Sultans of Swing // Part II : Israel & Palestine

Israel and Palestine aren't safe.
Israel is full of arrogant settlers and the days go by in a perpetual fear of terrorist attacks.
As for Palestine, it is a dangerous place inhabited by violent, blood thirsty arabs.

At least that's what the media tells us so that must be the truth, right ?

Wrong, wrong and wrong !

This summer, we were fortunate enough to travel to Israel during our stay in the beautiful Sinai desert.
Sadly, we weren't there very long but it certainly left us hungry for more.



Jerusalem is very mystical.
Even the smuggest of atheist -I'm looking at you, Mr K.- will find himself fascinated by the religious history of the city.
The Via Dolorosa, a savant mix of Jesus and market stalls, was a higlight of our day.







So was our "swim" in the Red Sea.
You think you know what to expect when you dip a foot into the water but really nothing can prepare you to the surreal feeling of just floating there.
Also, look at how pretty the water is !


While I'm not a huge city person and definitely transform into a beach bum as soon as the temperatures allow it, I got the impression that to really get a feel of Jerusalem, you must go there for at least two weeks.
There are so many little neighbourhoods to visit on top of all the "must sees" that 14 days would not be a luxury !

While In Israel, we didn't get to see Tel Aviv (next time !) but we crossed yet another border into Palestine.
The avid newspaper reader that I am was secretly a bit worried.
I was making a jam of gloomy headlines until I didn't know anymore wether to fear a kidnapping or a bomb.
Turns out there really was nothing to fear in Bethlehem.



While it has a "phantom city" feel after the bustling excitement of Jerusalem, it is a really pretty city with a lot to see.
I am no hardcore catholic but seeing the place where Jesus was allegedly born was pretty special.
So was eating the best hummus/kefta of my entire life.



Again, we would have liked to have more time there and after devouring the lonely planet guide on the region and mentally bookmarking everything I want to see, there's no doubt that we'll be back for more !

I would advise anyone in the regio to check Israel out.
The only weapons that we saw were carried by teenage soldiers in Jerusalem and quite frankly, they were more hot than scary.

x, K.

Three letters and one recipe.

Dear K,

Yes I'm talking to you (i.e. myself).

Do you really think that now is the time to be tired and crash for 4 hours ?

Are you maybe under the impression that your lessons are gonna study themselves?

Because they won't.

Now, stop being a big wuss, sit at your table and destroy those piles of school subjects with the power of your brain, just like Chuck Norris would.

And get away from that damn computer.

Only one exam in, and already showing signs of a breakdown.Ugh.

Dear Hummus,

Thank you thank you thank you.

I love you for being calorific as fuck but still managing to make me feel as if I'm eating healthy.

Anyways, everyone knows that food that you make yourself doesn't count.

I also love you for looking so pretty on my plate, next to my cucumber and my cherry tomatoes.

I'm sorry I'm such an asshole and I forgot to take a picture of you.

Truth be told, I had devoured you long before the thought crossed my mind.

No worries though.

Everyone knows that you looked way prettier than the one on this random picture.

Who pours oil in the middle of their hummus though?

Just because you didn't get it at the drive-in doesn't mean that it's light, people.

Dear Mr K,

I swear to God, the next time that you sample my food and that you pout, I will stab you in the face.

Yes, hummus tastes lemony, like it should.

No, you don't hate lemon.

If you certify me that you do, it's good to know, more Napoleons for me.

I still love you though, you annoying picky eater.

You know babe, in life, it's not always fajitas and butterflies.

So, as you might have gathered from the beginning of this post, my day so far hasn't been that productive.

I looked something up on the computer, which was conveniently on the bed, mmm comfy bed, mmm quick power nap, SHIT how is it 2pm already ???

I woke up pretty grumpy that I got fooled again (really, when will I learn that your bed conspires against you during exam period ??).

I was also starving and in dire need of comfort food.

Seeing how close I am from bikini time, I wasn't about to schlepp my ass to the nearest fast food joint to get it, so hummus was the next best thing.

If, like me, you feel sinister and you're hungry, here's how to get your own hummus fix :

* Gather 400 grams of chickpeas, the juice of one lemon, three tablespoons of olive oil and 4 smashed garlic cloves.

* Blend it until smooth.

* Stuff your face.

Promise, my next recipe won't be as complicated as this one.

x, K.