M & C Arrive

We knew they were going to Spain.  We didn't know they were BIKING across Spain.  Because we hadn't heard about when to expect them other than the initial reservation... I decided to check C's blog!  Aha!  There it was in full color.  They were going on the El Camino De Santiago.  

 The blog also revealed the extreme biker had purchased a bike just for this very trip. 

That then becomes this:

And then this:

Pretty amazing, if you ask me.  My next question was: What is M going to ride?

Never fear, he always takes good care of her. 

But that looks like a pretty rough ride (or push) to me!

So now we are waiting to see when they and the bike will arrive.  Where are we going to put that bike.  I think we brought to much of our own luggage.  Oh, dear!  Is it Madrid or is it Barcelona from which they are coming?  4:30, 5:00, 5:30.  I simply have to excuse myself for a few minutes.  Wouldn't you know it!  I missed their arrival.  But they are here and we are happy to see them.  Off we go for two days in Jerusalem!

True, this isn't what you usually expect when you say Jerusalem, but this is one of my favorite views from inside the Jerusalem Center.  We have to go here before we can go there... into the Old City.

This is more like what you would expect, right?  The Western Wall and the Dome of the Rock.

This is our favorite mural in the Old City.  It is in the "cardo"  area.  Recently it was discovered with several columns remaining from the Roman period and this mural was painted to give a feel for what it must have looked like then.  Those shoppers in front look pretty eager, don't you think?

 

The day for Bar Mitzvah's at the Western Wall.  Quite a sight!

 

Our first felafel which became a daily MUST!  Notice the tall guy in the middle of the German contingent enroute to the Greek Orthodox? ritual.  Don't ask me how he got there...

This was a highlight for us all to visit the Tower of David Museum.  It gave an historical view that included all the periods relative to the 20 different sieges on Jerusalem. 

One of my favorite pieces of art in the museum was this painting of what the Second Temple must have looked like.  The staircase has been a recent discovery.  More about this on another entry.

We didn't realize that we could go on the Temple Mount because of tensions always present, but a happy encounter with someone who did know directed us to the spot where we could enter at a time that it was open for the amount of time we had left.  We counted ourselves very fortunate.  

I'd say that was enough for this entry, but it wasn't the end of this day even so....