Follow the Women 2009 - PROGRAM

Day 1: Thursday Oct 8th Participant Arrivals                       LEBANON

Arrival of participants and check in to hotels

Day 2: Friday Oct 9th Bike Adjustment & Opening Ceremony

Cyclists bike adjustment & preparation at Beil (Beirut by Bike HQ) Packed lunch and Visit to Sabra & Shatilla refugee camp Opening ceremony Dinner

Day 3: Saturday Oct 10th Group A ride : Mount Lebanon (Bahmdoun) to Rass El Maten 20 Km.

Leave on buses from hotels to Bhamboun Mount Lebanon Departure Ceremony (with the attendance of NGOs and the union of municipalities) Lunch  in Arsoun Continue ride to Rass El Maten then return to hotels Free evening

Day 3: Saturday Oct 10th Group B ride: West Bekaa area. Rashaya to Kib Elais 48km.

Leave on busesfrom hotels to Rashaya (Bekaa Valley) Arrival in Rashaya school (presence of NGOs and municipalities) start ride to Kib Elias Arrival at Kib Elias with presence of NGOs and union of municipalities Late lunch at Kib Elias then return to hotels Free evening

Day 4: Sunday Oct 11th Ride for all participants: North Lebanon area (50km ride)

Departure from hotels in Beirut with luggage Arrival in Byblos  (presence of NGOs and municipalities) and start ride to Tripoli Lunch in Tripoli Departure to Syria. Crossing Lebanon - Syria borders Check in to Cote d’Azure hotel in Latakia Welcome dinner and briefing

 

 

Day 5:  Monday Oct 12th Ride in Latakia region 45.3km         SYRIA

Departure on buses from Hotel to starting point. Cycle ride in Latakia End of ride.  Packed lunch Departure for Homs Arrival in Homs and Dinner

Day 6: Tuesday Oct 13th Ride in Homs 31.8km

Departure on buses from Hotel to start point Cycle ride in Homs Packed lunch then departure to Daraa Dinner with traditional night show Overnight in Bedouin tents

Day 7: Wednesday Oct 14th Ride in Daraa  50.9 km

Departure on buses Visit to UNWRA refugee camp Ride in Daraa region Packed lunch then departure on buses to Syrian – Jordanian borders Cross borders then transfer by buses to Landmark Hotel amman

 

 

Day 8: Thursday Oct 15th Cycle tour of Amman  35km              JORDAN

Depart to start point at Sports city Commence cycle tour of Amman to Jordan University Welcome at Jordan University with students, programme, media and lunch Continue cycle to the Citadel Hill for community event at Jebal Qala’a with peace kites Meeting with active Jordanian women Cultural evening and dinner at Jebal Qala’a

Day 9:  Friday Oct 16th Cycle  to Dead Sea  20km – 25km

Community event – King Hussein Gardens with women and children – Peace games and messages Cycle to the Dead Sea Arrive Amman Beach Resort for overnight stay Dinner – sunset and International evening

Day 10: Saturday Oct 17th Crossing in to Palestine (Occupied Territories)

Early departure from Dead Sea to Allenby (King Hussein) Bridge Crossing to Palestine Cycle to Jericho for overnight stay

Day 11:  Sunday Oct 18th Cycle in Hebron                                PALESTINE WEST BANK

Cycle in Hebron area Overnight in Bethlehem

Day 12:  Monday Oct 19th Cycle in Bethlehem

Cycle in Bethlehem area Overnight in Ramallah

Day 13: Tuesday Oct 20th Ramallah

Programme to be confirmed

Day 14:  Wedesday Oct 21st

Early start to King Hussein (Allenby) Bridge Crossing through bridge Arrival at Jordanian border Farewells and the end of Follow the Women bike ride 2009

14 dage til start

Så er der kun 14 dage, til vi drager til Beirut for at cykle gennem Libanon, Syrien, Jordan og Palæstina. Jeg var også med sidste år, og det var en enestående oplevelse. Tænk at få lejlighed til at møde kvinder fra over 30 forskellige nationer og med egne øjne se og høre om den konflikt, der vedrører os alle. Mit syn på Mellemøsten og de mennesker, der lever der, blev kraftigt revideret. Vi blev mødt med en enestående gæstfrihed, åbenhed og nysgerrighed, og nu glæder jeg mig utroligt meget til at komme derned igen og også til at gense forhåbentlig nogle af mine cykelveninder.

I mellemtiden har jeg læst meget mere og er bedre forberedt til at stille spørgsmål og komme lidt dybere ned i problematikken dernede. Vi tror naturligvis ikke, vi kan skabe fred ved at cykle rundt, men vi kan med egne øjne se, hvad der sker og gå hjem og fortælle om det. Der er alt for mange stereotype forestillinger om Mellemøsten og de mennesker, der lever der.

Så jeg har spændt hjelmen på hovedet og er klar.

Dorthe

Velkommen til Cykeltur '09

Snart tager en flok danske kvinder afsted på cykeltur sammen med 250 andre kvinder fra hele verden. Turen går til Libanon, Syrien, Pælestina og Jordan. Målet med turen er at skabe dialog - midlet er cyklen. Undervejs deler vi indtryk, oplevelser og tanker. Rejs med her på bloggen!

Læs mere om organisationen og de modige cykelryttere på www.followthewomen.dk