Today we spoke to two interesting people. One of them was a Palestinian 30year old lady that jumped on our bus at 7am!! We had to be up and ready to travel to Nazareth. My gosh, I really could hardly keep my eyes open and here’s this sweetheart talking about her complicated life she’s had. She was one of the Palestinians that was living in Nazareth that didn’t get kicked out by the Israeli’s. One of the lucky ones with an Israeli passport. Her family are all Arab Palestinians but have Israeli citizenship. She was telling us about her brother, he was a little older than her and when she was 14 and he 19, he was involved in a peace organisation and one day went to a protest. The Israeli army shot him. He died that day trying to protest for peace. Apparently witnesses say he wasn’t even  protesting and just sitting underneath an olive tree waiting for his friends. This was one of many Arab Israeli’s that have died because of the military.

Interesting isn’t it.. Even though he’s an Israel citizen he still gets killed.

The lady told us a great deal more to her troubled life with conflict going to an Israeli school and the bullying that went on.

If only she had spoken a little later in the day on our bus, I could talk a great deal more about this Palestinian Israeli..It was just far to early and the thinking cap wasn’t quite screwed on my head enough!

Once we got to Nazareth we went into the place apparently Jesus mother Mary got told she was pregnant…. By an “Angel”.

I have to laugh about this. I just can’t understand all these people seriously going down into what some might call a cave to take photos from where Mary saw this angel”. If she had been told she was pregnant with Jesus back then, why the hell did she end up in Bethlehem? Surly she wouldn’t travel almost a hundred miles on foot just to give birth!? She was 6 months pregnant at the time she was told..apparently!

Here we go again with the Chinese whispers.

After seeing this we ventured towards the bus, I’m super proud of how well G is doing! Every morning she is in the best of moods. Its so lovely so see such a big smile on her face each morning. Usually back in london we won’t start the day until 9.30-10am! Everyday here has been 6-7am starts! Also how well G is traveling with the wheelchair.. My gosh is it bumpy and there’s always stairs and cobbled pavements. G just holds on and trusts I get her there! Only about 7 times have we almost stacked it!

After an hour on the bus we went in land. To what Israeli’s call the country. It looks more like pure dessert with a few stick trees here and there with a leaf, 2 if your lucky.

We went to an elderly mans house. He is a “druze” Arab Israeli. This man and his family have lived here hundreds of years. He has fought in the Lebanon/Israel conflict and so have his sons in the Syria/Israel wars. His son’s never made it home. One got blown up from a suicide terrorist bomb. And the other was shot. He was telling us how all the media came to film and wanted to talk to the family at the funeral of his younger son, only  18 his son was. He said to them, what is the difference between my boy and the suicide bomber boy? They were both sent to fight for there country by the government. The other boys family will be grieving exactly like we are. The boys were the Same age, Same religion, both Arabs, both dies fighting for the government.

The “druze”religious beliefs are reincarnation. They believe once one person dies another is born and comes back in a different body. He was saying how the druze’s only intermarriage and how loyal they stick to there religious beliefs. He said he’s always protecting every other man’s  wife’s and daughters because maybe they could have been an aunt, grandmother, or sibling to him.

It was interesting to hear about this belief. I have heard it before but didn’t know there was a whole cult of them.

We then got invited into his home where his sweet wife made us a feast.

Some of the best times on this trip has been getting invited to join families for a meal. I am fascinated hearing each person’s stories and beliefs. How they all stay in the one place and have such big families and friends that are all joined by either religion or race. They are all so welcoming and friendly.

After this we got into the bus and traveled hours towards Tel Aviv.It took us about 5 hours, a few bathroom stops and windy roads.

We arrived at the beach! Such a beautiful view I have, once again looking out onto water. This country has so much to see and so many hidden secrets of history.

Again I have to say how lucky I feel. How much this “working holiday” has educated and opened my mind completely. I’m wanting to come back already and we haven’t even left yet!

Tomorrow we are off to Hebron. We are going to a Palestinian lady’s embroidery shop, then having lunch in the old town. This I think will be an experience. Hebron is completely off limits to any Israeli and if full of Palestinian military. It really is a site seeing these young boys and girls with massive shot guns across their bodies.

Here are only a few pictures from today..

Majority of it we were traveling..