He was probably very skinny…”

A short walk we did to the caves on the cliff.A short walk we did to the caves on the cliff.A short walk we did to the caves on the cliff.A short walk we did to the caves on the cliff.

Nice toilets =) sitting above a cliff and all that holds you is couple of timber beams. - JerichoNice toilets =) sitting above a cliff and all that holds you is couple of timber beams.

The Garden of the Ein es-Sultan spring - JerichoThe Garden of the Ein es-Sultan spring

Ein es-Sultan spring (look on the size of the pipe! imagine how much water they pump and how much water keeps flowing!) - JerichoEin es-Sultan spring (look on the size of the pipe! imagine how much water they pump and how much water keeps flowing!) - JerichoEin es-Sultan spring (look on the size of the pipe! imagine how much water they pump and how much water keeps flowing!)

The spring on a pic from April 1918 (Source: Australian War Memorial)The spring on a pic from April 1918 (Source: Australian War Memorial)

Tel es-Sultan (Tel-Jericho) from above.Tel es-Sultan (Tel-Jericho) from above.

he entrance to Tel Jericho (as we call it, and as the blue sign from the Israeli regime) or Tel es-Sultan as they call ithe entrance to Tel Jericho (as we call it, and as the blue sign from the Israeli regime) or Tel es-Sultan as they call itThe entrance to Tel Jericho (as we call it, and as the blue sign from the Israeli regime) or Tel es-Sultan as they call it

The most important part of the site - the Pre Pottery Neolithic age Wall of Jericho What might makes Jericho the most old city in the world! - JerichoThe most important part of the site – the Pre Pottery Neolithic age Wall of Jericho What might makes Jericho the most old city in the world!
When you dig those kind of sites, you usually find pottery in the layers. But at the lowest layer here all you cannot find pottery but only red wood that use instead of pottery.

03222013-33The walls of Jericho.=)The walls of Jericho.=)The walls of Jericho.=)The walls of Jericho.=)
Unlike most of the walls in the middle east they are not made from large blocks of rock but from clay bricks. Apparently it hold better against siege machines (the walls don’t fall apart but absorb most of the energy).
Those are probably not the walls that the Israelite destroyed in the battle of Jericho(the date doesn’t fit). It might be the small part that you can see under the funicular.

The "Sahlom Al Yisrael" Synagogue building. - JerichoThe “Sahlom Al Yisrael” Synagogue building.
The Oslo agreements were supposed to allow Israelis free access to the synagogue, but since 2000, only monthly visits are allowed =(

The Hisham's Palace in the north of Jericho.The Hisham’s Palace in the north of Jericho. The Last site in the tour.
As you can see it become orange and dark because a sand storm in coming.

The entrance to the Palace itself - JerichoThe entrance to the Palace itself - JerichoThe entrance to the Palace itself

Drainage hole in the palace - JerichoDrainage hole in the palace

A palace window - JerichoA palace window

The mosaic in the bath house, and the columns of the bath haouse - JerichoThe mosaic in the bath house, and the columns of the bath house - JerichoThe mosaic in the bath house, and the columns of the bath house

Ruins of the damage caused by the 747AC earthquake - JerichoRuins of the damage caused by the 747AC earthquake

The sand storm is coming!The sand storm is coming!The sand storm is coming!The sand storm is coming!The sand storm is coming!

mmmm... Cold strawberry Fanta, haven't that for years!mmmm… Cold strawberry Fanta, haven’t that for years!

icon-car.png
Jericho, Israel/Palestinian National Authority

loading map - please wait...

Jericho, Israel/Palestinian National Authority 31.871111, 35.444167

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.