2023 - Jordan Israel Palestine - "Did I saw it's complicated?"

This will the first of many posts about our trip to the Middle East.  

Did I say it is complicated?

In Tel Aviv we had a local guide Moran.  Early on she taught us how to pronounce it (emphasis on the MO not the RAN).  She had been a tour guide for the entire 2-week trip but then had 2 children so now just does the daily Local Tour.

The highlights of Tel Aviv during our time with Moran were the Graffitti/Wall Art and the visit to the Market.

Our group always asked many questions and after a particularly complex answer she would tilt her head and say "Did I sat that it's complicated?"

This stuck with me for the entire trip.  EVERY topic we discussed was complicated.  It is a small geographic area with so much different kinds of history and culture and geology and religious history.

She asked us whether Graffiti is art or vandalism.  A 30 minute discussion ensued.  I posted this same question on Facebook and got many responses.  One particular one paraphrased was "Anything done to another person's building to deface it is Vandalism".  

Vandalism or Art?

That sort of entrenched opinion was what I experienced during every home visit or conversation with someone on our trip.  The Israeli Settler, the high priest's brother who was a Samarian, the Orthodox Jewish woman etc.  

Moran introduced us to a Very Very Very good Hummus shop in the market.  She also taught us to eat hummus with quartered slides of onion.  Try it.  We had three different types of hummus and this quick visit has blown my brain about making hummus in the future.  Stay tuned.......

This vendor danced and sang all day