Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives

Abu Ibrahim was telling us that before the '67 War he and his family would go to Jerusalem as a quick day trip.  It only took an hour to get there.  Unfortunately,  that is not the case today.  The border crossing was very stressful and thorough.  When we got to the Israeli side they asked me if I had another passport.  She didn't look like she believed me when I told her I didn't and must have stamped my passport with 'watch out for this one,' because when Michael got through security with no problems, they stopped me, took me into a room and searched me very thoroughly with a scanner.   Thankfully we got through it okay and quicker than some.  The whole process from leaving our house to getting to Jerusalem took about 5 hours. 

But it was worth it.  The Old City was awe-inspiring.  

The bus dropped us off just outside the old city wall near the Damascus Gate.  We walked for a little bit with a Marine that we met at the border.  He gave us a couple tips and then we picked a gate and walked in.  Did I mention that we were 'winging' this whole trip.  We had no reservations to stay anywhere or anything.  Thankfully, Michael's friend Teren is an expert on Jerusalem and he gave us an outline of things to do and places to see.  We walked around for a while till we came to a hostel we thought looked good.  We had heard of it before and it had good reviews.   We slept on the rooftop, which turned out to be pretty fun. 

This one's for Kimmel :)  There were tractors all over this maze of a city.  

Eating shawerma Jerusalem-style at a place called Michael's.  Of course we had to stop there.

Delicious fresh squeezed OJ.

This wall was built by Suleiman the Magnificent in 1538.  The larger stones underneath are remnants of Herod's wall.

Part of the Mount of Olives

This basilica built between 1919 and 1924 is named the Church of All Nations. 

These olive trees are considered what is left of the Garden of Gethsemane.  They fit the description of being outside the city of Jerusalem and at the foot of the Mount of Olives.  The Mount of Olives isn't huge, so even if this few hundred meter square garden isn't the exact location of our Savior's Atonement, it couldn't have been much more than a stone's throw away.

Scientists estimate olive trees can live from one to two thousand years old, though they have no rings to be able to determine an exact date.  Some people believe there to be '8 silent witnesses' or 8 olive trees still in this area that saw Christ's suffering, but it is unlikely because of the report that Romans chopped down all the trees in the area during their siege of Jerusalem in AD 70.

An incredible talk by Bruce R. McConkie entitled The Purifying Power of Gethsemane

At the entrance of the Garden of Gethsemane there is a quote by Eusebius of Caesarea that says, "Gethsemane, a place where the Savior prayed before the passion..."

President Joseph Fielding Smith (1876–1972) 

“We speak of the passion of Jesus Christ. A great many people have an idea that when he was on the cross, and nails were driven into his hands and feet, that was his great suffering. His great suffering was before he ever was placed upon the cross. It was in the Garden of Gethsemane that the blood oozed from the pores of his body: ‘Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit—and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink’ [D&C 19:18].

“That was not when he was on the cross; that was in the garden. That is where he bled from every pore in his body.

“Now I cannot comprehend that pain. I have suffered pain, you have suffered pain, and sometimes it has been quite severe; but I cannot comprehend pain, which is mental anguish more than physical, that would cause the blood, like sweat, to come out upon the body. It was something terrible, something terrific; so we can understand why he would cry unto his Father:

“‘If it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt’ [Matt. 26:39]” (Doctrines of Salvation, comp. Bruce R. McConkie, 3 vols. [1954–56], 1:130).

Roman Theater

This Roman Theater is about a 5 min taxi ride away from our house.  How incredible that something so old can still be enjoyed thousands of years later.  You can read more about the history from the oh so reliable source of Wiki: Roman Theater in Jordan.   

I don't know if I have talked much about our landlord Abu Ibrahim, but he  has been so kind to us and done so much to help us feel comfortable here.  Well, he was telling us some history behind this Roman archaeological site.   Abu Ibrahim's father was born in one of the caves of this theater.  His family actually owned this place as of 40 years ago.  The country bought it from them for what sounded like a reasonable chunk of change.  Just yesterday Abu Ibrahim showed us a picture of him, just a 9 year old boy standing in front of the theater when it belonged to his family.  It was from 1955 or so. I am hoping to get a copy of that picture.  

Just trying to be as cool as Michael. 

 It was incredible to finally see and touch things I have studied in design school such as these columns.

 Looking out towards the Citadel. History of the Citadel in Amman

Wadi Mujib

A few weeks ago we went to a Nature Reserve called Wadi Mujib.  You can read more about it here: Wadi Mujib.  If you don't feel like reading, no problem.  All you really need to know is it is a gorgeous gorge (say that ten times fast).  It was an incredible hike. (Mom and Dad, you would love it.)  On the way up we climbed up waterfalls and trudged through swift moving water.  Our final destination was a beautiful waterfall.  I think Michael enjoyed it more than anyone.  He was like a little kid trying to do handstands over and over again in the middle of the quick falling water.  I had just as much fun watching him.  On the way back we slid down the waterfalls and floated on our backs almost all the way to the beginning. 

 

I think we grew a few extra limbs in the picture. 

Teren was jealous of Michael's fabulous handstand so he gorilla tackled him.  At least that's what you might think.  Actually Teren just fell out of his handstand.  Made for a funny picture though. 

 This is where I lost my camera case.  Good thing I was taking a picture of the Danger Zone, otherwise I would have lost the camera with the case! 

The Dead Sea.  Still have yet to float in it.  That's for another adventure.
Here are some videos we took of the trip:
WARNING: If you get motion sickness in the least, I caution you to avoid these videos as we are probably the worst videographers ever.

Enjoy!

Wadi Mujib Video 1
 Wadi Mujib Video 2
Wadi Mujib Video 3
Wadi Mujib Video 4
Wadi Mujib Video 5
Wadi Mujib Video 6
Wadi Mujib Video 7

New Suit

I would just like to take this time to show off my man.... See how good he looks!   With a little Bedouin desert camp food poisoning and a $20 brand new suit you too can look like this! 

There's Nothing Sweeter Than Salt

                                                                                                      This is the beautiful city of Al Salt.  It is just about a half hour outside of Amman.   We were invited to Iftar by our friend Omar and his sweet wife Miah.  The countryside was a sight for sore eyes.  The rolling hills were covered with grapes and olive tree farms.  It was much quieter than the city we are used to and oh so peaceful. 

Miah fed us gourmet Jordanian food.  There were about 4 main courses!  We started with 2 different kinds of soups: a pureed veggie soup which was to die for, and a yogurt lamb something or other, which wasn't quite a beg for seconds soup.  Then there was a yummy cucumber, tomato, feta salad.  Next was fried eggplant with tomato sauce, yogurt, ground beef, and some kind of fried chips on top.  I think this was my favorite!  Following the eggplant was rice (but of course not just plain ole rice, somehow she made it delicious) with a tomato base sauce with lamb, spices and I don't even know what else.  The lamb fell apart it was so tender and zaaki (yummy in arabic)  Then we followed all this up with a super tender, perfectly marinated steak.  All along the way they continued to give us seconds of everything.  Needless to say we were stuffed and happy!  But that wasn't all.... after dinner was cleaned up, Omar snatched a few clusters of grapes from above.  The porch was filled with succulent, green grapes.  It was magical.

 We like to pretend we have a nice camera and that we can be artsy with it. 

Maih taught me how to make Qatiyif.  We called them Ramadan pancakes before we knew what they were.      They are like a very spongy pancake and you fill them with sweet cheese or walnuts and cinnamon.  Then, of course, how do you make anything delicious... fry them in grease and coat them with syrup (which is just sugar and water).   Bon Appetite!

Citadel Nights

 Some night life during Ramadan.  You can see the Roman Theater from the Citadel.  It looks pretty incredible at night.  

 We enjoyed an Arab pop performer.  It was mixed company so unfortunately there wasn't much dancing. 

 The temple of Hercules. 

Ramadan has been such an interesting month.   If you go out at night during Iftar (which translated is breakfast... the meal at which they break their fast) the city is practically deserted.  This is around 7:30 or 8pm, or at sunset exactly.  The other night Michael and I walked over to Jesus Falafel (the name of a delicious falafel place) to get some food and all the employees were sitting in a circle on the floor behind the condiment bar eating their big meal.  We stood at the counter thinking one would get up to take our order maybe but they just stared at us, like... "Don't you see we are eating! It's Iftar time, crazy Americans."  

Then around 11pm the streets are packed again.  Everyone comes out.  All the restaurants and shops re-open.  The whole city becomes nocturnal.  Everyone is tired from lack of sleep, food, and water, especially when Ramadan falls on the summer months, so the people who still have to work during the daytime get significantly reduced hours.  Michael only worked 10-3 instead of 8-3 his last week of the internship.  People have said many times that it's easier to fast when you're sleeping. :)