the place where it all started.

four days of holiday give us some free time to catch up with the writing.

After visiting Mt. Nebo, we were led to a Greek Orthodox Church in Madaba to see what was regarded as the oldest map of the middle east constructed of mosaic in the 6th ~ 7th century.

The mosaic covers the biblical land of Egypt, Lebanon, Transjordan and of course, what is now, Israel.

The city of Jerusalem was clearly the most important location then, highly developed with city walls, defensive towers, and network of streets.

it then crossed my mind, it probably still is the root of all conflicts there is in the middle east, if not the world, ever since the days of the crusades...