Well it was Shabbat and Seth did services for us to both bring in and out the Sabbath. We also had a great night of celebrating in the 7th floor elevantor lounge with TONS of rugala (chocolate filled crossaints) candy (specifically Kinder Bueno-Alissa Sperling has changed my life, and chcolate filled with pop rocks!) and fun stories. This was a great way to relax and enjoy each other's company in a typically Jewish tradition called, Oneg. Oh and tonight I got to hold the mulit-wicked candle...I was the Vanna White of Shabbat!
Today we had more chilly rain in the holy city and because of said rain we spent the day in doors at the Bible Lands Museum and the Islamic Art Museum. The day was topped off by an amazing dinner down town and dessert by the Waffle Lady!
For me today was another day, while I typically enjoy museums the museums we saw didn't feel indicative of the Israeli culture. The content seemed to be similar to that of any musesum who could find anywhere, perhaps even the Natural History Museum in NYC or the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit at the Discovery Museum also in NYC. So this point of view brings me quickly to the change for today...
I AM IN ISRAEL, the holy city, where Jesus walked and preached, when civializations have been created and destroyed where some would say religion was born!!!!! DON'T WASTE THE TIME WITH DISCONTENTMENT! I want to be a more optomistic person, carpe diem, be in the moment and not be critical.
I think the turning point today came for me at dinner, we had an AMAZING dinner where I had the best salad, Mistress Salad with a blue cheese that I enjoyed (if you really know me you understand why that is shocking and worth noting) and a FABULOUS fetuccini with tomato basil cream sause and the same cheese on top (still enjoyed it). We then went to have waffles for dessert and mine was topped with butter scotch and pecans, Caro had chocolate sauce and bananas and Seth (aka Rabbi) had whipped cream and cookie pieces and cream cheese and cinnamon. As if that wasn't enough I then had a cup of the most wonderfully perfect hot chocolate-it might have been literally been melted chocolate in a cup. We also had great dinner conversation about religions and beliefs and were lucky enough ot have Seth's father (Mr. Goren) with us who toured us around the perimeter of the Old City before we came home, that is when it felt real. We saw the large walls enclosing the city, that up to this point we have only see in model replicas (though great replicas-they didn't make it seem real). This made me excited for tomorrow when we actuall get to go into the City of David, walk the stations of the cross and enter the Church of the Holy Sepluchar (clearly we are visiting the Christian and then the Armenia quarters of the city).
I am ready to really begin this Israel adventure tomorrow and get to be in the city and see things. It will likely still be raining but by now we are used to being cold and a bit damp so I say bring on the holy land, I have been blogging about being it in but feel like we aren't really there yet!
Want to know even more about our adevntures here in Jerusalem...then check out my friends too!
Shout out to my newest blog groupie, Alissa Sperling! You can read about her adventures at Alissaintheholyland.blogsot.com!
Don't forget about Carolina too at carointheholyland.blogspot.com
