I skipped through jordon spending just 2 days in Amman. I'm very tired now and I want to come home, although there is much to see in Jordon, I will leave it until the next time. I am now in Jerusalem in Israel, just 60 miles or so from Amman (I think), but it took 9 hours to get here after spending 4 hours at Israeli passport control who grilled me about what I was doing in Iran, Syria and Lebanon and wanted to know what I was now doing in Israel. All fairly pleasant though, just annoying. I had expected this, but they even phoned Itzik (and Sharone, from Mexico exchange) who I am visiting here. I asked them not to stamp my passport as it has another 8 years left on it. Many arab countries will not let you in if you have an Israeli stamp in your passport. They obliged, stamping a slip of paper instead.

I'm now in their appartment in Jerusalem, and once again I am relaxing. This may be a one-sided view of Israel as I do not know any Palestinians here, but I have met many in Syria and Jordon so I think I am building a rounded image. First impressions are that it is very white, many Israelis are European looking and the Jewish part of Israel appears like America. This is a big difference from the countries I have been in so far. This country is the cause of most, if not all the tension in the region and it will be the climax of my trip. John