A stranger in my own Homeland

            Last time i visited Jerusalem was when i was 10 years old, today I'm 25 ... The situation got very complicated during those 15 years and it is almost impossible today for everyone to visit Jerusalem ... Restricted rules were made, written permissions are required and you still could be rejected to access the city.

            A month ago i registered in a trip to Jerusalem and Jaffa, the written permission needs about a month to be issued, i dreamed day and night of this visit, i was so scared i may not get that permission ... a month of waiting  ended up with a phone call says that i got it :) i felt so happy and relieved. I was still worry though, because i still have to pass an Israeli check-point called Qalandia, they can still send me back even if i have the permission to pass, why ? Simply because they can !!

            The day has come, i couldn't sleep the night before ... i woke up early in the morning and prepared myself. The bus moved and we reached Qalandia check-point, we had to wait for 3 hours !! 3 hours of humiliation, waiting, strict searching of everything we carry and us too.. We finally passed and headed straight to Jerusalem .. after about 20 minuets we where in the Holy city of Jerusalem. ( i forget to say that Jerusalem is only 45 minuets from Nablus !! ) 

           Our first destination was the dome of the Rock, while we were in the city streets, the trip supervisor said we were close because we can see the ancient walls, as we got closer, my heart started beating really fast ... When i saw the golden Dome form behind the ancient walls, My heart almost stopped .... :)


The Ancient Walls of the old city of Jerusalem 

           We passed Al-Amoud Gate ( Bab Al-Amoud ) , it is one of the ancients entrances of Al-Aqsa Mosque placed on the ancient walls of the old city of Jerusalem. We walked through passages full of shops of different products varies from traditional clothes to perfumes that isolate you from the world and make you sink in the greatness of this Holy city ...

Al-Amoud Gate ( Bab Al-Amoud )

The passages and shops 

           After about 15 minuets of walking, we finally reached Al-Aqsa holy yards .. the minuet you step inside you can see The Dome of the Rock in front of you, standing there with pride and beauty you never saw in your life.. beauty that can't be described in words. This scene made me speechless, i couldn't prevent myself from crying...

Al-Aqsa yards 

The Dome of the Rock

          As i entered to pray, the beauty inside was no less impressive than the outside ... i can't describe how peaceful, safe and happy i was ,, i wish i could stay there forever ... or at least visit Jerusalem whenever i wanted ...

           I took pictures as much as i could, i wanted to record every single detail to share with those who wish to visit Jerusalem but can't regardless the reasons that prevent them ..

          Our time was up and we had to leave .. i didn't stop looking behind me .. a longing of 15 years can't be healed with a visit of a few hours .. I didn't want to leave, i wished i could stay there forever...


The Dome of the Rock from the inside

        As we left, i hoped for another visit soon .. deep inside me i was sure that this city is absolutely worth dying for ...

            We left Jerusalem and headed to Jaffa. Jaffa is a coastal city in Palestine but mostly by Jews ,,, I've never been to this city before, why ? well, because i also need a written permission !! 

I was excited to explore this beautiful coastal city and to see the sea ... Jaffa gives you that kind of peaceful beauty, belonging and that your are welcomed but unfortunately it is occupied... although it is a city in Palestine, in my own homeland, somehow i felt a kind of stranger !!

The city of Jaffa

        Wherever i walked i was looking in amusement, i felt lucky for getting the chance to visit it. As the sun came down, the scene of the beach was charming and breath-taking ... i stood there speechless, my thoughts and feeling were mixed and distracted ...all what I hoped was that someday we will retrieve our land and move between the cities freely ....


Sunset for Jaffa beach ,,