The Market & Mea Shearim
T - tired
H - holy E - enormous M - massive A - abstract R - rude K - kind people E - enable T - true |
M - mysterious
E - the ending of prejudices A - adventure S - show H - hope E - extraordinary A - awesome R - real I - imaginable M - moving |
The trip to the Old Town & to the Western Wall
In the beginning, it was a little frightening. The moment when you know that you are walking down the street, that you are safe, that it's not dark and that you have nothing to be afraid of, but yet you can't speak your language with someone on the street and you are afraid that someone doesn't interpretate your accidental look. But then again I know that I am just a learner of a new culture and another person going through someone else's society. That is interesting and challenging, right? On the street are random statues which are going to be sold who knows when and god knows what they are going to decorate. The shops are just like any other in Serbia, commercial and put there to draw rich customers and excited foreigners. I am going deeper into the city and the Israeli community. The first smells are starting - the spices, sweaty people selling their goods, and of course the smell of
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races, colours, nationalities, genders... Then the known shirts appear: ''Don't ask Google, my wife knows it all'', and also the rare spices that even the sellers don't know they have them. I liked the differences in everything and everyone. I know that I will never say ''This is exactly the same in Serbia''. Every moment had its own ''wow effect''. It was all moving so fast - the people passing by, customers on the market, children playing around... Then we came to the Western Wall. I was at a place where everyone hides their tears, secrets, prayers. I thought at one moment ''I don't belong here because I don't understand these emotions, that culture and faith.'' In the end, it was not the problem in the differences, but in my soul not opening up, not understanding. I am thankful for realising that. So thanks to this project I levelled up!
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The visit to Yad Vashem
At the end of the day,
love is the only thing that doesn't fade away. The torture, the hunger, the pain, tell me, what is it that you gain? All the horrible things you have done, was it really worth it all? Can you make up your mind, or are you truly blind? Did you imagine as a kid, everything that you forbid? Yes! I am shouting, I am really mad, because some kid lost his dad! You can hear a mother yelling: |
''Oh God, why aren't you caring?''
The tears this child has cried, he is now dead inside. We all know what you've done, you are not fooling anyone! People, please be strong, he was a monster all along! Now listen closely: To have faith, that is the aim, but always remember, love is the biggest flame! |
Learning
Sit, wander, choose, go, see, believe.
What is it that you want to see? What is it that you want to be? I believe that there's only one true side, only one truth inside. But what can you see, what's in front of you and me? Does it matter where I go? Because from my perspective I can see it all. |
Choose where you want to set your gaze, because every person decides where's his place.
Let me wander, let me think, but don't judge me for being stuck at one thing. Sit down, but don't forget to move your chair. There is always something new to learn. Just be brave so you can earn. |
The Museum of Israel
I was so happy to see the history coming to life! From the VR in one room, to short films in another. Every piece of art and history was handled so well, like it is the most expensive of them all. Everything was stored in the right way, at the right temperature and presented beautifully. This is just the right way memories should be stored inside of us. With care. Everything has a story of its own. Even the cup an everyday
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slave drunk out of. The sculptures of people were the ones that fascinated me the most. It's easy to physically copy one's face, but to bring the emotion to life to an ordinary stone, well that's the challenge. So I can surely say that memories and history are not so easy to understand and to keep alive, but the museum has done a really good job in keeping the Israel history alive.
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The Dead Sea
It was like I was entering a new world - I felt like Alice in Wonderland (Israeli edition). Nature everywhere, no internet, no phones, beautiful. The only sounds that you can hear are the birds and loud schoolers. At the beginning of our path, the road was not so steep and easy to pass. And after ten minutes of walking the first steps came. They were all stone steps, made who knows when.
After going through the wild like Indiana Jones, we have finally found beauty. A waterfall coming out of a big rock, seeming like it was coming out of the sky. The sound of the water falling was so loud that I couldn't hear any other people behind me. It seemed like the water was sparkling. The air was so pure and the feeling was unreal. It was a little weird that there was no animal around. Well, except for bugs. Which we killed. A lot. It was a long ride... The first stop was at an old abandoned hotel near the Dead Sea. Only the ruins of it remained. Even the wall colours have faded away. But! There was a beautiful painting of the Israel districts. The most interesting part, and sad at the same time was the fact that the sea had been up to the door of the hotel, and now it is so far away, you can barely see it. I can imagine waking up to the smell of the Dead Sea. It must have been an experience of a lifetime. After the hotel, we have finally come to our long awaited destination - the Dead Sea. The first impression was how luxurious everything was. The buildings were really tall, the stores had the signs in three languages, the people passing by were dressing expensive and the cars were out of this world. The weather was really nice and the sand was warm. The first step into the sea was not strange in any way, but then the act of trying to swim was hilarious. I didn't even dare to dive. Underneath me was salt, but looked like treasure. The best part was coming - I looked like I was covered in snow |