Washington

Scott was scheduled to take a business trip to London this last week. When that was on the books I decided to use that week to take the kids to visit my best girlfriend, Jen, up in her new home in Washington instead of staying around here stressing over the minutia of our impending move. Gratefully Scott's UK trip ended up getting cancelled--hello, what's up with a week of mandatory meetings in London two weeks before our move there! Despite this change of plans I still made my solo trip up to The Evergreen State with the kids to see Jen in her new home before we move eight time zones east!

The kids and I had a wonderful time. Jen and her family were so kind to host us during a pretty chaotic renovation period getting settled in their new house. While there was no exciting destination or spas or girls dinners out, this was one of my favourite visits with Jen. It doesn't matter where we are or what we are doing spending time with her is the best!

As a side note, I have to mention that I made a big decision. I. bought. a. compact. camera. I know, it's shocking news! Hard to believe myself, but I've come to the conclusion that there are too many times I decide to leave the big bad camera behind so I can "travel light" resulting in no photos at all of many outings or short trips. When you consider my camera weighs nearly 5lbs. (with just one lens!) and is so bulky it pretty much requires its own bag, it's a wonder I didn't do this sooner! I will still use the granddaddy camera most of the time, but for short trips or quick outings through the city, I will appreciate the portability of a camera I can just slip into my handbag! I will probably be frustrated at the inferior quality of photos that result, but I'll deal. After helping several photog students navigate their cameras I got first-hand experience with the best compact grade cameras on the market. If you're in the market for a powerful compact camera that's really more of a DSLR/point and shoot hybrid, do what I did and get the Canon G12. So it's not as light and compact as your typical compact point and shoot, but for those like me who can't completely give up exposure and other controls for the sake of portability, there is nothing better. Here's my first go with the slimmer camera . . .


A stop at this famous northern Washington burger joint


This place was a hoot, oozing with character


Crazy green-back covered walls and cielings, not exactly a good investment strategy


Our girls, just four months apart, are inseparable when they see each other.




The view over the water and even into Canada from Jen's house!


A fun outing to the weekly neighbourhood library show to see this guy; loving the small-town charm!




Trevon and Jen's youngest, two peas in a pod






So beautiful!





Playing at the park






Listening to ghost stories!

Israel Days Seven & Eight: Finale

I'm hugely in favour of independent travel, but in the case of Israel a guide is definitely the way to go! But as with any guided tour (even with a private guide!) there is a schedule, which can be frustrating. So I was so glad we had scheduled two days in Jerusalem to wander on our own at the conclusion of the tour.

These last two days really gave us a chance to let the flavour of the city simmer. We spent the balance of Saturday getting lost in the Old City, haggling for deals on leather sandals, Armenian Pottery and Widows Mites. Shopping around definitely pays off, and by the end of the day the same large Armenian bowl I had seen in an earlier shop for $90 was procured for $20. I love haggling! The best part of the day was sitting at a table beside a fountain chatting away for something like four hours with Rachel and Glen as the sun began to set.


Jerusalem bagels sold with dry spices you sprinkle onto the bagels. I'm pretty sure I'd be an addict if I lived here!


Rachel and Glen entering the Old City




Shop 'till you drop!








Fabric shop in the Muslim Quarter


This shop was a real find! The shopkeeper's father is an accomplished photographer who has put together an amazing book of old photographs taken all over Jerusalem and Israel. It's a beautiful collection of photographic art, as well as an historical treasure. We paid about $40 for it, and found it on Amazon for a whole lot more!












If you randomly pick a place on any wall in the Old City, this is likely what you'll see.




One of the 14 traditionally held stations of the cross


Wall walk around the Old City



Our final day in Jerusalem was a mixture of somber reflection and more Old City wanderings. We spent the first half of the day visiting the massive Yad Vashem, the holocaust museum in Israel. It was a sobering and informative experience. Including this I've pretty much completed the world-wide holocaust circuit having seen holocaust museums all over the US and Europe, the D-Day Beaches of Normandy, Dachau concentration camp in Germany and Auschwitz death camp in Poland. With each visit to any of these important places in holocaust history I learn so much and come away with the same feelings of grief and despair. This followed largely the same pattern here, except to visit a holocaust museum with the exclusive perspective that is uniquely Jewish was such an incredible education that broadened my view like no other holocaust site had done before. There are many museums and memorials the world over, all of which reflect the holocaust story in the truth and understanding reflecting the perspective of the host people, but it seems that no other story is more bereft of hope or more ponderous than the story told here. I have a much greater understanding of the Jewish experience of the holocaust having visited Yad Vashem. And somehow this left me with a deeper sense of despair, and sometime near the end of our Yad Vashem visit I realised I am forever done visiting holocaust sites. I am so grateful I've had such opportunities to see it all and I believe that those who can should go to these places to understand, but I myself am done.

















Shalom!

Day Six Part II: The Sabbath

As the sun sets each Friday evening the Jewish sabbath observance commences. Jews of all sects take this 24 hour period to pause in prayer and worship. This transforms the Old City into a crowded labyrinth of devout Jewish activity, many adhering to detailed canonical Jewish law.


At first we thought our twilight jaunt through the Old City was merely going to reward us with spectacular dimly lit scenes like these.








What a Muslim Quarter street market looks like at the end of the day.








And then suddenly we turn a corner and find ourselves facing this incredible spectacle. It literally took my breath away. I have never seen anything like this in my life. Hundreds of Jews, many orthodox, worshipping with great vigour at the Western Wall. It was loud, very loud! How fortunate we were to experience this. We stood for a few moments just watching in silence. I only took photographs from this removed location, as photography is among many things in opposition to keeping the Jewish sabbath. And despite such an astonishing display, I didn't see one tourist snap a single photo down in the Wall plaza.










As the night grew later, it appeared many Jews were en route to worship services. It quite literally felt like some kind of synagogue rush hour. And as they moved through neighbouring quarters, the tension was palpable. It was clear to me that the different religious groups are tolerant of one another, but probably nothing more.








Scott and Glen. The following morning we awakened to join other tourists and locals at church services at our church, which in Jerusalem meets at the BYU Jerusalem Center for Near Eastern Studies. If you've been following the Israel posts, you know that I was keen to study here myself as a BYU student. And even if that was never to happen I've always wanted to at least visit this place. I've heard so much about it through family and friends who have studied here, especially my sister-in-law. So I was really excited to see it for myself!


Glass doorways in the entrance hall that give you a preview of the unparalleled view the Center has of the Old City. I challenge any LDS church to beat this view, kind of amazing to take the sacrament overlooking the Temple Mount!