Sunday

Today was a bit shorter of a day. We had the morning off (which we are all a bit tired from the 7am class/bus-lectures) and so i slept until 8 this morning. Last night was the big night for Jerusalem. The Jews observe the Sabbath friday at sundown until saturday sundown, which makes Saturday night a giant celebration. It was unlike anything that i have ever seen. I, with a few friends, drunk some brew and watched the people. All ages were out with activity picking up about 10pm. The diversity of this city is something different than i have ever experienced- Korean Christians singing, capoeira, many a yarmulka and so much else. In this city everyone is identified by their dress- different sects of Jews dress distinctly, as do the Christians, luckily all Americans wear shorts to distinguish ourselves. The excitement and celebration was palatable, i wish i could explain it better or somehow show you.

Anyways, I woke up this morning and made the short trip over to the Dome of the Rock. Access is limited to none-Muslims, and sunday 7-11am is one of the few times people allowed even onto the Temple Mount. Again, interesting diversity (this is inside the Temple Mount, near the Mosque)...
So i almost made it into the shrine this morning. I walked up, quite casually i might add, behind some Muslims and as they in order took off there shoes and when it came to my turn i did the same. I was able to take one of my shoes off, place it on the ground, and loosen the other before i got yelled at. At times they let anyone into the Dome, but it seems to rely heavy on the big-man-beside-door's discretion. I couldn't determine exactly what he was saying, as we experienced a bit of a language gap, but it was definitevely negative in tone. Even without entrance to the Dome of the Rock or the Al-Aqsa Mosque, the Temple Mount was impressive. After viewing the area and walking around its retaining walls several times, it was good to be atop. It is hard to imagine encasing a mount as they did with large walls and then filling in the area to form a level 35 acre platform... but i did enjoy standing on it.

On the left is the view east off the platform, looking through the arches unto the Mt of Olives. The gold onion shaped domes of a Greek Orthodox Church and the spire of the Lutheran church atop the range.

Right is the famed Wailing Wall, which is just the western retaining wall of the Temple Mount. The entrance we used walks up a long path of scaffolding, after metal detection, and puts you up on the surface.

After getting back we sat in lecture for about 6hrs, ate some dinner and now need to pack for our trip down to the Negev (large southern desert) for the next few days.

thanks for reading, and since you are i can probably and honestly tell you i love you and miss you

-k