A TRIP ROUT
IT IS WORTH SEEING
The sensational historical drama from 2005, directed by Ridley Scott, tells about the times of the Crusades and the conquest of Jerusalem by Saladin. The main role was played by Orlando Bloom, and he was accompanied by such stars as Liam Neeson, Eva Green and Jeremy Irons. The plot is typically "Hollywood" and is somewhat different from historical facts, but this is not what such productions are about. The movie is great to watch, and the scenes of knights' duels or the siege of Jerusalem are simply breathtaking. Attention to detail and a very realistic set design make the film will remain in the memory of every history lover for a long time.IT IS WORTH KNOWING
In mid-1942, General Anders obtained Stalin's consent to evacuate his army to Iran, and from there via Iraq to British Palestine. In total, about 80,000 soldiers and over 43,000 civilians who accompanied them left the Soviet Union. In September 1942, the Polish government in London decided to combine the Carpathian Rifle Brigade, which had been staying in Palestine for a long time, with the newly arrived forces, thus creating the Polish Army in the East, commonly known as the Anders' Army. Junak schools were established for the youth who arrived with the army, mainly in Nazareth and Rehovot. The Volunteer Service of Women was also established. In August 1943, 53,000 soldiers were formed from the combat units of the Anders Army near Tel Aviv and Gaza, the Second Polish Corps of 53,000 soldiers, which was transferred to Italy in December 1943 he was transferred to Italy, where he became famous for his victorious fights with the Germans at Monte Cassino, Ancona and Bologna.INTERESTING FACTS
The Palestinian State is a country located in historic Palestine, including the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. As an independent political entity, it is not formally recognized by Israel, but has been recognized as a state by the United Nations. A number of countries, including Poland, maintain diplomatic contacts with the Palestinian Authority, i.e. the Palestinian Authority. The beginnings of the efforts of the Arab people of Palestine to establish their own state are related to the establishment of the British Palestinian Mandate. It was created on the initiative of the League of Nations in 1922 from part of the territory of the former Ottoman Empire in the Middle East. After years of conflict, Israel and the Palestinian Authority pledged to enter into negotiations that would lead to an agreement on the creation of a Palestinian state.INTERESTING STORIES
The Irgun was a Jewish armed underground organization operating in the British Mandate of Palestine from 1931 to 1948. It was involved in illegal immigration of Jews and terrorist activities aimed at establishing a Jewish state in the entire area of the British Mandate of Palestine. In the spring of 1939, Irgun members were trained near Andrychów by Polish Army instructors from the military intelligence service, the so-called Dwójka. This course was the result of a 1936 agreement between the leaders of the movement and the Polish authorities. In 1943, the Irgun was headed by Menachem Begin, born in Brest, Poland as Mieczysław Biegun. In his youth, he was a member of the Hashomer Hatzair scout organization, and at the age of 16, he joined the revisionist, national-radical youth movement Beitar. He revived the decaying organization and prepared an armed uprising against the British and Arabs. After the creation of the state of Israel, he became its prime minister, and for bringing about the Israeli-Egyptian peace treaty in 1979 he received the Nobel Peace Prize.June 2015
When I met a nice couple from Israel during my trip to Peru, I had no idea that I would visit their home country soon. Young people encouraged me to visit, explaining that, contrary to popular opinion, the stay in Israel is safe, and the residents are open and friendly. I used the invitation and I do not regret it, because in the current situation, a trip would be a big risk.
With only a week at my disposal, I concentrated on the most attractive places. The huge number of those related to the history of Israel and the Old and New Testaments is overwhelming. There the walls of Jericho collapsed, here Jesus wept over Jerusalem, here he walked on the water, and from there he ascended to Heaven. It is not without reason that this region is called the Holy Land, but you can feel the atmosphere of danger and uncertainty on a daily basis. Armed patrols of soldiers walk along the streets, and searches when entering large stores or railway and bus stations are a sad reality. I didn't realize it was in Israel I need some knowledge of Russian. During the trip, Russian emigrants helped me a lot, for whom it did not matter who I was, but that I speak their language.ISRAEL
Jewish Jerusalem
The Jewish quarter is clean, tidy and...boring. What impressed me the most was the Square at the Western Wall, which serves as a synagogue outdoor. The Western Wall is the only remnant of the second Temple in Jerusalem, rebuilt by Herod Great. In this most sacred place for Jews, constant prayers are held, and tourists wander around the square looking for an interesting photo, Orthodox Jews immersed in prayer.
Muslim Jerusalem
The Muslim Quarter is the most exotic part of Jerusalem. I lived near the Damascus Gate, so every day I started walking around the Old Town in this district. From morning to evening, the crowd of residents and tourists passes through narrow streets, full of small shops and peddling traders. This is where the famous Via Dolorosa and the Temple Mount with the dazzling Dome of the Rock mosque are located.
Christian Jerusalem
The Christian and Armenian quarters focused around the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. It was an unforgettable experience to visit the temple built on the site of Jesus' crucifixion and tomb. On the other hand, I had great fun exploring the interior of the basilica and the adjacent alleys, where I discovered a lot of unusual artifacts, underground chapels, churches and an original Ethiopian monastery.
Jerusalem - Mount of Olives
The Mount of Olives located east of the Old Town is associated with the place of Jesus' prayer, the capture in the Garden of Gethsemane, and the Ascension. A place considered sacred, it is always full of Christian pilgrims and Jews visiting the graves in the Valley of Josefat In addition to the extraordinary magic of this place, I was most impressed by the breathtaking view of Jerusalem and the huge shape of the Dome of the Rock.
Nazareth
Nazareth, famous as the place of the Annunciation and childhood of Jesus, is today a pilgrimage city. The main place Visitors can visit the Basilica of the Annunciation, built in the last century on the ruins of a Byzantine church. Bold in forms and modern the temple houses the cave of the Annunciation. Wandering around the alleys of the Old Town had a completely different dimension, which despite...influx of tourists, it still retains its old atmosphere.
Lake of Galilee
My trip to the Sea of Galilee was a complete failure. Short stay and the sad reality of the person condemned to use public transport meant that I did not visit Tabha and Capernaum as I had planned. It didn't work either cruise, but to wipe away my tears I took a relaxing bath in the lake. Tiberias itself turned out to be an interesting city with a nice atmosphere and interesting monuments.
Akka
The Akka Old Town has been entered in its entirety on the UNESCO World Heritage List. There is nothing strange about it, because just like Jerusalem, the city can charm every tourist. A walk through the narrow streets of the Old Town and the remains of the defensive walls from the times of the Crusades is pure pleasure. An aromatic mocca that I tasted in a coastal tavern is an equally nice memory.
Hajfa and Megiddo
I stayed in Haifa for a very short time, because the actual purpose of my trip was the UNESCO World Heritage Site - Megiddo. So many battles have already taken place in this ancient city that, as predicted by St. John in the Apocalypse, it is here that the last clash between Good and Evil will take place before the end of the world. Standing on Megiddo Hill and looking out over the Jezreel Valley, I wanted to feel this apocalyptic atmosphere.
Caesarea Maritima
Even today, the ruins of the Caesarea Maritima make an impressive impression. You have to walk a bit to see everything, but the best view is from the top of the amphitheater. The creator of Caesarea's power was Herod the Great, who in the first century BC founded a beautiful city, dedicating it to the Roman emperor Augustus. An interesting fact about this place are also the remains of the largest hippodrome in the Roman Empire.
Masada and En Gedi
Masada is a fortress standing on the top of a hill, over 400 m above the shores of the Dead Sea. I admit that I imagined this place a bit differently, but the reality surpassed my wildest expectations. The view from the top is breathtaking, no matter which side you look. Sightseeing in the sun was quite exhausting, so I ended the trip in the waters of the Dead Sea, enjoying a relaxing bath.
PALESTINE
Bethlehem
Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem, and the Basilica of the Nativity has been a pilgrimage destination for Christians from all over the world since the 4th century. However, the city itself is thoroughly Muslim. It is enough to walk along the narrow streets around Manger Square to feel the atmosphere of the Orient. The Wall of Separation made a completely different impression on me, showing that sometimes it is the hardest to get along in your own home.
Qumran and Nabi Musa
Qumran is known primarily as the location of the famous Dead Sea Scrolls. I often heard about this place while watching popular science movies, but it always seemed to me that the grottoes are located in some inaccessible corner, high in the mountains. Meanwhile, they are located near the picturesque ruins of the Essenian settlement on the shores of the Dead Sea, and access to them is a matter of a two-hour walk.
Jericho and its surroundings
Although the archaeological site of Jericho looks like an ordinary hill at first glance, it is considered to be the oldest city in the world. People have lived here continuously for over 9,000 years, and the falling walls of Canaanite Jericho are described in the Bible. However, I was most impressed by the cable car ride to the Mount of Temptation, where I admired the stunning panorama of the area from the walls of the Greek monastery.