This Is How We Play In The Old Town
Trip Start
May 13, 2006
1
9
25
Trip End
Jun 13, 2006
Jerusalem,
Israel
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
After our initial orientation this morning it was off for a "nibble around the edges of Jerusalem" - when they said "around" they meant "around". We walked around the entire city today. A six hour tour....it was NOT your Mama's Holy Land Tour.
I will give you the highlights because I don't want to ruin the experience. It is something you have to see for yourself (I will upload a few pictures). It was not how I might have imagined it to be. Not bad - just - different.
Cobblestone streets and huge walls
Damascus Gate
. We walked around the Northern part of the city to the Palestinian side - down the Via Delarosa to the Bethesda Pools where Jesus healed the man lame from birth (Kate I found you a rock here). From there we walked around to the east to see the mount of Olives and then on to the Western (wailing) Wall - through the Dung gate (they needed to put a bathroom there just because) and up to the Christian quarter (I took a slight detour into the Armenian Quarter) then back to the hotel. Our instructor explained all the different aspects of the walls, when they were built and the gates and their significance. By the end of the day, to quote Nate Jones, "My dogs were barking" I was sweaty and collapsed on my bed.
I figured out I need to drink more water as the cups here they give you at meals are just a shade bigger than a shot glass. So up the water intake.
It is still hot in my room and I either have heat rash or there are scabies in my bed. I know - too much information.
Comments
Kate's rock
Mike, Kate's already excited about her rock. You were sweet to get it for her- now she can add it to her collection. Miss you.