| Oct. 8-Arrive in
Beirut Lebanon– stay in Beirut |
|
|
| Oct. 9-Get bicycles, meet each other, visit
Sabra &Shatilla refugee camp, opening ceremonies.
The Sabra and Shatila massacre (or Sabra and
Chatila massacre;
Arabic: مذبحة صبرا وشاتيلا
Maḏbaḥat Ṣabrā wa Shātīlā) ( 33°51′40.47″N
35°30′01.50″E
/ 33.8612417°N
35.500417°E /
33.8612417; 35.500417)
was a massacre of
Palestinian and
Lebanese civilians carried out between September 16 and 18,
1982 by the
Lebanese Forces militia group, following the assassination
of
Phalangist leader and president-elect
Bachir Gemayel. The
Israeli Defense Force (IDF), in control of Beirut,
surrounded Beirut's Palestinian refugee camps, then allowed the
Lebanese Forces Christian militia to enter two of these
refugee camps, Sabra and Shatila. The exact number killed by the
Phalangists is disputed, with estimates ranging from 328 to
3,500.[2] |
AM: Arriving in Beirut. Tour of
Sabra Shatilla refugee camp in Beirut. We had dinner ar
Edde Sands Resort in Byblos (google it). It was Jane's
birthday, and as it happens, also one the women from the Italian
team. So we sang the birthday song in both languages. |
 |
| Oct. 10-Rides in Bekaa valley 48km and at Mt
Lebanon 20km |
No pictures yet from today's ride. This is
another view of the refugee camp.
Ride was long, hot and tiring. |
 |
| Oct. 11-Byblos & Tripoli 50km ride Stay in
Latakia, Syria |
Rode along the coast of the Mediterranean to
Tripoli. (Students might want to ask Mr. Salvado about the
history.) Staying in a nice hotel. We joined up the
Octavia, who is staying in Syria. |
|
| Oct. 12-Ride in Lattakia 45.3km Stay in Homs |
Rode down the coast to Latakia. We're
staying in a newly constructed village with a view of a crusader
castle (Kroc des Chevaliers - see picture from Google images) |
 |
| Oct. 13-Ride in Homs 31.8km Stay in
Damascus |
We will take soccer balls to Palestinian refugee
camp tomorrow . Staying tonight in Damascus, Syria.
Today was a long, mostly downhill ride from an old church atop a
mountain |
  |
| Oct.
14-, Ride in Daraa 50.9km, visit UNWRA refugee camp Stay
in Amman, Jordan |
We rode the distance through rolling hills and
farms, as well as Bedouin camps (tents). Arrived in Amman.
We will stay here tomorrow as well. |
 |
| Oct.
15- Ride in Amman 35km, Program at Jordan University |
|
The group rode around Amman city, something not recommended
as Amman is built on seven steep hills, and the drains in the
streets can swallow a bicycle. We watched as a group of
local children flew their kits, some decorated by us, over the
Citadel area high up in Amman. |
| Oct.
16-Rideto Dead Sea 25km, overnight Amman Beach Resort |
|
Left Amman for a long ride along the Dead Sea. In the
evening some went swimming in the Dead Sea. We are camped
for the night on the sand, looking across to the Israeli resorts
on the far side. Every day we get up at 7 or so, and
finally eat supper at 10-11 PM. Makes for a long day. |
| Oct.
17-Enter West Bank overnight in Jericho |
|
We crossed into Palestine from Jordan via the Allenby
Bridge, which is an Israeli checkpoint. It took from 12:15
to 6:15 to get through. Several of the FTW riders were
refused passage. And it was dark then, so we rode
our bikes into Jericho in the dark. Visited a police academy,
and had supper. We are staying in a youth hostel in
Jericho. |
| Oct.
18-Bicycle around Hebron, overnight in Bethlehem |
|
Rode around. Couldn't get passage thru checkpoint to
Hebron.old town. We will be staying in a hostel in
Bethlehem. |
| Oct.
19-Ride in Bethlehem, Overnight Ramalla |
|
It was an exciting day. We toured an area in S.
Jerusalem where the Israeli (IDF) has been destroying
Palestinian homes by bulldozer. We talked to some local
children who told us they were afraid to go to school for fear
of having no home to return to when they got there. |
| Oct.
20-Program in Ramallah |
|
A similar destructive situation exists in East Jerusalem,
which we onserved. Some of the riders went to a village
called Bal,een where there were protesting crowds. It
appears as if a protestor tossed a teargas grenade (perhaps)
toward them. No one was hurt. |
| Oct.
21-Early return to Jordan and travel home |
|
Returning via the Allenby bridge to Jordan when it opens in
the AM. Back to a hotel in Amman, and then leaving in the
morning to fly back. I will have pictures and stories on
return. It was very difficult to get access to networking
that could carry pictures, so more later. |
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