Israel: Day Four

February 20, 2008

Well today has been a long day. They say that the country of Israel is about the same size as New Jersey. Unfortunately the drivers are worse than those of New Jersey. Now ordinarily this would be kind of funny. But today our drive to Jerusalem was nuts. Now it was only about an hour long drive from our hotel in Tel Aviv to our hotel in Jerusalem but it was one scary hour.
This morning we woke up around 8:30am local time and went down stairs to enjoy another “local Israeli breakfast.” Mmmm. So tasty. After cleaning up, packing, and checking out we got on the road by 10 and were comfortably in our hotel in Jerusalem by 11:30am. By noon we were starting our adventure to the “old city.”
God, everything is beautiful here. From the sand colored buildings to the people you really get a feeling that you are in the center of a religious hub.
On our way to the old city we stopped in a small park by the Artists’ Colony and talked with some IDF soldiers who stopped to have lunch. They were eating in a small park. A solid plate of rice and potatoes. They kindly pointed us in the direction of the Jaffa Gate.
Just outside the Jafa gate we met our friend Rami. Rami is an Armenian shop keeper who, as we later found out, baits customers in by giving them a mini tour then showing them his brother’s shop. Although we got suckered into some souvenirs (mom, Kim your gifts were from here.) the tour was amazing. He took us around areas near the Jaffa gate and on top of a roof where we were able to get some great shots. I’d tell you what we bought in his store but that would ruin the surprise for mom and Kim. Anyways he did treat us to some excellent tea with mint. Delicious.
After leaving Rami’s shop Dad and I adventured for a little while on our own. After getting lost and losing some light we made another friend who gave us another tour. He took us around through the Armenian quarter, then down to the markets. Inside the market we were able to take some pictures of people. There were people selling everything from spices to t-shirts to lamb meat. Far more variety than a super Wal-Mart. Our friend took us on another roof-top escapade where we got to see the market from above. Then he dropped us off at the Western Wall.
Talk about an experience. Although I only spent a few minutes praying at the wall, just people watching was amazing in and of itself. I mean you have people from all sorts of cultures. From Nigerian Christians to Hasidic jews, there really was representation of every race and religion. I snapped some shots of my father as he was being wrapped in t’fillin, and praying with a rabbi. Then we both took pictures of an orthrodox couple that just got engaged. After leaving the Western Wall we went to take some pictures at the Al-Aksa mosque. To enter you must go through a gate, over a covered walkway, and into the mosque. Well we walked through the gate, which was only ajar, and came face to face with an IDF soldier who was equally surprised to see us. In a thick Israeli accent he said “No, no, no.” Unfortunately he didn’t speak English, and wasn’t able to tell us that we could not pass. Then he said, “You speak French?” Madam Koif, you’d be proud. I held a long conversation with him. He told us that we could only go to the mosque on Sundays. Then he told us that, despite our assumptions he was actually from Marseille. His mother originally from Nigeria, his father from Morocco. He had no problem posing for a picture. Unfortunately I slapped his gun when I put my arm around him. It didn’t phase him, but I was scared as hell! I thought for sure he was going to put me on my butt.
Slightly bummed we started making our way back to the hotel and decided to pass through the jewish quarter. Despite the fact that some orthodox and Hasidic jews do not allow themselves to be photographed their children love being shot. We spent a good long while shooting the children at play. And just because they’re wearing a yarmulke, it doesn’t mean that they follow the commandments, see the photograph “Thou shall not kill.”
Now with the sunlight dropping off we decided that once and for all, we would make our way back to the hotel. But wait, it’s 4:00pm and we didn’t have lunch. Perfect time to stop and scarf down another shwarma while making our way back through the market and to the hotel. Now it is six o’clock. That means I have a few hours to edit pictures before our cousin Netta picks us up and takes us out to dinner. Mmm. Wonder what we’re eating?

-Aaron Snyder