Monday, June 3, 2013

First days in Jerusalem

It's official, I'm in Israel. My Google homepage consistently reverts to Hebrew script and my Youtube commercials are all in Hebrew. I'm not going to understand anything for the next three months. 

The first few days were a whirlwind. I decided to jump into the touristy stuff. Rather than spend too much time rehashing the first two day, I thought I would share some quick photos from the trip so far. 

DAY 1: HOLY CITY TOUR

My Translation: "Hey bro"

Makin' my way downtown, walking fast, faces pass..

WESTERN WALL

21st-century Western Wall: This kid was tweeting his prayer instead of writing it.

Old School Prayin'


Bar Mitzvah Thursday

 Pappa-Papparazzi--women aren't allowed to pray with the men at the Western Wall

Girls have cooties.

TEMPLE ON THE ROCK


Temple on the Rock.


 My new outfit--think i'll bring this style back to the US

THE CHURCH OF THE HOLY SEPULCHRE

 
Outside

 Dome in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre




On the roof of the hostel after the tour.

DAY 2: BETHLEHEM

Welcome to you, too. 


 HERODIUM (RIP Herod)

 Herodium

 From atop the Herodium

 Hostel Friends

CHURCH OF THE NATIVITY 

outside

designed by Frodo


 
Inside the Church of the Nativity


The Altar at the Place of Jesus' Birth

 Streets of the Old City--Empty on Shabbat



3 comments:

  1. Hi Steve! Love your photos! Thanks for posting a blog on your trip. Will be fun to follow your adventures again! Cooties indeed!

    ReplyDelete
  2. So many cool places in such short at time!

    My favorite fun fact about the Church of the Holy Sepulcher: In your first picture of the outside of the church, see the ladder below the far-right window? That's the Immovable Ladder, which has remained in that exact location (besides 2 temporary moves), since the 18th century. It hasn't been moved due to issues between the Greek Orthodox and Armenian Orthodox churches, and the fact that six different Churches have jurisdiction in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.

    Wikipedia does a better job of explaining it than I do. :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. The LUMC Book Club is sending greetings and appreciation for your tour! We'll stay tuned. Keep up your good work!

    ReplyDelete