QUESTIONS OF TIME

Coffee at 4am. Airports are all the same..

Arriving in the wee dark hours is not the best way to enter a new country. To wile away some time before the sky comes out, this free wifi is very welcome.
Checking in on an EL AL flight is like nothing I have experienced before. I was forewarned about this stringent process but it still came as a surprise. Normally we go straight to the check in, show passport and dump the luggage on the conveyor belt, never to be seen again. But in this case 6 small desks are placed in front of a line of check ins, and by each a passport inspector stood. Everyone has to have a 5 minute cosy chat with one of these officials: only then can we proceed to the check in proper.

Some of the questions.
Have you been to Israel before?
Have you been to any middle east countries or North Africa recently?
What's your job?
Have you got any contacts in Israel?
Why have you come to Israel? (the big one)

I believe they grade passengers according to risk level. Suppose potential threats get a further grilling when they have landed in Israel

I think he might have been a bit miffed because my almost brand new passport didn't have a single stamp, or visa to mull over.

Entering  the departure lounge seemed a little more thorough than usual too. Arriving here at Ben Gurion Airport it was much the same, before I could collect my luggage.

Have found the shared minibus rank which shuttle between here and Jerusalem, for 64 shekels almost to the door. I want to ride there in daylight to see what Israel looks like.

On the street where I live at 5.30 am. No souvenir shops open yet, but its a different story now. 

Deprived of sleep, since 6am yesterday, the effects hit me in the afternoon but not before I discovered one of the best views of ancient Jerusalem - from the roof of this hostel. Petra-Hostel/Jerusalem/

Through a maze of streets I can reach The Dome of the Rock, but not till tomorrow. This evening I'll try some night shots with the illuminated Dome. There must be thousands of images like this but there is nothing like capturing it with your own camera. There is a free buffet breakfast here and its eaten with this as the backdrop. I know I'm bloody impressed.

Good Night and Good Luck