Haifa

INSPIRING SETTINGS FOR SUSPENSEFUL NOVELS  by Joan Ramirez, author/photographer 

Built on the slopes of Mount Carmel, Haifa has a history

spanning more than 3,000 years. The earliest known settlement in the vicinity was a small port city established in the Late Bronze Age (14th century BCE). Over the millennia, the city has changed hands: being conquered and ruled by the Canaanites, Israelites, Phoenicians, Persians, Hasmoneans, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Crusaders, Ottomans, and the British. 

Haifa was besieged and blockaded by European Christians shortly after the end of the First Crusade.Under the Crusaders, Haifa was reduced to a small fortified coastal stronghold. It was a part of the of the Kingdom of Jerusalem. Following Saladin's victory at the Battle of Hattin his army captured Haifa in mid-July 1187 and the city's Crusader fortress was destroyed. Richard the Lionhearted retook Haifa in 1191. Many of the crusader fortifications from that era have been restored and opened to tourists. A wonderful way to spend several hours touring this piece of history.

Today the city is a major seaport located on Israel's Mediterranean coastline and lies about 90 kilometres (56 mi) north of Tel Aviv. It is the major regional center of northern Israel. The city plays an important role in the country's economy. It is home to Matam, one of the oldest and largest high-tech parks in the country; Haifa also owns the only underground rapid transit system located in Israel. Haifa Bay is a center of heavy industry, petroleum refining and chemical processing. The city formerly functioned as the western terminus of an oil pipeline from Iraq via Jordan.

This and other photos of Israel and Jordan are available for purchase.

Email me at:  writer1044@gmail. com 

Visit my website at: joansbookshelf.com for information on events, new publications and short stories. 

                         INSPIRING SETTINGS FOR SUSPENSEFUL NOVELS 
                                        by Joan Ramirez, author/photographer 

Petra
(Copy right Joan Ramirez 2018)

 An adventure, a step back in time, and an experience of a lifetime. These are the phrases that best describe a visit to Petra. This former center of the caravan trade, a royal jewel in the country of Jordan, is slowly succumbing to the forces of nature. As my horse-drawn carriage navigated through the Siq, a narrow gorge that leads visitors into Petra, my guide made me close my eyes. When I opened them, his first words were, “BEHOLD, history awaits.” 

I’ve circled the globe, but this view, even from a distance, of Al Khazna, the Treasury, is spectacular. Crowned by a funerary urn, local legend has it that a pharaoh’s treasure sits inside of its belly. I’d watched the Raiders movie featuring the fearless Indiana Jones, but to be up close and personal was incredible. Almost 40 meters high and adorned with Corinthian capitals, friezes, and figures, I closed my eyes once more and stepped into Indiana’s shoes to take his place on my own literary adventure. From the Royal Tombs to the Governor’s Palace (shown below), the city is a feast for the eyes.

Petra has been a UNESCO world heritage site since 1985, but windblown sand and growing salt crystals are a threat to precious monuments. In fact, during an event held on July 7, 2007 in Lisbon, Portugal, Petra was designated one of the new Seven Wonders of the World. If I had available funds, I’d provide them in a heartbeat to preserve structures steeped in a country rich in history.

(Copy right Joan Ramirez 2018)

In Petra nature, culture, and archaeology/geology blend together to form a magnificent whole.                                                       

While plot and character have a major role in all novels,  setting is often the muse that fires our imagination.

Joan Ramirez is a published author of three non-fiction books, a romance novel and a romantic suspense set in the intriguing world of fragrance is now being reviewed by a publisher.

Roman Governors Palace
(Copy right Joan Ramirez 2018)

Visit my website at:  joansbookshelf.com for information on events, new publications and short stories.