walking from Awarta to Duma

This stretch was 18 km and some of the most stunning scenery. We walked up the mountainside and saw Canaanite wells (or rather man-made reservoirs) which the Romans also used when they came to this land. You can see all the way across to the River Jordan (and glimpse the Israeli settlements strung out on the hilltops). John, one of our group of 6 has taken fabulous pictures (much better than mine) and you'll find them on this link. There were wildflowers in profusion - red anemones, pale lilac cyclamen, tiny blue irises and many many more I couldn't even hazard a guess at identifying. Also all among the stones, clumps of common thistle (natsh which Raja Shehadeh in his wonderful Orwell Prize-winning book Palestinian Walks says was probably used for the crown of thorns). There were also tortoises and millipedes along the way. http://tinyurl.com/Masar20110306