Marhabteen!

So it hasn’t really been too long since the last introductory blog, but already we’ve done and seen a ton of things. We actually have quite a bit of free time here (just about every afternoon) to pretty much do whatever we want. We are allowed to go anywhere within Jerusalem, Old or New. Although usually we just go over to the Old City since it’s so close, anywhere else would require a taxi which we frankly don’t really want to pay for. I’m still in shock I think that we’re in such close proximity to so many famous and sacred sites that I’ve grown up hearing about, as well as those which are sacred to other religions. A few days ago on the Sabbath (which we honor on Saturdays here) we took a quick little walk over to Orson Hyde Park and the Garden of Gethsemene. It was quite humbling and special to think that somewhere in that garden a few thousand years ago the Atonement was performed. Of course now, the garden is pretty overrun with tourists and gated off to avoid trampling, but it was still special none the less! Things sure change in 2000 years. In my Modern Palestinian class we’ve been discussing the concept of mental geography, which basically refers to formulating in one’s mind an image of what they think a place looks like based on their upbringing, education, environment, experience, etc. I find it very interesting that more often than not, those preconceptions are pretty different than what a place is actually like. We of course discussed the concept in reference to Israel-Palestine, but it is a concept that can be applied on so many other levels. What I’m trying to get at here is that these biblical sites which I’m now seeing in real life for the first time are far different than the images I once had in my head. Not in any way in a negative sense, just different. Anyway, I’ll get off my soapbox now…

In other not boring, but exciting news here’s a list of some of the other things we’ve done and seen in the past few days:

-Golgotha

-The Burnt House (an old home burned by the Romans around 70AD)

-The Herodian Quarter Archaeological museum (more homes burned by the Romans, but cooler)

-A 3 mile walk around the tops of the Old City walls

-Basically we walk around the old city a lot. There are a billion merchants with tons of crazy things, so it’s really fun just to walk around and barder for things.

Olive trees at the Garden of Gethsemene

Old City market scene

On top of the Old City walls with the roomie

Big golden menorah all ready to go for when the 3rd temple is built