Last Day in Jerusalem

I lieave Jerusalem a little after midnight, and am just typing this as I wrap up packing and getting it all together for a journey that will take over 30 hours! The past couple days have been blissful as I have pursued all that which I have wanted to see. Two days ago, Bethany, lincoln, and I walked to the Garden of Gethsemane to see the Curch of All Nations and where Jesus suffered the Agony. We joked that just about everywhere in Jersualem there is a church constructed to commemorate where Jesus did something. Along the way we saw the Tomb of the Prophets and Gahennah, which lincoln told me is a valley where they did human sacrifices in Biblical times, causing his pastor father to often say "It is hotter than Gahennah"- and so it was, and there was a fire burning, though I don't think it was human flesh. We then went to the Virgin Tomb which is dark and cavernous, down a steep and long flight of Crusader steps. Bethany surprised me when we got back and treated me, Lincoln, and Josh to Burgers Bar downtown, which was so good. We met up to say hello to Sam, as it was his last night, and then had a little after-dinner walk before hopping on a bus back to Mount Scopus.

The next day we woke up early in order to go to the Dome of the Rock, which is only open for non-Muslims to visit from 7:30 am- 11:00 am. we arrived at the Old City just as all the stalls and shops were opening, which was different to see. We got through security and took the Memonides bridge at the right of the wall to alight to the Temple Mount. The Dome of the Rock is about as holy as it gets, and to see it was absolutely amazing. The Temple Mount is huge, and was desolate, save for a few tour groups. We walked past the Al-Aqsa mosque and up steps, mouths agape looking at the Dome, built around 691 and covered in blue, green, and yellow tiles with gold-plated roof shining. Iwould die to be able to go inside, but thanks to the Second Intifada that right is reserved for Muslims only. Even so, just seeing the exterior, and being close to it, when we've spent all semster looking at it from a diatnce from our aprtment was amazing.

Still early, I headed to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre where I was met by only a short line to get into the Tomb of Jesus. I gave Ben my ten cent tour and took in all of the wondrous nooks and crannies for one last time.

Bethany and I broke away from the general crwod to finish the last of out souvenier shopping, and I tried my hand at haggling for the last time. it will be interesting to try that at the mall back in the States (At Gap- "I'm seeing you want $24.95 for this shirt, but I really think it looks more like $16.00"...). I managed some last-minute deals from all of my favorite shopkeepers, which was good.

I then wrote my last note and made the winding journey to the Kotel from Jaffa Gate for the last time. The Western Wall was not crowded and I slipped my note right in, placed my hand on the stones and vowed to come back soon. We left the city by Damascus Gate and took the Arab #1 bus home, me holding back tears the whole time.

The rest of the afternoon was spent getting frozen yogurt on Ben Yehuda Street with my friends, one of which left last night. Now, I am packed up and ready to go. I am dreading saying goodbye to these people, have yet to fathom I am leaving my grand adventure and this grand place, but I have besically made peace with the fact that this is over, but is actually just the beginning of many more adventures.

Things I Will Miss from Israel: (In no particular order)

1. The Call to Prayer

2. Shabbat Dinner

3. Rugulach from Marzipan

4. The bustling of the Shuk

5. Bargaining

6. Kurdilopes

7. Naming taxi fare

8. Tinny Arabic music and cheesy Israeli ballads

9. The Bristish Cemetery

10. Jerusalem Stone

11. Free jimmies on fro-yo

12. Hookah

13. Church of the Holy Sepulchre

14. Religious Garb

15. People watching on the bus

16. Speaking Hebrew (sometimes)

17. Camels

18. The Kotel

19. Cabbage and Mayonnaise salad on pita.

20. The sun sparkling of the Dome of the rock, and the green lights of mosques at night.

21. French Flower Salesman

22. Political/religious talks

23. Zys and Michal

24. Nights spent with friends that went to fast.

Things I will NOT miss from Israel:

1. Mr. Zol's

2. "customer service"

3. Shower that leaks water all over the floor

4. Super long walk to school- uphill both ways, literally

5. Showing an ID and having my bag checked

6. Tension

7. Segregation

8. Cats everywhere