October 4, 2007

4 October 2007 Meg Rampton
After classes and Lunch Katie, Whitney, Rachel, Greg, and I went out to the city.
Stop 1: Aladdin “the money changer.” This great crazy man who loves BYU because our business. I have never in the states been able to write a check and not show my drivers license let alone in a foreign country. Yep! Just write out that check and they gave me shekels. I wasn’t planning on spending them but as always when you give me shekels or any kind of currency I won’t hold on to them for very long.
Stop 2: Omar. Another BYU lover because we are his livelihood. Beautiful, beautiful olive wood! This man has been making olive wood for years. Two of his children even graduated from BYU and he has pictures with Steve Young, Spencer W. Kimball, and President Hinckley. Although expensive in my opinion his work is much better than any others I have seen in the old city. I didn’t spend my shekels here. Katie did. But I will be back.
Stop 3: The post office. I have only been in there one other time and it was packed. But today there was not a soul there. It was nice. I mailed something off to my EFY girls and bought stamps for post cards that I have yet to by. Some shekels spent.
Stop 4: Cardo. We let some one in our group take charge who didn’t really know where they where going. Bad idea. So we wandered through the Armenian quarter being lost into the Jewish quarter. We stumbled upon the Cardo; the ancient market road that was build by the Romans which a small portion is excavated. This proved to be very cool because we got to see some Succots that where still left from the holiday.
Stop 5: The Syrian Orthodox Church: The Upper Room. We wander more trying to get back found some boys playing soccer and the church where the Last Supper had supposedly happened. We went in but they wouldn’t let us down (not up to the upper room but down because the real old city is 20 feet below). No shekels spent.
Stop 6: Armenian pottery. Katie is one-fourth Armenian so we went to find her some cool hand painted pottery to celebrate her roots. She decided to wait and send pictures back to her parents to know which ones to buy. In the end no shekels spent.
Stop 7: Small street vender by Jaffa Gate. So I was walking by and boom… there goes my eye. That is how I know it is a “must have.” You see in my family we have what we call a “must have” which is exactly that. No matter what it is it is just something that you just have to have (doesn’t matter price or size or how in the world are you going to get it home). A beautiful vase. Hand painted and old. So the merchant said. Green with blue flowers a half circle with a small opening on the top. He wanted too much. Then I saw the other one. Thought of my mom. Taller and blue and white. I was in for. He wanted a ton. But I have learned that silent staring is the best way to bargain. He dropped the price over half.. $$$ Shekels spent! Mission of not spending any Shekels in the old city that day: FAILED.
Stop 8: Church of the Holy Sepulture. Very cool I had never been inside. It is the spot the Christ was believed to have died and been buried. The most sacred place for most of the Christian world. Will be back with my Jerusalem book to learn more. No Shekels spent.
Stop 9: Damascus gate: We could barely move. I have never seen so many people. Ramadan. We turned around and headed out Stephens gate instead.
Stop 10: Lana’s. The Local 7-11. Shekels spent.
Stop 11: The JC. Arrival at 4:56pm. Hungry.