Israel

I ventured to Israel with my Mom and our good family friend Nancy. We saw...so much...and they saw even more after I returned to Jordan (booo for work!!).

Some of the highlights of the trip included:

1. A visit to Jerusalem Pottery where I bought a mirror...I am starting to get nervous about where I will put all my purchases when I no longer have a 1400 square foot house.

2. A stop at the Austrian Hospice for apple strudel and then schnitzel and potato salad (yes, that's the order we ate it in). It was so good, we didn't even stop to take a picture.

3. A visit to the Church of St. Anne, where we tested the acoustics. They were perfection and made Nancy and I sound wonderful.

4. A monk at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre who kept the crowds moving through the "tomb" with brisk clapping and shouts of "yes, yes, you're done and move".

5. A drive to the Galilee with a stop at a (probably) real oasis. It was an average temperature of 112F so we didn't linger at any of the New Testament sites (which included the Church of the Loaves and Fishes, the Mt. of Beatitudes, Capernaum, and Nazareth) but I very much look forward to going back next spring and lingering for awhile.

6. A visit to the Western Wall where we found out that the "lampshade" style of fur hats can cost up anywhere from $1,000 to $10,000 (!).

7. Church at the BYU Jerusalem Center where Elder Holland (who was there with his family on vacation) gave an impromptu talk. I don't really go in for the cult of personality that sometimes surrounds church leadership but he spoke simply and thoughtfully and I came away with a resolution to be a better person.

8. Several trips to my favorite place in Jerusalem, the falafel guys across from the Damascus Gate. As always, it was delicious and even as I type, I am craving their blend of falafel, tahini, cucumber, tomato, and french fries.

Can't wait to go back!