A Giro in Ramallah [Palestine Vol. 1]

Ramallah is one of my favourite cities in the world, probably even classified as the absolute favourite. Well along with Jerusalem. It's not because they're home (okay maybe it is but nonetheless you will get me!). If you live there or have ever visited you will get me. If not, you will want to.

I’m going to give you a glimpse into my journal of Beautiful Ramallah and maybe another one of Jerusalem some other time.

The thing about Ramallah is that wherever you go, you will find something to do or some cool spot to hang out in. And let me tell you something about Ramallah and its cool spots. THEY ARE ENDLESS. And I do mean that. I think they open a coffee shop every other week, so you will never have enough time for all of them. And they are all unique and have their own vibes.

Nevertheless I will take you along to my chosen places that I always end up going back to no matter the time of the day.

So it started with us parking the car in the city centre, maybe a bit farther from it in order to walk a bit (always park it farther from your destination so would capture the unique places). I just took a breath of fresh air and glanced around me. The trees and old houses of Ramallah surrounded me, giving me so much good energy. Just seeing them with the orange or almond trees in their gardens along with grape vines is pure magic. Ahh it’s a beautiful sight.

These old houses have been here for generations and tell so many stories. Imagine the memories they hold for their people! What I do is I imagine how those memories might be. An old lady watering her mint, her husband clipping flowers. Maybe kids playing in the garden, flying a kite around their house. Two men playing shesh besh (Backgammon) or cards on a small table by the door, drinking tea. A young woman lost in her book under that almond tree.

Okay I’ve shown you too much of my head. But in way i showed you how it was or still is in old Palestinian houses. 

So we started walking to the centre for the mission to find Shawarma (this had recently developed into my everyday mission… Okay every three days but still if I can eat Shawarma every day I would be the happiest person alive). We passed by shops, sweet places and an old bookshop that I immediately entered to browse new books (HA, you thought I wouldn't mention books in a post?!).

The bookshop is on the lower level of a building which I wish would be more recognisable and seeable because it deserves to be visited by every person passing by. It’s filled with so many books,old and new.

Anyhow, we reached our destination and got our delicious Shawarmas from Abu Iskandar which I think is one of the best Shawarma places in Ramallah. Please tell me you’ve tried it!

After that we had to have coffee (because come on it's coffee!), so we walked to a cafe that I recently heard about called Sufi in Ramallah Al Tahta. This place struck me with its authenticity because it has a nice cosy Palestinian vintage vibes mixed in with modern-ish ideas. It has walls of old ceramic plates and a beautiful quote by Jalāl ad-Dīn Rūmī that says (and I hope the english translation is correct):

"ما ضرك لو اطفأ هذا العالم أضواءه كلها في وجهك مادام النور في قلبك متوهجا"

Which in English it says (and I hope the translation is correct):

"What is your concern, if this world turns off its lights in your face, as long as this light in your heart is glowing"

On the other side of the wall it’s filled with random art pieces, focused more on the oriental side. And on top of all that, there is a beautiful tree in the middle of the cafe that just gives the place its uniqueness.

You find people busy working on their laptops, a couple of them reading books, many just having interesting conversations about their lives and the world. 

We had our coffee alongside a delicious baklava, hung out for a while then left to continue our walk. By the time we were out, it was night and pouring rain so imagine the beautiful scene of street lights, rain and people running about under the shades. I want to swift my wand and make that scene last forever. 

Until our next Giro my friends,

Salam