We took the early bus from Ein Gedi and arrived in Jerusalem around 11. I don't know if we are getting better at this or we just got lucky, but we had no problems getting out of the bus station, finding our city bus, getting off at the right stop, or finding our hotel. In fact, when we went out to find the market later we also got there without getting lost once. Weird! I say it is because Israel is so easy to travel in. The buses are marked, the stops are labeled, there are schedules, and the roads have signs. There are also a lot of tourists here so I guess they have to make it easy. Lots of American tourists too. That is something strange for us.
The market was packed with people getting ready for shabbat. Many of the Jewish shops will be closed tomorrow. Some sights too. I did pretty good getting fruit and bread and nuts. Our room has a fridge and the hostel has a kitchen so we ate challah and hummos, tomatoes, almonds, olives, and strawberries for dinner.
We wandered into the souk near our hostel and ended up at the Western Wall. It was nearing shabbat time so men in traditional Hasidic clothes were starting to gather at the wall. Many different varieties of clothes. Very cool to see. Steve and Tate put on yarmulke and went to the wall on the mens side. Cora and I went to the womens side. It was a humbling experience to touch the wall and see all the prayers stuffed in the crevices. After that we just wandered around and took in the amazing spectacle. The courtyard started to fill with people. Jews of all degrees and sects. Tourists. Students traveling together. There was singing, dancing, praying. Families with little children all dressed up. I just can't put the whole thing into words and there are no pictures because cameras are not allowed at shabbat. Even Tate said he was glad we went so that means it must have made some impression on him. It was just a fluke that we went and it was amazing.
The market was packed with people getting ready for shabbat. Many of the Jewish shops will be closed tomorrow. Some sights too. I did pretty good getting fruit and bread and nuts. Our room has a fridge and the hostel has a kitchen so we ate challah and hummos, tomatoes, almonds, olives, and strawberries for dinner.
We wandered into the souk near our hostel and ended up at the Western Wall. It was nearing shabbat time so men in traditional Hasidic clothes were starting to gather at the wall. Many different varieties of clothes. Very cool to see. Steve and Tate put on yarmulke and went to the wall on the mens side. Cora and I went to the womens side. It was a humbling experience to touch the wall and see all the prayers stuffed in the crevices. After that we just wandered around and took in the amazing spectacle. The courtyard started to fill with people. Jews of all degrees and sects. Tourists. Students traveling together. There was singing, dancing, praying. Families with little children all dressed up. I just can't put the whole thing into words and there are no pictures because cameras are not allowed at shabbat. Even Tate said he was glad we went so that means it must have made some impression on him. It was just a fluke that we went and it was amazing.
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