First Day: July 2-3

Left San Antonio, Tx at 7:30am on July 2 and flew to New York arriving about 12:30pm.  Had a 5 hour lay over plus but this was a good thing because I had to change dollars into shekels, find something to eat and find El Al airlines terminals.When I arrived at El Al counter it was completely empty and was told to come back to that area about 2 hrs before departure so I had to search in the JFK El Al area for a place to set down and charge my phone.  NOTHING like the airline terminals that I have been in the past where there is ample seating and charging stations for your electronics.  I was told of a secret electric plug in wall that I could use so I set on floor waiting for phone to charge.

Once that was done I went back to El Al area and it was PACKED.  El Al employees trying to direct you into about 3-4 different lines for the process of just checking in.  Got into wrong line twice and had my carry on luggage checked twice.  Once on plane which holds 387 passengers(full) there was at least 300 young High School students going to Jerusalem for a 5-week summer program.  Can you say SLUMBER PARTY?!  SO can I just say that was quite an eventful flight. YES I did get some sleep and was so out of it when I did go to sleep, the lady beside me and I slept thorough the serving of breakfast.  Woke up with the plane descending.  For those of you reading Cathi/Scott's blog you know WHY they had to wait an hour for me to get off plane, get luggage and go thorough customs with 387 other people.

What a joy to see my family waving their arms at me...Scott/ Cathi and kids had come to Tel Aviv the day before to have some American food, movie and pool time and in order to do this they rented two compact cars to carry them, their luggage plus add me and my luggage...Seemed like a very short trip to Jerusalem, beautiful countryside and as you drive UP into Jerusalem you see this MOVIE set of stone homes/buildings. This city has reminder me of so MANY places I have been to and I will refer to that thorough my blog.

I must tell you all that in reading this, Jerusalem was never on my heart, my bucket list or dreams to visit. BUT I must say just what I have seen so far I am so glad I have had this chance to be here with my family and to go and step where my Jesus has stepped. Those of you who know me know that I love genealogy and love tracking down my fore fathers so really this is just up my alley, history every where, as Ryan says, throw a stone and you have hit history.

To find where Cathi/Scott is living is like a maze. Thank goodness they came to get me at the airport. Arrive at C/S home and my I say so Jewish looking community, or at least what I had imagine.

I am so ready to go, mid afternoon off we all go to the OLD City (wish I had thought to bring a walking perodmentor), time wise it takes about 20-30 minutes, depending if you are going up hill or downhill to the Old City...OK, FIRST Scene, who those of you who have been to Disney World(one of my favorite places to go) In Hollywood Kingdom  the Lights, Motor, Action  Show, where they race the cars in front of you but you are protected by seating up in the high raise seats and high wire fencing. After walking thorough the City Center (reminds me of San Fransico), very hilly and picturess business and buildings you see the wall that once surrounded  Jerusalem  and Jaffa Gate. Walk thru the gate  (again movie set) you see the side of Tower of David with a stone street with vehilces come zoomig up the hill and speed by you so I felt like I was at Lights, Motor, Action Show at Hollywood Kingdom  but instead of being in the seats protected by distance and high wires you are standing right there in the ACTION...Love that street.

From that site you simply turn to your left and start walking thorough a time machine with a stone walk way with merchants on both sides of you ready to sell you anything of your hearts desire... At the end of the walk way again go left you arrive at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre which is in the Christain Quarter of the Old City and is an ancient church and just breath taking, its size, height of the ceiling, columns. This was built about 300 years after Jesus would have died by Contstanine (Roman Empire) wife. She had the idea of going to the tomb that they believed Jesus was buried in and had it removed from the mountain site and placed in the church.

I was NOT prepared for the tomb. You enter first into a smaller outer room, about size of a small guest bathroom and then you have to duck to enter the tomb/cave and ALL I saw was ALL these menorahs on the wall behind the slab and lanterns hanging from the ceilings....YOU only get to stay a Few minutes(maybe 3) because of course there is a line of people waiting.. I don't know about you but I NEVER thought about all the (decorations), but of course it has developed into a memorial shrine today do and they have placed those things there over the years.

After this we all walked back home (mainly up hill), had dinner and off to bed I went...Great first day, Travel half way around the world, saw my family and got to see  the first sights of Jerusalem.