Our Crazy Life: Monday in Jerusalem

I don't know what to title this day, because it was really a hodge podge of activities. Which was so fun. Unfortunately since we are now going four months since we were there my memory is fading and pictures will do more of the talking. I am so sad that I am not a better blogger. I really need to recommit myself to making a better history for our family.

Monday morning we woke up and walked into the Old City. One of my favorite things, for a couple of reasons. One it reminds me of when I lived in Jerusalem 20 years ago. Seriously a highlight of my life. It was the most common thing to walk down through the Kidron Valley and up the other side and walk through Damascus Gate. The second reason is I love experiencing a culture and not just visiting sites but walking amongst people that do what they are doing every day of their life. You really see people in their own element and I love that feeling.

We walked into the Old City and went to the Austrian Hospice. It is a hidden gem right out in the open. You can walk up to the top of the building and get great views of the City all for free. We then did a little wondering around the City and went back to Shabbons to get a few more souvenirs/gifts.

Views from the Austrian Hospice with their flag flying.

We didn't plan it this way, but each girl ended up going with just John, my dad and me at sometime. It made for some great one on one time without the whole gang. Today was Hannah's day.

A common site is seeing Christian groups recreating the final walk of Christ's life.

I love the busy streets and the hidden alley ways, the beautiful old stones and arches.

Anne Marie chilling with Shabban. He has been a long-time friend to the Jerusalem students. We would visit his store frequently 20 years ago. He hasn't changed except for lost a few more teeth. He was kind to Hannah and gave her a great deal on some jewelry boxes for her friends. He saw her counting her money and figuring out how many she would need. He asked her if she was using her own money and she said yes. He asked her how much she had and she told him and he said that was enough. Very kind. Thank you.

Beautiful, cool doors everywhere.

After our exploring excursion, my Mom came and picked us up in the car with the boys and we headed for the Shuk. The Shuk is an outdoor Jewish shopping market. It is outside of the Old City in West Jerusalem. We used our handy dandy GPS, which got us royally lost in Mea Shareim, the most ultra orthodox area of Jerusalem. In Mea Shareim is the most devote Jews, many do not work, but simply study the Torah. They wear the long black coats with tall hats, beards and long side locks of hair. The women also dress in long black dresses and often cover their heads. It became quite comical as the GPS lead us deeper and deeper into Mea Shareim, but it was great for the kids to see how different societies can be, as if they hadn't seen enough of a difference already. I don't know what it is but I love different cultures!

These pictures were taken from our car as we drove through the streets. You can see the long beards, hats and side curls.

Doesn't it just make you want to start singing "If I were a rich man"

The Shuk was a traditional Jewish neighborhood. We bought some nuts and dried fruit and saw all of the different booths. The butcher, the fruit guy, the nut guy, candy guy etc.

Josh hanging out by his favorite vendor, the candy shop.

It was so fun to be in an environment where the ward if your family. I felt that when we lived outside of Utah, but although I love our ward in Utah I don't have those same feelings of closeness where you spend your holidays together and really watch out for each other.

We hurried back so that we could go to the Branch Party at some of the members home. party was at the home of a family who is living in Jerusalem while working for the US governement. I think the embassy, but I can't remember for sure. They lived in a nice neighborhood. The homes were close together, more like condos, but were quite big inside. Every home in Israel has a bomb shelter. We had a lovely dinner of soups, sides, and a hot chocolate bar that everyone had brought. The kids then acted out the Nativity. It was a fun evening associating with some very interesting members of the church. I love that wherever in the world you travel you will find members of the church who believe in Jesus Christ and his restored gospel.