Day Five!!

After breakfast in the hotel, Jodi and I decided to walk to Ben Yehuda to do some shopping. Jodi was in the market for shorts, me for some more short sleeve tops, because it is sooooooo unseasonably hot here, I am shvitzing through my clothes!

Up and down Ben Yehuda Street, then on to Jaffa Road, walking into and out of every store imaginable, lamenting that it is too bad there isn't a Gap, an American Eagle or a Macy's. We did manage to get the tops, but the shorts were a rare commodity (because after all, it is winter in Israel, even though the thermometer reads 85%!!)

We finally gave up the fight, and started heading toward Machane Yehuda, the colorful market that has everything (literally) from soup to nuts!! We found some cute napkins (napkins?? really??) that we just had to buy for when our friends invite us for Shabbat dinner (so those of you who read this blog, act surprised when you get cute napkins!!). We also managed to find "the best" halavah (white and dark chocolate chip for Jodi, Expresso coffee bean for me) and "the best" rugalach, because after all, this is the 5 Senses Tour, and we have not been neglecting our eating sense!!

We headed back to the hotel because I really wanted to refresh before joining the tour at 3. At about 2:45 we went to the lobby and started meeting the women we were going to spend the next 10 days with, and I have to say I am very excited, because they seem like a great group!! We met Harrison, our fearless leader, and boarded our coach.

We drove through Jerusalem to the top of Mount Olives, where there is a fantastic panoramic view of the entire city of Jerusalem, old and new! Harrison gave us an outline of major eventst that occurred  in the Jewish, Christian and Muslim histories, pointing to where these actual events occurred....amazing! A few women boarded the resident camel (5 shekles!! ) to have their picture taken.

I said at the beginning of our adventure that I wouldn't feel officially in Israel until I saw a camel, so now it is official (even though I would never fork over the 5 shekles to ride one!) Talked about the cemeteries at the base of Mount Olives, and while driving back down toward our hotel, saw a group of Orthodox Jews who appeared to be at a funeral. Also saw two Palestine girls shaking olives out of a tree....so many interesting sights and people of all walks.

Back to the hotel for a 5:00 meeting for "housekeeping" purposes, basically show up when you are supposed to, and don't keep your complaints to yourself....that kind of thing! Then to dinner, which was a typical Israeli dinner, but pretty darn good!!

At 7PM we boarded the bus again and headed to the Old City for the amazing Night Spectacular Show on the Old City Walls in the King David Tower .....this show is not to be missed!! Beautiful interpretation of the history of Jerusalem, a light and sound show that left us breathless. The Old City was hosting a Rennaissance type of festival, and the crowds were dense, to say the least.

Now let me tell you, my good friend Emily, who is one of the smartest people I know, was tardy for the bus ride at 3pm...and we all laughed about it and she had the "walk of shame" onto the bus, but is was all in good humor! So tonight, we are all in a group, milling through throngs of people (to the point of uncomfortable-ness) and someone on the tour got separated from the group, and basically disappeared, but thankfully was rejoined some 15 minutes later. It was scary, and it was EMILY!!!!! Hopefully this is not a trend!

After the show, most went back on to the hotel on the bus, but 7 of us decided to walk back through this beautiful mall called Mamilla. Well guess what? There IS a Gap, there IS an American Outfitters, but no Macy's!! Yipee, more shopping!! Stopped at an outdoor cafe and had coffee/wine and then headed back to the hotel. Believe it or not, Jodi and Ilana lead the way, because of our GREAT SENSE OF DIRECTION, thats right naysayers, we haven't gotten lost once since we have been here!!! Great day, again!