Finally got to the lobby and spent some time at the tour desk. We booked our trip to Petra with two hotel nights in Eilat. Also arranged for a tunnel tour on Monday. The representative is from Australia and then a young man from NY sat down and we all had a great time chatting about Book of Mormon and other stuff. Jeff went to an ATM and we found out how to use the light rail train and bus.
So off we went to the light rail which runs right down Jaffa Road which is next to our hotel. This used to be a main car thoroughfare and now only has the trains. They are new, clean and run often. You buy a ticket at the stop and validate it when you get on board. Two stops later we were at the Jaffa Gate to the Old City. Of course it was still quite a walk and a friendly guy told us to follow him and all the crowds. So much has changed since we were last here. There is a large promenade to the gate and another large plaza adjacent. Below that is a shopping area with cafes looking out over the hills. Once inside the gate is is a busy place with cars and taxis for the first block. Tour groups were meeting and there were people everywhere. We started walking through the Moslem Quarter and passed hundreds of shops with souvenirs, clothes, luggage, food, cafes and even a shoe maker. We ambled through many alleys and one place was a lounge with men sitting around smoking hookahs and drinking tea. We got to one set of stairs and a guard said only Muslims could enter as this way led to the mosque and it is closed to visitors on Friday.
Finally we found a street that led to the Jewish Quarter after walking on the Via Dolorosa. Soon we went through security and entered the plaza at the Kotel (Western Wall) and went down the steps. This is a magical place with bright sunlight reflecting off the stones. The wall is separated from the plaza by a low wall which now has a screen atop it. The men pray on the left side and the women have a separate entrance and section on the right. We were there about noon and not much going on then, noticing only one Bar Mitzvah. Jeff went to pray and put on tefillin with some orthodox men. I went to the women's side and found a spot against the wall. It is so cool and spiritual. I had written a prayer and had another from a friend to insert. It is hard to find a crack, but I found a hole and shoved them in with other tiny pieces of paper.
Afterwards we met on the plaza and went up some steps for a view and into the commercial and residential area. We came across a cafe with shady seating and had lunch.
Jeff had schwarma which he said was mediocre and I had very good falafel with humus and tehina. The pita here is so delicious and soft. Yummy! When we finished I spotted a gelato stand and went in for dessert. Two young men were at the counter and helped me select a flavor. One was from Long Island and one from NJ and they are here studying for a year. So young and so exciting for them.
One thing we enjoyed seeing was the newly rebuilt Hurva Synagogue. Last time we were here there was just an arch after the synagogue had been destroyed by the Jordanians.
At this point we were very hot and tired so we trudged uphill, back through the Moslem Quarter to the Jaffa Gate. We walked through the promenade which had an exhibit called Cooling Globes. It has travelled in the US and many other countries to promote recycling, conservation and saving our earth. It was started by the Clinton Global Initiative. There were some interesting pieces.
Finally got to the train and back to our hotel where we are resting and going through photos.
Got up, got out of bed and showered. Time for Shabbat dinner. We signed up for dinner at the hostel and were told to come early and help cook. We never expected such a fantastic evening. There were about 60 dinner guests and we all sat around wearing cook hats and cutting vegetables and making kebabs.
What a great group effort! And everything was delicious. There were so many salads and eggplant, the kebabs, and pasta and more. The tables were set beautifully with pita and hummus at every other place. There was a short service first with the candle lighting, kiddish and motzi. One of the employees explained the service as there were many non Jews present. The challah was delicious as were all the dishes. Each place also had red wine and afterwards we had to wash our dishes and clean up the tables.
We met such interesting people. The young man we spoke with this morning had his family visiting and there were about 10 of them at a private table. We sat with six women from Iowa who are our age and have embraced Judaism. Two young gals next to me were from Germany. Also a Jewish guy from NY who now lives and teaches English in an Arab country and also speakers fluent Spanish. He and I were talking with a Sar-el volunteer from Mexico and several members of her volunteer group are here. Met another group of VFI volunteers from Colorado, Alaska and Australia. What fun it is to meet these wonderful folks and share stories. We also met one of the owners of the hostel and his wife and baby daughter. A very sharp and sweet guy.
Now it is 10:30 and we are doing laundry. The wash should be done soon. We are waiting in the second floor lounge where there is a bar, seating areas, foose ball, pool table and several hammocks where Jeff is hanging out. It is abuzz with conversations in many languages.
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