A Day in Yerushalaim!!

An early start to our day today led to mass traffic on the freeway just outside of Jerusalem... Apparently normally about a 40 min drive, it took something closer to 75-90 min.  Although it was annoying and we were all getting quite restless by the time the 60th (or so) minute struck, we managed to remain seated for the duration of the bus ride. 

First stop: Archaeological Dig.
As the bus came to a halt in the middle of a very gravel and dirt road, we were told to leave backpacks on the bus and head across the parking lot to the tented seating area. Filing in through the cut-out-tarp entrance, we immediately noticed the four rows of Jerusalem Stone benches which formed a semi-circle around a mock Kotel with a big "Do Not Touch" sign on it.  About six minutes after we all sat down a stereotypical archaeologist man walked through the other side of the tent and excitedly jumped to the space in front of the benches.  He proceeded to tell us a most fascinating but unfortunately lengthy history of the site of the temple mount, and left us only about 10-15 minutes to do the physical work. He handed each group of two or three students a bucket of what looked to be pure mud, but turned out to be rocks, glass, pottery, bones, mosaics, metal, or special stone from any time period as far back as the 1st Bet Ha'Mikdash. The most exciting things my friend Faye and I found were approximately 1 square inch shards of pottery, nails, and pieces of Jerusalem Stone.  After all of the sifting had been completed we walked back across the hot and dusty parking lot to our bus, which would take us to the Old City.

Second stop: The Kotel.

After a brief introduction to the Kotel from our program director Rabbi Bryks, we were set free to pray at or do whatever pleased us at the Kotel.  I gotta say: there really is something to watching people who come from all over the world gather in one central location to pray at the place which all other Jews around the world "face" while praying.  Or, to think that just four days ago when I prayed Mincha at SBH on Shabbat I was "facing" the very place that I prayed Mincha today is, in my opinion, cool.
Post-Kotel we had a very short amount of time to find and enjoy lunch, so most of us headed to the Burgers Bar above the Kotel where I was wonderfully surprised by my dear friend Dena Phillips! I had a delicious- and I mean delicious- Schnitzel sandwich, which could not have hit the spot better.

Third stop: City of David for Hezekiah's Water Tunnels.
We all geared up appropriately and trekked down the gabillions of stairs to the beginning of the Hezekiah tunnel system.  Though I had done this before in 8th grade on my class trip, we decided today as a group that no flashlights or phone lights were allowed which was most definitely a new experience.  A group of 5 of us stuck together as we carefully felt our way through the pitch dark, narrow, wet, low-ceiling'ed tunnels, and we for sure made the most of it.  Though I will attest to the fact that we sang songs like Call Me Maybe and Basketball (is my favorite sport. . .), we also discussed the significance of the fact that we were actually walking through the very tunnels which were completely hand-carved for the sake of saving a water source for the city way back when.  So yes: we did, in fact, have a wonderful time together. 

Fourth stop: Segway tour of Jerusalem.
For those of you who don't know. . . I have always had a serious difficulty understanding the operating mechanism of a Segway, which made it ridiculously difficult for me to mentally prepare for such an activity for the day. However, when the tour guide guy asked if anyone was afraid of the Segway I loudly stated that I lack an understanding of them and he put me first in line for Segway lessons.  The first 60 or so seconds were 8000% ridiculous and nerve wracking, but thereafter I was completely comfortable.  We took about a 90 minute tour of Jerusalem, visiting the Promenade as well as other look-out areas. 

Fifth stop: Free time in Yerushalaim.
The bus dropped us of near Rechov Yafo, and since I had plans to meet with Dena Phillips, Ilana Greenberg, and Sarah Varon, I power-walked for like 25 minutes to the Rova, and met them there in somewhat of a screaming and jumping-very American- fashion.  Though I feel bad for the people around us just trying to enjoy their evenings, it was very exciting- if I may say so myself.  We had an amaaazing dinner together! I had a falafel lafa with french fries, and loved being able to hang out with them all once again.  After dinner I went to check out Dena's apartment, and then traveled with them to their night learning program for a little bit.  But then I got exhausted. So I hustled my way out of the Old City, onto Rechov Yafo, and headed towards the train which would take me to the Tachanat Ha'merkazit (big bus station) so I could get back to Ramat Ef'al.  On the way to the train I ran into six of my friends from my program, and we all went together back to our living campus in Ramat Ef'al.

Overall, twas a jam-packed, wonderful day in Yerushalaim. Tomorrow morning we are leaving early for a trip to Tiveria, where we will be staying through Shabbat.  I doubt I'll be able to post anything until Saturday night, so until then I'm out.

Hasta luego :).