December 31, 2000

Kul 'am wintu ibkhayr (Happy New Year - it's easier for beginners)!

After our adventures getting from Zababdeh to Jerusalem, one thing has become clear: the peace process should begin with taxi drivers. Perhaps an explanation will help: since peace is forged beginning with commonalities, and since both Palestinian and Israeli taxi drivers have that inborn desire to take your money, they should get along famously. All the other pieces should fall into place from there.

Waiting for a new bus after a blown tire on the road to Jerusalem.

Once we made it to Afula's bus station (where at least the prices are well-known and published), we thought we'd have smooth sailing. But on the way from Afula to Tel Aviv, we clipped the back of an 18-wheeler. In the charged atmosphere here, the loud sound and flying debris sent a chill of fear down everyone's spine. Fortunately, we all quickly knew that it was not a bomb, and that everyone was OK; all it meant was that we had to change buses.

Israeli soldiers frisk a young Palestinian inside the Jaffa Gate in Jerusalem.

Finally, we arrived at our hotel at Jerusalem's Jaffa/Hebron Gate.

Jaffa Gate in Jerusalem’s Old City decked out to celebrate the New Year.

Two images stick out in our minds: the frisking of Palestinian youth by Israeli soldiers just below our hotel room (routine by now) and the apparently inebriated Orthodox Jew dancing on his balcony in the new city to Bob Dylan's "You Gotta Serve Somebody" (from Bob's born-again Christian period - wonder if he knew that). An odd, odd city.

Happy New Year from the roof of our hotel in Jerusalem’s Old City!

But of all places to be on New Year's Eve and hear bells and see fireworks, it's hard to top Jerusalem.