Mar Saba

Today we hiked in the Westbank: from the Jerusalem's outskirts to the viewpoint on Jabal Muntir (Mount Azalzel), trough the Kidron Valley to the Greek-orthodox monastery of Mar Saba and the fortress of Hyrcania before descending the Hyrcania Valley. It was a wonderful trip organised by Finjan.

We saw the change of the landscape with green grass into the desert (which is now in February after a lot of rain even a bit green) and had a view down to the Dead Sea, Jericho and the Jordanian mountains.
Beyond the beauty, we also saw the shocking reality in the Westbank with our own eyes: settlements extend deeper and deeper into Palestinian land whereas the Bedouins live in poverty with their sheep and donkeys. Some children even begged for food and money.
With so little water sources in the area, it is irresponsible that the Kidron stream that carries water around the year is full of garbage transported there from higher altitudes e.g. from Bethlehem, Jerusalem and settlements. As a consequence, it has a disgusting smell, is not potable and not even usable for agriculture.

In front of the monastery

Kidron valley

Nearby settlements seen from Bedouin place

A green valley in February

Donkey belonging to the Bedouins

Bedouin camp

Sheep of Bedouins, settlements close

-by

Bedouin shepherd

Dirty Kidron stream

Kalaniot: flowers in the desert

Blossoms of almond tree

Mar Saba

Bedouin camp

Mar Saba: women not allowed to enter

Mar Saba

Aquaeduct towards Hyrcania fortress

Floor mosaic at Hyrcania fortress

Hyrcania valley in front of Dead Sea