New Palm Hostel Jerusalem

We made it through the border and it only took 1.5 hours! There was nobody else there. We only got asked a few questions (chris more than me) and most of it was just waiting, waiting, waiting.

We took a bus to the Dead Sea and stopped at the beach to float around for a while. It was really cool! The water was really oily like it had a ton of bath salts in it (like it felt oily ...

... the young women at the ticket booth who allowed Aimee and I in free with our expired pass, and charged us a reduced rate for the boys.

We knew we were in for a bit of a tough slog, since this is one of the hottest spots in the world during the summer, and because the hike is straight up “Nachal David (David’s wadi) on the way in. But we came prepared with gummy bears to dole out on the way up. We made it to the top, though not without a bit of whining ...

... arbeidsmarkt.. van het leger! " Kom bij de panzer divisie!" "Doe wat leuks met je leven, word sniper!" En natuurlijk alle standjes bemand door 17 jarige kindertjes in uniform met geweer. Bij het festival hoorde ook een reeks concerten. Israelische pop is een mix tussen arabische muziek, 90 hits en song festival.. Na optreden 1 kwamen er opeens hele verontrustende beelden op de grote schermen: een auto op zn kop met kogelgaten, en bulldozers en militairen dr ...

... of raccoon like critters, peacocks, an aviary and again an array of unique and exotic plant species. After a little morning rest and some inquiry we were on our way just a few minute ride north to Wadi David Park. Here we walked a relatively short (30 min each way) hike through an oasis valley. On either side of us was an incredibly stark landscape full of caves and massive boulders. Where we walked there ...

... left a lot of shekels here buying lots of posters and books.

On our way out we stopped by Zion tours and it was closed. So just a little more shopping in the Christ Church book store which was directly next to Zion Walking Tours. Today this was a happening place. A mini-Christian meeting spot. We saw and talked to the little woman and her father we had met yesterday at the Israeli museum and the friendly woman from the ...

... Touristen in Israel angeht, so sind sie in Jerusalem selber ganz klar in der Ueberzahl. An manchen Ecken hoert man sogar mehr Englisch als Hebraeisch! Und wehe, man faengt ein Gespraech mit ihnen an, denn frueher oder spaeter fangen sie immer von Gott an und ob man denn selber schon zum Glauben gefunden hat und so weiter. Sagt man nein, wird man sie so schnell nicht wieder los...

Was fuer ein Glueck, dass es NewEurope gibt, denn die bringen einem auch zum Oelberg, ohne ihre ...

... were doing. My body tingled and I felt pride in the uniform, that of the Israel Defense Forces. I was only doing a two-month stint, not for three years like male citizens, but it was something in the way the people looked at us and spoke to us. Younger kids said things like "Thanks for protecting our country", which from our angle was both funny and ridiculous. But even their parents were impressed that a program existed in which 95 foreigners could participate in a genuine 02-grade ...

... concentration is so high that it stings if you get this in your eyes.) Then there are freshwater showers to rinse off the sulfur. I had a blast as I've always loved playing in the mud. Rich was a little less than thrilled, but he gave in and, I think, ultimately had fun with the mud.
You *can* walk to the sea with the mud on you, but we showered it off first, and then took a tram to the sea. There are natural mud holes here too if you choose this route.
The sea ...

... have detracted from the experience also, but I knelt down in front of the altar that marks the site traditionally believed to be where Jesus was born. I prayed briefly and the monk/priest assisted me up and smiled when I said thanks. I have to admit, I was a bit disappointed in some of the members of the group I'm with. There was a small undercurrent of rather ignorant Protestant judgementalism going on about the religious practices and traditions of these ...

... then continued up the very steep hill. Memories of the hard trail into Namche Bazaar in Nepal! At the top we found the Dome of Ascension, this is where Jesus was to have ascended into heaven. It is a very small room with the small rock inside a border. The building was built in the 1100s and the dome put on years later. We then began our walk along the hill, overlooking the many cemeteries on this hill and on the hill ...