The everyday blog of Richard Bartle.
RSS feeds: v0.91; v1.0 (RDF); v2.0; Atom.
8:27pm on Monday, 12th November, 2007:
Miscellaneous
Continuing the occasional series...
Jerusalem.
Given that this is one of the oldest cities in the world and is a holy site for three major monotheistic religions, it might be the kind of place worth looking round. I suppose if I found myself in the vicinity I would indeed look around it, too, I just wouldn't go out of my way to do so. I'm not put off by the knowledge that at any moment I could be attacked by random locals as they go about their daily business, it's just that I don't really feel I'd connect with the place much. Given that some people connect with it so much it even has its own syndrome, the thought of appearing under-impressed in their company is somewhat off-putting. I'd go to Jericho in a flash, though, that sounds pretty good.
I understand why some people really, really want to visit Jerusalem, and how they may feel dismay that I'm not all that fussed about it, but at least this way I'm not occupying a hotel room that someone seeking a spiritual or archaeological experience might need. Yes, I'd probably feel the weight of history in seeing the Wailing Wall, but I don't have any emotional attachment to it and it's nothing special to look at in and of itself (it has stuff growing out of it — what's that all about?). The Dome of the Rock, yes, so it has a golden roof, that could be impressive; not impressive enough to fly out especially to see it, though.
That said, 2 million tourists a year disagree with me.
Referenced by Places I'm not all that Fussed about Visiting #5.
Latest entries.
Archived entries.
About this blog.
Copyright © 2007 Richard Bartle (richard@mud.co.uk).