Back Again...

Arrived in Tel Aviv about 6ish and got to Jerusalem around 7. Much easier now that I can get a direct flight here but still takes a whole day virtually to get from home to Jerusalem. I was worried that I might find it difficult being here again after almost 18 months without a visit but as seems to be usual, it's like I've never been away. Same script at the airport, which looks the same as ever, chat with someone in a booth I can barely understand then extra questions after getting taken to one side as I go through the gates. Same questions and rigmarole that I've been through each time I've visited and same end result.

Sheroot from the airport went round all of Jerusalem before finally getting to Damascus gate after about an hour and a half. Found the hostel easily enough because it was where I thought it was going to be. As far as I can tell the hostels opposite Damascus gate continually change their names and everything is a new version of something else. I'm not sure if I've stayed where I am now before or not. I knew the owner was Palestinian and he hugged me when I replied 'Nablus' to his 'where are you going?' question. Once I'd got rid of my bags I decided to have a wander round and get something to eat. Decided that I would try to find the McDonalds in the city centre even though I had no intention of eating there. Just wanted to prove to myself I still know my way around. The city looks the same as ever and not much progress appears to have been made on the tramway which is now an overgrown path with train tracks running through it. I found McDonalds after bumping into what felt like half of the IDF. Not sure if there is a ceremonial event on but there's a lot of them about an a helicopter flying around. Smug though I was at finding the fast food place there was no way I was going in so I went somewhere else for an equally unhealthy Shwarma and can of what I can only presume (from the picture not the taste) was cherry ade.

The owner of the hostel said that Palestine is my second home which seems a very strange remark after only being here a few hours. I do feel like he is right though. I'm really looking forward to meeting up with the friends I haven't seen or spoken to in a while and I do think that I can do something worthwhile being here as someone who has visited before. I know what I would like to do but I also know that this is 'Palestine' and what one does is rarely what one has planned!