Blogs from Jerusalem, Jerusalem District, Israel, Middle East - page 48

Given my friends' thorough mental preparation about Israel, I was not surprised with the tight security and fully clad soldiers. I have to say that I was taken back by the relaxation and safety I felt in Tel Aviv. Maybe its all because of the warm Mediterranean breeze. With the never ending beaches and sun, it truly is a sun city. Another fact that my friends didn't tell me is that Tel Aviv is also the sin city of the middle east, just like Vegas...maybe its because of the neighborhood I stayed at. Moments after I walked into Old Jerusalem, the aforementioned safety was peeled away a thin layer. I am staying at a hostel right outside the Damascus gate, in the Arab district. I got lost for a moment after entering the Old City ... read more

10.15 The plan of waking up early for a whole day of excursion had failed! Guy woke us up after a long sought after sleep, with a knock on the door asking us if we were awake, a humble host's way of saying 'Get your lazy asses up!' So, we got up to a late start, where we were first introduced to Guy's lovely girlfriend Morit, that was coming with us for the day in Jerusalem. After a quick shower and breakfast we were on our way. From Tel Aviv it is only 40 min to Jerusalem by car, so it went pretty quick. The first impression of Jerusalem, driving through the suburbs, was the special look of the buildings. They are all made of stone, new or old, they all have the same outside ... read more

Last I left you was in Udaipur, land of the glistening lakes. The day I left I spent shopping in the local marketplace and met some wonderful wholesalers who would have sold me their whole store, had I agreed. Wandering the streets, I couldn't help but be wistful and wish, only slightly, that my time in India was not coming to a close. There are things I will miss...the shopkeepers, the ornate windowsills that decorate the random buildings along the back alleys, the temples that adorn quiet streets, the colorful saris that whisper femininity in the breeze. As I boarded the plane alongside some Australian foreigners, we could not help but compare notes on our most interesting moments in India. We shared pictures of the places we had not seen...and I, once again, mourned the fact ... read more

synagogue atthe Great Synagogue and a day of leisure!... read more

Today we woke up and had a lively pannel discussion/debate with members of the Kinneset which was really great. It was wonderful to hear the different sides and easy to see how hard it is to be in government in such a trouble filled region! We then went first to Mount Scopus to the old Hadassah Hospital where we saw some amazing physical therapy innovations they are doing, I tried to meet with the head of the social work department but she was busy and left me her card. We then went to the old city and shopping in the cardo and shook...then lunch on our own before visiting the Kotel, or Western Wall. (I forgot to mention it was snowing this whole day, big wet freezing rain and snow....NOT normal for Jerusalem and pretty miserable ... read more