scenes from a (sibling) visit (pt 1)

On March 7th Samantha and Noah showed up at our doorstep. It was a looong-awaited visit, and we hugged them extra hard to say "hey, we really really really missed you!" Their time here was a bit on the short side, but we still did and ate many great things. I was hoping Noah would have time to cook up a feast at some point, but alas, that did not happen. I expect he will satisfy my fandom for his food this summer with some nice bbq artistry. 

This man knows how to grill. 

At the beginning of our trip we took S & N to the shuk for food exploration/consumption. 

We usually like listening to one another.....but Noah or I must have been boring at this point.

We bought some loose-leaf teas, including one of the apple variety that S & I found particularly tasty. I will come home with a large bag of this brew.

 We continued our festivities at The Blue Hole, Josh's bar of choice. 

We made it over to the Old City where Josh took us around. He's an Old City expert, that one.


One of our favorite Old City finds was the Austrian Hospice, from which one can get a real view of the old city. We stayed up here for a long time, and could have stayed for an entire day. Truly great.

These dudes enjoyed the view as well. Dome of the Rock on your left.

Candles lit on the side of the cave of ascension, inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

Josh's favorite Jesus painting from Holy Sepulchre.

Two shots of Noah taking shots.

At an Ethiopian Church, which is located on top of The Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

A group recreation of Jesus' walk with the cross on the Via Dolorosa. 

Mirinda!

Flowers, Birds, a Tiger Mask, Bejeweled Hands, and Weird Beards

Another lovely trip up north. This time we got some a bird and wildflower guides & set about
identifying things. Only the flowers showed up as the birds were more elusive.

Aformentioned identifications on Mnt. Gilboa:

 

 Mnt. Gilboa mud:

And last night was Purim, a Carnival-type holiday that celebrates the wit and triumph of Queen Esther
over the the villainous Haman. Scenes from Purim offered w/out comment:

 

                                                  

 

Momsers

Mom came to visit and it was awesome. We did many fun things. We watched Gossip Girl and had lunches and dinners and visited some places. She bought a ceramic sheep and big big mug for me.

Being a mother, she found her way to the the Church of the Visitation. The place where Mary visited Elizabeth, momser to John the Baptist (according to Wikipedia).

                                                   First you need to know this:

           A view into the valley of Ain Karem, a village just outside Jerusalem.

                                                                            We ascended to the church.

    This is Mary's Well. That's what Josh says. But I have nothing to back this claim.

                                                                           Iron work set against sky.

                                                                   This is real.

What We've Been Up To

Grandmothering

Crystal Daving

Overtalking

Chilli-ing

Mom-ing. Mom photos forthcoming. Here is a quote from Mom after attending Kabbalah class: "I thought I was going to die." All I can say is there was chanting involved, the rest is a mystery :)

Scenes from a Visit

A ceiling full of lanterns in the burial tomb where Jesus is believed to have been buried and resurrected, inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

The Dome of the Rock, viewed from a school in the Old City.

Good friends.

A mountain of spices, or za'atar, in the Old City.

It was giant!

A possible Golgotha, the Garden Tomb, East Jerusalem. See the skull in the rock??

Inside the tomb.

A very peaceful place.

                                                      
The East Jerusalem Y.

Impressive memorial.

                                                                
Amen.

About to walk through Jerusalem's ultra Orthodox neighbohood, Mea Shearim. We did not acutally wear the scarves there, but practiced the religous woman look at home for fun.

Fizzy lemonade with a background of meat. At the Mahane Yehuda Market.

                                                                                            
 Friendlies.

Found objects: lemon from Tzfat and tangerine from the Old City.