Blogs from Israel, Middle East - page 135

Wednesday, July 09, 2008 I had a fairly exciting day today. Arlette and I joined the yeshiva participants on a bus ride to the Kotel where they went for morning prayers that we skipped out on. Instead, she and I visited the Temple Mount, or Haram Esh Sharif in Islam, where there are two mosques important to Muslims. I have never been on the other side of the Wall, literally and figuratively, so it was truly an honor. I could just imagine what the plaza may have been like in its hey day with King Herod’s great Second Temple. Jewish pilgrims everywhere, bringing their offerings for the priests to sacrifice in the Holy of Holies. Now the pilgrims revere what was once there by praying at the Temple Mount’s western wall. I can also imagine the ... read more

We just got back from our Dead Sea spa adventure. Patty picked us up at 7 am this morning, we went to Masada first, it was really amazing, what a sad and tragic story. Rode the tram up of course, it was 80 degrees by 9 am when we got there. And what a view. A very good museum, very airconditioned inside which was really nice as by the time we were through it was almost a hundred! From there we went to the Dead Sea, actually Ein Gedi spa, I opted for the 1/2 hr. massage, which was my first and was wonderful...I was in a tiny airconditioned room and the lady used lavender scented oils and it was really relaxing. After my massage I went outside where it was over a hundred out, I ... read more

Dead Sea - After noon Travel... read more

Shalom, y'all!! Hope everyone had a good holiday weekend. There was actually a July 4th celebration of sorts in Tel Aviv. I guess I'm not surprised since there are many expats and tourists from the States here. Anyway, closing in on the end of another week... my is the time flying! Have a great rest of the week... Monday, July 07, 2008 I imagine these writings will become fewer as my days become more routine. At least, they’ll be routine until this session ends and the next one begins. Most of the people I have met during this session are going home but more will take their place for the second session. Arlette is here for another week and then flies to the States to take care of business there before returning in late August. So, ... read more

We were hot and grumpy when we arrived in Poryia. I took a dip in the pool and it was wonderful. It was very windy which was just about the most refreshing feeling after the heat of downtown Tiberius. Tiberius was very busy, we had a light meal of israeli salad, babaganush, kabobs, french fries and hummus. We met up once again with our new friends Frank and Maryann from Victor BC Canada who were staying here at Birdsong as well. They had already been to the sites here, one being to the Galilee boat exhibit and the hill of the beatitudes. After a light supper of sandwiches and tea we hit the sack in a cool and breezy room surrounded by immense sliding screen doors. I slept through the night comfortably. As the name ... read more