Tanks and Music

One of the nicer parts of our trip down south was a visit to the monastery at Latrun. For Mrs ExpatEgghead and her old history teacher who she still visits regularly it was then a mediaeval music recital. For me it was an extended tour of the Amoured Corp Museum hosted at the old British Police Fort at Latrun, the scene of heavy fighting in 1948. They have increased their collection since I was last there but I wish they would keep the signs by each vehicle up to date and in place. Well worth a visit though

For those tanks buffs, there was a front engined tank before the Merkava. A French AMX built in the 1970s.

I will buy a digital camera one day.
We were near Bet Shemesh , a small town to the south west of Jerusalem. The upgraded Tel Aviv railway line passes by there and a new station is being built.

Alas, a good thing but as it won't operate on Shabbat, won't do much to reduce the death and injury toll on Israel's roads on the weekends. 120 injured this weekend which seems rather a lot.


On Friday morning we were in Jerusalem. Trying to park was a nightmare. We ended up in a multi story car park near Jaffa Gate. On the way out, everybody wanted to leave before they shut the gates. A large queue for the single cashier backed up three floors. She Who Must be Obeyed went down the cashier to witness a near riot as people refused to pay for the hour they had been sitting waiting to get out. Eventually they gave up trying to collect the money and opened all the exits.

If I ever meet the driver of the Subaru who drove down the up ramp and then reversed back into the outgoing queue there will be words.