Happy Sukkot!!

This week was the Jewish holiday of Sukkot, or the feast of the tabernacles. In this holiday everyone builds little huts that they usually eat in that are outside on their porches or patios. In these little huts they usually eat their meals in there but sometimes they sleep in them. This is to remember the Exodus of the Israelites out of Egypt. A couple of friends and I went to West Jerusalem last night to celebrate the last night of Sukkot. We saw many huts, or booths, around the town and even most of the restaurants had them. There were also bands on the street playing and we were able to get some really good shawarmas. Then this morning we went to the Western Wall where there were so many people there carrying around little bouquets of willow, heart of palm, myrtle, and carrying around an atrog. They were dancing around and singing and some were wacking the willow onto the ground. It was a really neat experience to see so many people there!

Some local band

The group
Just eating some super yummy Shawarma!!!
The Western Wall for the last day of Sukkot

A fancy Sukkot

More Egypt Pictures

Here are some more Pictures from Egypt!! Enjoy!!

Hatshepsut's Temple

Colossus of Memon

Faluka Ride

Camel Ride


Karnak Temple

Sunset on the Nile



Overnight Train!!

Walk Like an Egyptian

This last week we went to Egypt and it was soo much fun!! On our way there we stopped at a kibbutz before the border which was really neat and they took us to the sand dunes. Then we crossed the border at Taba on the Red Sea into Egypt!! We drove through the Sinai peninsula until we got to Cairo where we stayed the night and went to the sound and light show at the pyramids. Then the next day we went to the Giza plateau where we saw the pyramids and the spinx. We also went to Memphis and Saqqara where there is the first pyramid called a step pyramid. Then that night we flew to Luxor and stayed in the really nice Sheraton there. The next day we went to the Valley of the Kings and saw the tombs of Ramses II and King Tutankhamun which was really cool because we could still see the paint on the hieroglyphs inside the tombs and we saw the mummy of King Tut. Then we went to Queen Hatshepsut's funerary temple which was huge and really neat. We also went to a tomb that the Abraham faxcimille was possibly found. Later that afternoon we took a faluka (sail boat) ride on the nile to meet up with a bunch of camels and we all went for a camel ride along the Nile. That night we got to go to the suuq, the market, which was really interesting but kind of cool. The next day we went to the huge Karnak Temple which was really cool and really fun and we took a carriage ride from there over to the Luxor Temple which was really cool. We then took another carriage ride to the hotel where we had the rest of the afternoon off and got to swim and we went to the Winter Palace Hotel where all of the rich and famous people have stayed. Then that night we took an overnight train ride back to Cairo and I was actually surprised as to how much sleep I was able to get, but that was probably due to the dramamine that I took. But we got there at 4 in the morning and it was still way to early! But then that day we went to old Cairo and to the old coptic churches there which were really cool. Then we went to the Hard Rock Cafe which was pretty good. Then we went to the Khan el Khalili Bazaar and we were able to buy some fun souvenirs which were fun. That night we pretty much just hung out in the hotel and went to bed early. Then the next day we went to the Muhammad Ali Mosque which was huge and really cool! Then we started our drive out to the Sinai and got there that night. Then the next morning we woke up at 2 am and started our hike up to Mt. Sinai which was pretty hard but really cool and totally worth it! We sang and talked up there which was really cool and we watched the sunrise!! Then we took our long bus ride back to Jerusalem and got to stop at another kibbutz and had a really good dinner and ice cream!! Overall it was an amazing and exhausting trip!!!


Seeing the Nile while driving through Cairo




Giza Pyramids





The Spinx




Saqqara Step Pyramid



Hatshepsut's Temple




Muhammad Ali Mosque



Sunrise on Mount Sinai

The top of the mountain we climbed up!

Second Week Pictures

Garden Tomb


Aly and I in Tel Aviv


Road to Jericho

First Week Pictures

View from the balcony at the center



Ramparts Walk



View from Seven Arches Hotel

Second Week in Jerualsem!!

I am trying to get all caught up for everyone so here is the things that we did on the second week here. So last Thursday (Sept. 9th) Aly and Jocelyn (my roommates) and I went to the Old City to try and go to the Dome of the Rock but when we got there we realized that it was closed. So we tried to go another way but ended up getting lost in the Jewish Quarter of the Old City. It was really cool in the Jewish Quarter and it was a lot quieter than the rest of the city but that could be because it was Rosh Hashanna? We also then tried to find some apples and honey which is the typical food for Rosh Hashanna but everything was closed! So we ended up just wandering around the Old City and getting some Magna bars which are the best ice cream bars ever!! The next day, Friday, we went as a huge group to the Western Wall and it was really cool because it was both Rosh Hashanna and the start of the Sabbath so there were a lot of people there. They were dancing and singing and praying and it was really cool to see the people praying and the move back and forth when they pray. I am for sure going to go back and put a prayer in and take pictures since we weren't allowed to because it was Shabat (the Sabbath). Then on Saturday after church we went to the Garden Tomb in East Jerusalem. This is where some believe Christ was resurrected and it was cool and there was definitely a special spirit there. Then on Sunday it was our day off so we went to Tel Aviv!! We went to the beach and the water in the Mediterranean Sea was soo warm and it was just a fun and relaxing day!! On Monday we went to Jericho for a field trip which was soo neat but oh so hot!! I could feel the sweat dripping down my back and it was kind of gross! On Thursday (yesterday) we went to a biblical nature preserve called Neot Kedumim. We herded sheep, made hyssop, made pitas and ate them with date honey and other spices. Overall it was a pretty fun day! Well now that I'm pretty much caught up I probably won't post until after EGYPT!!! I probably will post pictures for the last two weeks soon too!!

First Week in Jerusalem!!

Well sorry guys that I haven't made this until a little later but here it is. I finally got here and have been loving it ever since! During the first week we took a tour of the city of Jerusalem and it was soo cool!! Then we have just been exploring around the city since then. On our free day we went to the Old City and walked around the top of the wall on a thing called Ramparts Walk. Then later that same day we went to Zedekiah's Cave which is supposedly King Solomon's stone quarry under the Old City. It was very cool and a nice break from the burning hot sun outside!! On our first field trip as a class we went to Nebi Samwil (a synagogue and mosque to commemorate Samuel), Haas Promenade, an overlook to Bethlehem, the tower and church of Auguste Victoria (commemorates the ascension of Christ), and the Seven Arches Overlook. At all of these places we could overlook the city of Jerusalem and other ancient biblical cities such as Gibeon, Bethlehem, Bethany, and the City of David. I will upload pictures later when I have better Internet connection!