Tel Aviv - Israel

My roete vandag is in blou. My route of today is in blue.

In die vallei van die Dooie See - 244 m onder seevlak! In the valley of the Dead Sea - 244 m under sea level!

Vanoggend vroeg het ek en Sib en Nic weer 'n keer totsiens vir mekaar gese. Ek moes rigting Tel Aviv kom om die KLR 'n diens te laat kry. Hulle is besig om 'n skeepsverbinding Turkye toe te soek.

Ook vandag gedurende die ry was 'n mens die hele tyd bewus van die grenssone met Jordanie en dat die Israeliese weermag baie paraat is. Dit herinner my baie aan die dae van die grensoorlog in Namibie. Orals hier sien mens die verering vir die manne en vroue in uniform.

Tel Aviv is 'n mooi stad. Ook 'n vol stad. Ek het meer as 'n uur gesoek om 'n kamer te kry. Dis ook net vir een aand. More is alles vol. Ek oorweeg dus om more reeds hier pad te gee. Ek hou nie meer van die baie mense en motors nie, ek mis die wydte van die woestyn.

Gisteraand op die nuus gesien van die aanval in / op Khartoem. My hart bloei vir daardie mense. Die Soedan bly nog steeds vir my nr. 1 op my lys van die lande waardeur ek gereis het.

Ek sit en kyk uit op 'n winderige blou see. Toeriste. Busse. Bromponies wat soos maniakke jaag. Ek wonder hoeveel van hierdie mense sou verstaan as ek met heimwee terugdink aan donker aande langs die Nyl en mense wat plat op die grond sit en hul kos met die regterhande eet.

Julle moet die gebrek aan leestekens verskoon. Soos Antjie Krog skryf ek ook vandag sonder fensie leestekens.

Groete


This morning Sib, Nic and I said our farewelss, for the third time. I had to come to Tel Aviv to let the KLR have a service. They are busy looking for a ferry to Turkey.

The whole day I felt the presence of the Jordan border to my right, and that the Israeli army ever present was. It reminded me so much of the days of the bush war in Namibia. Also here one can see the admiration for the boys and girls in uniform in many ways.

It took me more than a hour to find a room for tonight. The city is beautiful. Full. Very full. All the hotels where I asked for a room, will be fully booked from tomorrow. I consider leaving already tomorrow. Here are too many people and vehicles. I miss the desert. Strange.

Last night I saw on the TV news about the attack on / in Khartoum. My heart goes out to those people. The Sudan stays the no 1 country on my list of favourites.

I look down at a windy blue sea. Tourists. Busses. Scooters racing like devils. How many of these people would understand should I say that I now miss the dark nights along the Nile, those people in the desert who will sit tonight, eating their food with their right hands, looking at the stars? Will they know about the attack in Khartoum?

Regards