Weekend in Jerusalem

Shalom!! Sorry it has been a few days since an update, but I was under the weather yesterday. The dust at the site is a very fine powder (it could double as lunar dust) and so you breathe alot in. I spent yesterday coughing all that lovely dirt right back out. Fun.... Anyways, the weekend in Jerusalem was fun and annoying all at the same time. We spent one day in the Christian Quarter and walked down the Via Dolorosa and visited the Church of the Holy Speculre (spelling is way off I am sure). That church is built on what some think the hill of the crucifixion was as well as the tomb of Jesus. It was quite interesting and is shared by Greek and Russian Orthodox Christians. We then went into the markets that are open on Sat. (the are the ones run by Muslims as Sat. is the Jewish Sabbath). The markets were so much fun!!! For lunch we ate falafel (chickpea patties) with hummus and vegetables. We continued on to the Mount of Olives and overlooked all of Jerusalem. On Sunday it was time to visit the Jewish Quarter. We started off my going to the Rockerfeller museum (really cool, built on top of an excavated archaeological site) and then headed to the burnt house (a little museum about a 1st cent. AD house burnt when the Romans burnt down Jerusalem). We went off on our own for lunch and I had (surprise surprise) falafel again. We then went on to the Western (or Wailing) Wall. This is where many Jews come to pray and leave prayers in the wall. It is considered a very holy site and you have to be dressed correctly (skirt covering to knees, shirt covering most of arms and head covered). You are supposed to back away from the wall, not turning your back to it for most of the way. It was really cool to go there. We did not get to the Temple Mount, but am hoping to go later with Melissa. We visited the site were they think that King David was buried, inside a beautiful building. We lastly went to the Cardo, a roman "mall" with pillars and a rich history since it was were much of the trade took place, the market I guess. What was annoying about the 2 days was our tour guide. Those of you who have seen Monty Python...please think of the French soldier who taunts King Arthur. Remember his voice? With that really bad French accent? This is what our guide sounded like. He also repeated himself at least 10 times. I now know way to many ways to phrase "this is King David's Tomb". He was horrible!!!! But at least the city was fun!! We are going to Galilee next weekend. Will give you more info. on how the dig is progressing tomorrow.