When in Rome...or Jerusalem as it were!

Shalom, sabaah il-xheer, and greetings from Jerusalem!

Today was the first day we had time to actually go out and explore the city without a guide. On Thursday we went on a three hour and four plus mile walk wherein they ran us through multiple sectors and historical sites of the city but didn't allowed us to buy anything or take pictures. But today after classes we were set loose!

A group of five of us left and went to Aladdin's (the money changer) but found it to be closed because of the Muslim holy day. Although followers of Islam don't technically have a sabbath, Friday at noon is the time that they gather at the mosque for prayers so the Palestinian sector shuts down for the rest of the day. Between that and the Jew preparing for their Sabbath which starts Friday at sundown, a lot of people were shutting down their shops and heading out of the Old City.

We were told by some very stern Hebrew guards that the Dome of the Rock was closed to visitors so we made our way through the Jewish sector to the Western Wall (also known as the Wailing Wall). This is the place where members of the Jewish faith go to pray and to entreat the Lord to grant their requests by writing it down on a small slip of paper and putting it into the cracks in the Wall. Common belief is that when your paper and prayers fall out of it, your request is granted. Anyone recall the wedding scene from Fiddler on the Roof? Just like there, then men and women are divided and kept separate from each other (in this case a barrier). Instead of just wearing kippas (the small circular head covering worn typically by orthodox men- in Yiddish a yarmulke), then men were their best top hats or fur covered cylindrical hats to the Wall, though I'm unsure as to the exact nature of it's necessity (whether it's to be worn to the Wall or is special to the Sabbath).

We then made our way around the south end of the city, getting yelled at by some more stern looking guards that we weren't allowed up the steps to the Muslim cemetery. We kept walking and found some stairs which took us up along part of a small wall (still outside the city) so we could clearly see the Russian Orthodox Church (Mary Magdalene's), the Church of All Nations which is settled rather presumptuously on the grounds of Gethsemane, and an old Jewish cemetery dating back to at least the 4th century. There are a couple of beautiful limestone edifices supposedly marking the tombs of Zachariah and . . .someone else important who's name escapes me due to excess jet lag and lack of sleep.

We slipped back into the city after passing the walled up Golden Gate (the one which stood nearest to the Ancient Temple and which is supposedly the gate through which Christ will enter Jerusalem when he returns) through Lion's Gate. We passed the pools of Bethesda which was the spot where the outcasts and infirmed hung out during Jesus' time. It looks really lovely, all green, covered and quiet. It's a rather reverent place; I hope it's open next time we try to go in.

We ended the day's adventure by getting falafel and heading back to the Center shortly before sundown and more importantly Dinner. It was a terribly fun day even with morning classes and religious meetings postponing and restricting our activites, respectfully. I can't wait until Sunday where we have the whole day to play in the city. Tomorrow a group may head to the Garden Tomb before Sacrament meeting but that isn't set in stone, if you'll pardon my horrible pun.

More fun to come! :D