Tried to "New Jersey" my way through the Old City...

Eric and I were in the Old City seeing some ruins attributed to King David but are actually mostly Hasmonean and Herodian.  I can't believe I actually know the difference!  Anyway, afterward, I wanted to work my way down to the Christian quarter to see the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, so we took off down one of the busiest "streets," just inside Jaffa Gate.  Because of the many tourists stopping every few feet to look at the piles of Arab crap for sale (not actual crap, just junky touristy kitsch), I started to dodge around people so I could get to where I wanted to go.  Eric was behind me trying to keep up.

All of a sudden, I find myself face to face with an Arab man and his two friends, and he is walking a bicycle up the very tiny walkway.  I know I said street before, and they are streets, but they are like the streets in the old part of Philadelphia, maybe 10 feet across.  Anyway, we were both in the middle of the street, so most people would have just stepped to the side to pass, but he just stands there expecting me to get out of his way.  I, of course, refuse.  There's no way in hell I'm going to step out of his way.  First of all, I'm a woman, and secondly, I'm not trying to maneuver some stupid bicycle where it shouldn't be in the first place.  Plus, I was in the middle where there are steps.  To the sides are the little ramps people use for carts and other things with wheels.  So I just stand there with a look on my face that says "You better go around 'cause I'm not movin'."

Finally, he broke and started to move.  However, he only moved slightly to my right, and his stupid bicycle ran over my foot in the process.  I wasn't hurt, but I yelled at him just the same.  Eric grabbed the handlebars and directed the bike over more to the right, and the incident was over.  Boy, was I bugged, though.  The levels of rudeness I've experienced are unbelievable.  To be fair, however, I'll also say that I've met some very nice people in grocery stores and other places.  I'm still pretty sure my New Jersey attitude is going to land me in some Israeli emergency room before the year is up!

Public Urination or Sunbathing: Which One is Frowned Upon in Jerusalem?

We're driving down the street, and I mean on a BIG street, a main road.  Eric's driving so I have the luxury of looking out the window.  I'm looking and I see a little boy and a grown man standing at the side of the road, their car door open like it's perfectly normal to pull over at a major intersection.  And then I see it.

The little boy has his pants down around his ankles, bare bottom for all the world to see, and the man is helping him lean forward so the stream of urine coming out of the boy doesn't get on his shoes.  What I'm wondering is (A) Is this typical ? and (B) Why with SO many people around?

As for the sunbathing, I had to sneak it.  It is not allowed at the JC (Jerusalem Center) because the center is in a mostly Palestinian neighborhood, mostly Muslim, and the sight of my 44 year-old bare flesh will apparently start WWIII.  So I am sitting on our private patio outside of the apartment in a small section of sun that comes through the arbor, trying not to be seen by any of the neighbors or workers at the Center.  We're on a hill, so anyone seeing me is either leaning way over from the floor above, or has a telescope and deserves to be shocked by my naked flesh.

So, you guys decide which is worse.

Oh My Gosh! What the hell have I gotten myself into?

So, it's 5:00 freakin' o'clock in the morning and the Muslim call to prayer finally ended.  It usually starts at about 4:15 am and ends 20 or so minutes later, but not today, kids!  Ramadan is wrapping up and I think the calls will get longer and longer until Thursday.  AND - different mosques seem to be competing for who has the longest and most plaintive call!  There are four more calls over the course of the day, but other than drowning out the episode of "Friends" I was watching last night at 7:30, not a problem.

Oh my gosh, what a crazy few days it's been.  The 11 hour flight wasn't so bad; of course it was accompanied with a whole Ambien and half a lorazapam.  Getting through immigration was tricky because I guess different countries don't want you staying too long, only enough to spend your tourist dollars and then get out.  Jet lag has yet to let up.  I am wide awake at 2:00 am and want to die from sleep deprivation at 1:00 in the afternoon.  Grocery shopping so far has been a mix of different "stores" that all seem like the equivalent of a NYC "bodega."  And walking along the roads means taking your life into your hands as the crazy drivers speed by at about 45 mph on the tiny street you're on.  Plus, if you don't get flattened by some speeding car, you will most definitely fall into the HUGE piles of trash thrown just anywhere.  Whoever said Israel wasn't a third world country was lying just a little bit!

Yes, I'm sure things will get better, this will be the most wonderful experience of my life, blah blah blah.  But for now you all must let me complain a little and get it out of my system.

Packing Make People Crabby!

Maybe this is not a new concept to most of you, but when a whole family is packing and stressed, WOW!  I think we all need to sit down and have a chat, and then try to be nicer to each other 'cause right now it's stress city in the Huntsman House!  About the only one not giving into it is Rachel.

Trying not to give anyone "the finger"

So, while I was running this morning, I was thinking about driving by myself in Jerusalem.  Apparently people honk at each other all the time, to hurry up, to get out of the way, etc.  Perhaps I'll join in, who knows.  However, I made a promise to myself to wave like I'm saying hello, not flip anyone off, if I get angry.  I'll let you know how that goes!