ינואר בירושלים

...January in Jerusalem.

Wow...that was a culture shock. That was the first place I had been in over 20 years that did not use a Latin-based alphabet. Squiggles and lines, lines and squiggles.

The hardest part of travel to the Middle East is the plane ride(s). Seemed endless. Heathrow = Hades.

Jet lag...no not Jet Li. Only 9 hours difference...I can hold my breath that long.

Loved the food! Falafels...pitas...bread ropes...hummus...freshly squeezed pomegranate juice..fruitopia...mmm...mmm...mmm. Have you ever had a date in Galiliee? Most people have not...we have.

uggg...Arab drivers. Traffic is not so bad if you can read the signs???

אין חנייה
لا وقوف السيارات
"No Parking"
"Thank you, dumb American for adding to the Jerusalem City coffers," signed Officer Ari.

Arab merchants...made my Jewish blood boil...in Centigrade (international correctness). Jerusalem is, after all, the city of the profits...did I spell that right?

Shekels...a widow's mite for your thoughts.

Olive wood nativity sets. Nice. Varied prices. Negotiation priceless. Customs Agent to Tiki, "now boy, why is it that you have so many nativity sets?"

BYU Jerusalem Center = Mormon University on signs. Shabbat was on Saturday...when in Rome...

Sister Tiki fared well. That was quite the trek up the Mount of Olives...close to 45 degree incline at the top...made Diamond Head look like yawner. Hill...hiller...hillest.

Gethsemane..."now that was one old olive tree." Thanks to Akbar for the "genuine" olive leaves from the garden.

Bethlehem...I touched the spot where Baby Jesus was born! Don't mingle with the LIPs (local indigenous population) here...they are friends of Uncle Hamas over in Gaza.

Still in Bethlehem...St. Catherine's basement where St. Jerome translated the Vulgate (Latin Bible). High 5, dude!

Shepherds' Field...cool...peaceful.

What is the Golden Gate? Certainly not that bridge thingy over San Francisco Bay. "We'll just seal up that 'ol city gate to keep 'their' messiah from comin' in here." Good luck on that...let me know how that goes?

The Wailing Wall...pretty awesome...love that temple stuff.

The Garden Tomb (the "real" one)...pretty awesome...love that temple stuff.

Nazareth...JADAT.

Soldiers...imagine your 18 year old kid with an M16...bravado from the occupying army.

Final observation...how would you react if someone were lobbing rockets into your town? It's easy to be judgmental when you are 10,000 miles away and you have "no skin in the game."

Final observation deux...Jerusalem, the only place you will see more guys in dark suits, white shirts, and ties than the MTC or maybe the CIA headquarters in Langley. The beards and haircuts though...

Shalom
שלום