jerusalem

The Boys' Jerusalem Top Ten (in no particular order...)

10. Food: Dad votes for the falafel/hummus/pita combination, though it's not particularly diabetic-friendly. Andy and Matt vote for the transplanted New York Jewish deli (Tzaddik's) that served them a hamburger and fries that tasted like home.

9. Drink: Dad votes for the Arabic coffee that you can eat with a spoon, and Matt and Andy vote for the fresh squeezed straight-up pomegranite (sp?) juice.

8. Our home away from home - The Jerusalem 3 Arches YMCA (thank you, cousin David!) - We decided that it is the perfect Drape family place (Andy says it's his favorite hotel in the world...): not too fancy, with a real gym (for soccering and b-ball), a fitness center and a pool, with a big buffet breakfast included (think all-you-can-eat eggs, cheese, sausage and bread products galore for the smaller two Drape boys).

7. Temple Mount (in 10 minutes or less...): The 10 minutes or less is due to the fact that our 1-year-old Lonely Planet guidebook forgot to tell us that the Temple Mount (home to the Dome of the Rock - site of the first two temples, Abraham's supposed sacrifice spot for Isaac, Mohammed's ascension...) is closed on Saturdays (because of Israeli control of the entrance), and they had the afternoon closing time one hour off.... So we did the whirlwind tour.

6. The Western (Wailing) Wall: complex and fascinating... living remnant (retaining wall) of the actual Temple. We prayed for the peace of Jerusalem, and our dear brother, Frederick Robinson's healing. We had to cover our heads (think paper yamulkes) and Mother had to head to the separate women's section.

5. The Old City overall, with the most fun getting caught up in the post Friday noon Muslim prayer crush through the very narrow streets of the Muslim Quarter of the Old City.

4. Mount of Olives (Gethsemane and views over to the Old City): We walked around the edges of the garden area, with 200o year-old olive trees that were witnesses to Jesus' praying and arrest - pretty amazing. We then hiked up the steep hill for great views across the Kidron Valley into the Old City.

3. Mt. Zion and the Upper Room: While the building around it is newish (thanks to the 11th century Crusaders) we stood in the room where Jesus broke bread with the disciples at the Last Supper, and where the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples at Pentecost. We read those passages in the room itself.

2. Via Dolorosa and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre: We walked through the 14 stations of the cross that commemorate Jesus' final steps to crucifixion. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is traditionally held as the site of his crucifixion and burial. The monumental architecture that the various churches have constructed over these sites (Constantine commissioned the church in 326) are very impressive, but strike us a little contrary to much of what Christ had to say.

1. The Garden Tomb as alternative to the Church of the HS: Outside of the Old City there is a tomb site that is held by some to be the real crucifixion (Golgotha) and burial site. It is a very different place from the ornate and complex machinations of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, simple and quiet. As one Catholic priest is reported to have said, "If the Garden Tomb is not the true site of the Lord's death and resurrection, it should have been."

So, there you have it. Certainly words and pictures again can't do this place justice. This evening (after Shabbat ends and the buses start running again), we're heading off to Nazareth and more Holy Land adventures. We'll keep you posted!