Pictures - finally!

Here's a smattering of some of my recent experiences.

My little cave hostel in Jerusalem.

But the view from the roof was amazing. If you notice, you can see the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in the background, and the Luther Church of the Redeemer (tall tower) much closer. I think this was the church that rang their bell every morning at 6.

Again, notice the Dome of the rock in the background.

Turns out you can rent a mattress to sleep out on the roof! I think this might be the way to go!

 Look at this amazing salad I got from a little cafe near the Hebrew University.

 I trust this one needs no explanation.

Atop Mt. Scopus, looking down over the city.

And the sunburn I earned for walking around without sunscreen. You'd think I'd know better by now!

 I thought this was funny. An old discarded couch, right next to the ancient city wall of Jerusalem. This little out-of-the-way street was strewn with trash and debris. Not the most touristy part of the city.

 I woke up at o'dark-hundred to catch a bus down to Beer Sheva for the AIS conference last Sunday morning. This was how I found the streets. Notice that this is a bit of a hill. This is one of the lesser ones. Now imagine me pulling my poor (rather heavy) suitcase up and down these hills/stairs! (The wheels are beginning to get a bit loose. I hope they last!)

 The Valley of Tzin in the Negev Desert - where the Israelites wandered for 40 years. I don't know about you, but the complaining we read about seems a lot more understandable when you've experienced this!

 Dinner at the Bedouin camp (obviously meant for tourists like us!)

 The entertainment. They were a lot of fun!

 Walking through the desert to the Bedouin camp for our AIS session on Bedouin issues.

 The part of the camp where the camels and donkey reside.

 These camels were every bit as stand-offish as they appear. Wherever we (the group) came, they walked the opposite direction. (Notice the shadows of all of us taking pictures. Kind of funny.)

 The view of the Negev from the Bedouin camp.

 Our Bedouin guide informed us that this little plant is good for acne.  It's hard to see, but it is just a small, gold-colored flower, a little like sage-brush.

 More tourist-accustomed camels.

 And the friendliest donkey I ever met. I loved to be rubbed on his ears and face! When I tried to walk away, he kept following me (until he came to the end of his tether).

 As part of the entertainment that night, the band handed out dozens of these drums, and we all pounded in rhythm together. I know this photo of  me looks ridiculous, but my friend was trying to capture the moment. Maybe she succeeded. Maybe I really looked that ridiculous!

We had a little visitor during the last session. I think he was looking for food (he could use it!), or maybe just escape from the desert heat. In the end, he just lay down beside me and slept through the session. I kind of wanted to join him.