My first sight of Jerusalem was in the summer of 1977 travelling up from Jericho on a bus, I think this is best view of the Old City, from the east seeing the Dome of the Rock gleaming in the sun as it appears above the surrounding hills. A few days earlier I had arrived in Israel at the port of Haifa after taking the ferry from Greece, I had come from England to spend some time working on a kibbutz in the centre of the country, but wanted to see some of the sights before I got there. My next visits to the city were with fellow kibbutz volunteers, we would visit the Old City markets then finish off the day with a few pints at the Jerusalem Tavern, just off the Jaffa road. Gradually my interest in Jerusalem began to move away from beer and towards the city's past and culture. I started to read up the history and take more interest in the archaeology of the place, history here is not just buried underground, it is in every street and side ally, in every wall. Eventually I took an archaeology course on the kibbutz which included visiting sites in and around the Old City. Living in Israel for five years (I originally intended staying for six months!) I got to know Jerusalem very well, I have since moved back to England and my visits have become few and far between, despite this I maintain an interest and try to keep up with what is going on there. The politics we all know about, Jerusalem has been fought over many times, all we can hope for is a peaceful resolution in the near future.

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