Yes my friends,unfortunately we and our rig are separated till the next Spring,the rig is stored in Colorado and we are for the entire winter at home in Israel,so no RV trip stories and no waterfalls….at least till next summer..
Some times we are searching for things that are far away from our location and forget or rather neglect to see what is under our noses.
Ramla is only 45 minutes from home, but when lately have we been there? I really do not remember…so we took advantage of this beautiful sunny October day and drove with friends to this historic interesting city.
Ramla, on the coastal plain southeast of Tel Aviv–Jaffa was established in 716 by the caliph Sulaymān ibn ʿAbd al-Malik (reigned 715–717), who made it the administrative capital of Palestine, replacing nearby Lod (Lydda). He built marketplaces,
The markets today…..
10 Shekels or 2.70$ for 2LB…..fresh and very tasty.
White Mosque (Al-Jāmiʿ al-Abyaḍ). Only ruins of these remain, but the minaret of the White Mosque, the so-called White Tower, 89 feet (27 m) tall, added by the Mamlūk sultan Baybars (reigned 1260–77), still stands.
View from the top,see how close is the modern “new” city.
Solar panels and water tanks on roofs will heat water with only 2 hours of sun,and it is free….
During the First Crusade (1096–99), the city was captured and fortified by the crusaders, who called it Rames. The fortifications were destroyed by Saladin when he took the city from the crusaders in 1187. From the 14th century on, Ramla developed as a trade centre; though an Arab city, it contained a Jewish community until the Arab-Jewish disturbances of 1936–39.
The city is unique in having a Jewish-Arab Friendship League. Ramla’s industries include the manufacture of cement, plywood, and electrical components. The city benefits from being located at a major highway and railway junction.
Interesting sites in the city, aside from the White Tower, are the Franciscan Hospice of St. Nicodemus and St. Joseph;
the Great Mosque (Al-Jāmiʿ al-Kabīr), built on the foundations of the 12th-century crusader cathedral of St. John; and the Pool of St. Helena, an 8th-century reservoir (cistern) decorated with ornamental pillars and now used by small tourist boats. Pop. (2006 est.) 64,000.
After climbing 130 steeps,walking from one site to another and rowing a boat in the pools it was in place to top this great day with a meal in the local restaurant one of many in this city.
Humus,pickles,pita bread , salad with olive oil and lemon.
Have a great winter where ever you are ,see you all in the next Spring.
3 comments:
You are so right - we often forget all the beautiful places close to us. I was amazed at how "old" everything is on the East Coast but compared to your year 716 - they are pretty new.
Jim&Sandie,thank you for taking the time to read my post.
There are places in Jerusalem that you can walk in Abraham's foot steps (5000 years ago)
It is sure mind boggling to reflect about the still visible age of your country's culture, compared to what is to find here in North America, where a house of 100 years can be an attraction.
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