Comments on: The road to Masada http://www.leonneal.com/blog/2009/02/01/the-road-to-masada/ An ever-growing archive of bumbling nonsense from an English press photographer Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:51:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: mistersnappy http://www.leonneal.com/blog/2009/02/01/the-road-to-masada/comment-page-1/#comment-2926 mistersnappy Fri, 06 Feb 2009 08:52:56 +0000 http://www.leonneal.com/blog/?p=510#comment-2926 School visits, don't talk to me about school visits... 'we're going to Masada' they announced 'cool' we said, 'We're gonna climb up and run all the way down, the cable car is for the girls' (we were 14!) "ah' they said, 'we've got to be there for sunrise, it's the best time' 'What?' we replied 'sunrise?' 'yes sunrise' they confirmed 'we've got to be at the top for sunrise, so you've got to be up and out by 2.00am and we start climbing at 3.00am' 'Masada is so not cool' we moaned As I recall, the sunrise was inspiring but my camera was shit and I've been since, but not that early! School visits, don’t talk to me about school visits…

‘we’re going to Masada’ they announced
‘cool’ we said, ‘We’re gonna climb up and run all the way down, the cable car is for the girls’ (we were 14!)
“ah’ they said, ‘we’ve got to be there for sunrise, it’s the best time’
‘What?’ we replied ‘sunrise?’
‘yes sunrise’ they confirmed ‘we’ve got to be at the top for sunrise, so you’ve got to be up and out by 2.00am and we start climbing at 3.00am’
‘Masada is so not cool’ we moaned

As I recall, the sunrise was inspiring but my camera was shit and I’ve been since, but not that early!

]]> By: tabascokid http://www.leonneal.com/blog/2009/02/01/the-road-to-masada/comment-page-1/#comment-2893 tabascokid Wed, 04 Feb 2009 10:15:30 +0000 http://www.leonneal.com/blog/?p=510#comment-2893 Cheers, bud! Yeah, I'm certainly jealous of being in the snow although it wouldn't do my cold much good. Can you believe it? Walking around in the olive groves and sunshine and I get an Israeli cold? Damn them.. Cheers, bud! Yeah, I’m certainly jealous of being in the snow although it wouldn’t do my cold much good. Can you believe it? Walking around in the olive groves and sunshine and I get an Israeli cold? Damn them..

]]> By: pixgremlin http://www.leonneal.com/blog/2009/02/01/the-road-to-masada/comment-page-1/#comment-2889 pixgremlin Wed, 04 Feb 2009 07:13:58 +0000 http://www.leonneal.com/blog/?p=510#comment-2889 These are beautiful shots, my liege. You be safe and bring yourself back in one piece. As you know by now, it's been snow, snow snow down here! These are beautiful shots, my liege. You be safe and bring yourself back in one piece. As you know by now, it’s been snow, snow snow down here!

]]> By: tabascokid http://www.leonneal.com/blog/2009/02/01/the-road-to-masada/comment-page-1/#comment-2873 tabascokid Tue, 03 Feb 2009 13:14:19 +0000 http://www.leonneal.com/blog/?p=510#comment-2873 hehe They were clearly waiting to celebrate my visit to the area! ;) It doesn't surprise me about the school visits as it's very impressive although I wouldn't want to try controlling 30 school-kids near a 400m precipice.. Cheers for the added research and info, Tim! :) hehe They were clearly waiting to celebrate my visit to the area! ;)

It doesn’t surprise me about the school visits as it’s very impressive although I wouldn’t want to try controlling 30 school-kids near a 400m precipice..

Cheers for the added research and info, Tim! :)

]]> By: Tim http://www.leonneal.com/blog/2009/02/01/the-road-to-masada/comment-page-1/#comment-2872 Tim Tue, 03 Feb 2009 13:10:09 +0000 http://www.leonneal.com/blog/?p=510#comment-2872 Sorry, that previous link went to the Region 1 DVD. <a href="http://tinyurl.com/acop4p" rel="nofollow"> Here's the link</a> for the Region 2 PAL DVD to play on European players (it has only just been released on 19 Jan 2009). Sorry, that previous link went to the Region 1 DVD.
Here’s the link for the Region 2 PAL DVD to play on European players (it has only just been released on 19 Jan 2009).

]]> By: Tim http://www.leonneal.com/blog/2009/02/01/the-road-to-masada/comment-page-1/#comment-2871 Tim Tue, 03 Feb 2009 13:01:33 +0000 http://www.leonneal.com/blog/?p=510#comment-2871 For sure, Masada the <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Masada-REGION-NTSC-Peter-OToole/dp/B000S0KYTE/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1233665670&sr=8-2" rel="nofollow">mini-series</a>*/movie is Israeli propaganda as reflected in the portrayal of the Jews as being more like brave, defiant rebels than Sicarii terroists, and in the choice of the actors. Still, it's worth watching seeing as you've been there now, and to see the Roman army in full siege mode. The acting's not bad either. I read somewhere that next to Jerusalem, Masada is the most popular destination for Jewish visitors to Israel. Also, I heard <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7830416.stm" rel="nofollow">this report</a> on BBC radio about schoolchildren's obligatory visits to Masada. PS. You should become a diplomat. ;) *<i>the double DVD of the mini-series is supposed to be better than the abridged movie.</i> For sure, Masada the mini-series*/movie is Israeli propaganda as reflected in the portrayal of the Jews as being more like brave, defiant rebels than Sicarii terroists, and in the choice of the actors. Still, it’s worth watching seeing as you’ve been there now, and to see the Roman army in full siege mode. The acting’s not bad either.

I read somewhere that next to Jerusalem, Masada is the most popular destination for Jewish visitors to Israel. Also, I heard this report on BBC radio about schoolchildren’s obligatory visits to Masada.

PS. You should become a diplomat. ;)

*the double DVD of the mini-series is supposed to be better than the abridged movie.

]]> By: tabascokid http://www.leonneal.com/blog/2009/02/01/the-road-to-masada/comment-page-1/#comment-2866 tabascokid Tue, 03 Feb 2009 09:21:25 +0000 http://www.leonneal.com/blog/?p=510#comment-2866 I'd missed the bit about there being a film. Cheers for the heads up. I'll try and track it down on my return. I have had it suggested to me that there is some "polishing" of the story to make it slightly more romantic than is currently reported but I couldn't get any more detail than that. I guess everyone becomes a hero over time when it comes to a story like that. As for the repetition of the story, it goes without saying how many times that's evident all around the world. My desire to shake large quantities of people at one time, shouting "grow up!" at them never seems to fade. I’d missed the bit about there being a film. Cheers for the heads up. I’ll try and track it down on my return. I have had it suggested to me that there is some “polishing” of the story to make it slightly more romantic than is currently reported but I couldn’t get any more detail than that. I guess everyone becomes a hero over time when it comes to a story like that.

As for the repetition of the story, it goes without saying how many times that’s evident all around the world. My desire to shake large quantities of people at one time, shouting “grow up!” at them never seems to fade.

]]> By: Tim http://www.leonneal.com/blog/2009/02/01/the-road-to-masada/comment-page-1/#comment-2865 Tim Tue, 03 Feb 2009 08:58:58 +0000 http://www.leonneal.com/blog/?p=510#comment-2865 Remarkable how they built the fortress, and how the Romans built the siege ramp. Looks very dry and barren all around there. I remember watching the 1981 movie and being in awe of the landscape and it's barrenness. Strange that in the time of the Jewish Revolt the Sicarii sought political independence from Rome by violence (terrorists or freedom fighters?), but then all committed suicide. And now in recent times the Palestinians want their own land and independence, and some factions have used suicide bombing to achieve their aims. History just keeps repeating. Remarkable how they built the fortress, and how the Romans built the siege ramp. Looks very dry and barren all around there.

I remember watching the 1981 movie and being in awe of the landscape and it’s barrenness.

Strange that in the time of the Jewish Revolt the Sicarii sought political independence from Rome by violence (terrorists or freedom fighters?), but then all committed suicide. And now in recent times the Palestinians want their own land and independence, and some factions have used suicide bombing to achieve their aims. History just keeps repeating.

]]> By: tabascokid http://www.leonneal.com/blog/2009/02/01/the-road-to-masada/comment-page-1/#comment-2834 tabascokid Mon, 02 Feb 2009 08:58:18 +0000 http://www.leonneal.com/blog/?p=510#comment-2834 I'm actually quite jealous as I love snow. Booo to sunny skies.. Watch those un-gritted pavements people! I don't want to see you guys on a "Greed Direct" blame-claim advert! I’m actually quite jealous as I love snow. Booo to sunny skies.. Watch those un-gritted pavements people! I don’t want to see you guys on a “Greed Direct” blame-claim advert!

]]> By: mistersnappy http://www.leonneal.com/blog/2009/02/01/the-road-to-masada/comment-page-1/#comment-2833 mistersnappy Mon, 02 Feb 2009 08:44:27 +0000 http://www.leonneal.com/blog/?p=510#comment-2833 Great pics again. Hope you are loving the sun while we are loving the snow! Great pics again. Hope you are loving the sun while we are loving the snow!

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