Jerusalem Part 2

Well.....not much else to report on the trip because food poisoning took me out of commission for the 'free weekend'!!! Drats! Anyway- its no fun to be so sick so far away from home, I can tell you that. But I survived..'sigh'.


I was feeling a bit better by Tuesday, when we were done with our work and could run around a little bit. Suzanne and I went down into the Old City and then met the others for lunch. We walked from the hotel through an area called Yemin Moshe. It was developed in the 1800's (new for Jerusalem!!) as the first suburb outside the city walls. From what I read, it seems to have gone the route of all suburbs in the US- it boomed, then sank into ghetto, then was 'gentrified' in the 1980's. Now, its extremely expensive- apparently alot of American Jews have property there and use it as a vacation home. Very picturesque.



We met the others for lunch and I managed a few bits of a Falafel and some Schwarma. Good stuf! Then, we shopped!! The stores are a mix of leather goods, olive wood carvings, ceramics, jewelry (Roman glass or Eliat, which is a greenish stone). There were some nice spice stores that also had olive oil and soaps. Some people say the demeanor of the shopkeepers varies from quarter to quarter (The Old City has 4 quarters- Muslim, Jewish, Armenian and Christian. We were allowed in all of them, but the Muslim quarter can get a little rough and there's not as many tourists there.) I didn't really see a difference. They are all very polite (a few helped us as we became hopelessly lost.) and very insistent that you at least come in and see their stuff. A couple seem to have caught on that Americans aren't used to that- they would let you come in on your own and just say quietly 'I will let you look...'. But it is pretty fun to shop there.



We went to visit the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. I'd been before, but I wanted to see if I could get some better photos. It wasn't very crowded, which is nice. For those that didn't hear my spiel the first time, the Holy Sepulcher is (it is believed) the final 3 (4?) stations of the cross are located- and where Christ's tomb is located. Golgatha is there- that is where the cross was built into the stone. You can get into the actual tomb through a 3' high opening you have to crawl through. Only 3 people can fit comfortably, so there's usually a guy at the door telling people to come out and let others in. Well, that guy was not there this time, and there were some very rude (Russian???) tourists who decided they would bully their way in to the front of the line. It's hard because you get pissed off, but then I realized where I was and I had to literally say to myself, 'Now, Erin....what would Jesus do?' Hahaha!!


We then took a cab ride up to the top of the Mount of Olives, which overlooks the city. The cab drivers are all expert at this and usually offer you a 'tour' of the sites out there. And I really only trust a cab driver to navigate the road up there- very tight quarters!!! It was freezing and windy, so we didn't stay long and it was almost impossible to get a photo in focus w/ the wind. But it really is neat to see the cemeteries (Muslim, Jewish and Christian) with the Old City and the new high rises in the background. Someone told me that that is the most expensive place to be buried in Israel, and I believe it. The golden dome of the Dome of the Rock is always the focal point. I'd love to get to see it, but we can't get anywhere near it. Literally. A guy who was traveling with us was raised Muslim and he tried to go- they told him he had to read from the Koran even though his passport shows he was born in Turkey. I guess finally his cab driver got him inside. Lucky dude!! It looks beautiful.

We then went to Gethsemene and the Tomb of Mary. Very quick visits, as we were trying to beat the rain!

The airport home was another fun adventure. I got stuck with a '5' sticker, again, which I knew meant that I'd get searched quite thoroughly. All my stuff unpacked, swabbed, packed again. Oy. I guess I should be relieved that they were that thorough, as it makes my flight safer. And they are really nice about it.



Anyway- good to be home! I'm now ready to rush myself into the Christmas spirit!! Merry Chrismtas to everyone!!!!

Jerusalem, Israel December 2009

Thursday

We finally got some time to relax a bit today! After lunch we went to a Christmas Bazaar at the American Colony Hotel that had all kinds of homemade gifts. Nativities, purses, ornaments, etc.. .. .. Suzanne and I both got photographs. They were old Reproductions from Glass Negatives that a family has had for generations. Most of the photos were taken in the late 1800's, early 1900's. I debated over 2 and ended up with one of the Garden of Gethsemane (I need to check how to spell that!) It is Sepia Toned and is printed on silver paper, so it has a gold glow and really has a lot of depth. Beautiful! I can not wait to get it framed. I took a photo of the 'Grandpa' who took the pictures, his son and his Grandson.

And here's a photo of my photo! Ha!

(It looks better in person ..) It was taken in the early 1900s before the garden was so 'Touristy'. Looks a lot different today! I really may go back and get another one. There was one with a shepherd, sheep over looking the Old City before everything was built up-gorgeous!

We did a fast pass through the Old City-in Herod's Gate (Muslim Quarter), out Jaffa Gate (Christian Quarter). I literally got kicked in the butt by a boy about 10 years old. He got me as I walked by him. I was so surprised I just turned around and yelled "HEY!" Which only made him laugh harder. I am now wishing I had grabbed him by the scruffy neck and given him what-for, but I'm glad I did not start World War 3! But after walking up the street this morning and having dirty floor water dumped on my foot by a shop keeper, I'm feeling a little beat up! I hope tomorrow is better.

Had dinner out with the group-really nice group, very fun. Its way more fun to be here with people than on my own!

Some random things I learned today:

1. never, ever call the Dome of the Rock "Temple Mount". It's Dome of the Rock unless you want to get a beat down or start WW3!

2. While walking around, everything feels very normal and you can almost forget about the undercurrents of hostility. No guns this time. Lots of kids walking around after school. Very few sirens, and I have not seen any police yet. Bethlehem (West Bank) is unstable and controlled by the Palestinians, so therefore not accessible for us, unfortunately.

4. Jerusalem has a McDonalds, but it is advertised with the tiniest golden arches I've ever seen. Only about 4 'off the ground and probably a foot high. So cute!

5. The Old City: Definite difference between the Muslim quarter and the Christian Quarter. The Muslim quarter was active, busy, Hectic, full of merchandise and kinda dirty. As soon as we crossed into the Christian quarter, the shopkeepers were more interested in us, the shops were more touristy, streets were clean and there were much less people. Just interesting to note-no judgments are being made!

.................more later!!!

Back in Ireland! Sept 14-19, 2009

Monday, 9/15

It feels great to be back in Ireland! I love it here! I arrived in style at the Four Seasons Hotel (thankyouverymuch). After a little nap and a freshening up, I got my map and hit the pavement. The hotel, while it is nice, is not close to ANYTHING so I had quite a hike to get to the touristy area (St. Stephens Green, Trinity College, etc.) I'm kind of glad in a weird way that my hotel is far out becuase I was able to walk through the 'everyday' Dublin- bike messengers, business people talking on cell phones, Moms (or nannies) walking their kids home from school, etc. The neighborhood I'm staying in is called Ballsbridge and is very nice- I saw some real estate postings for a 2 bedroom flat selling for 250,000EU. Yikes!

Saw the famous 'Dublin doors'. Alot of the residences are plain-front brick townhomes and Dubliners have gotten a reputation for the variety of colors they paint their doors. I'm not sure if there is a historic significance to that or not, maybe I'll find out sometime! *Edit* I asked a cabbie and he said 'well, luv, it's really just to individualize, isn't it?' LOL!

Walked up to St. Stephen's Green- a large park in the middle of the city. Sat on a bench and ate my grilled cheese/tomato (yes, tomato- I figured I eat tomatos while I'm in Ireland) sandwich then walked around and window shopped. Almost cried in relief when I saw a Starbucks (how sad is that)but my carmel macchiato hit the spot on such a cold day!!

Tuesday, 9/15

Met Ambassador Dan 'Steelers Owner' Rooney today- very nice man- seems like he definitely knows what he wants! I mentioned on the way out that I was from Pittsburgh and his eyes lit up. But then he asked if I'd been to the new Heinz field and I said 'no' and then I think I really lost him when I didn't know that the G20 was going to be held there next week!!!! (do your research, Erin!!!) But he was very nice. After work, I walked up to Grafton Street, which is a pedestrian thoroughfare of shops, bars, etc. Dublin's big on shopping. I really can't tell who is from here and who is a tourist but it felt nice to actually be someplace that I didn't stick out like a sore thumb! Definitely seems like there aren't alot of Americans, though. Watched street performers, took photos and got a pint of Carlsberg (can't do Guiness!!) and a fish and chips.

Wednesday, 9/16

After work, I had a nice walk around the city with my co-worker and his wife. We went up O'Connel street and then back down to the Temple Bar area. Saw the castle and the River Liffey. Dinner was a 'steak burger', which you would think is a hamburger, right? No...just a ball of ground steak in gravy with fries. Hmm....these Irish are not known for their food!

Lots of people walking around- all the students must come out right after school and not go home until 7 or 8 because that's all you see! Saw the aftermath of an unfortunate bus/tram accident- didn't look like everyone walked away unscathed on that one! Scary to see. Love the architecture and they do alot with flower baskets in the Grafton Street/ Temple Bar area!

Interesting note: my co-worker's great-great-grandfather was a missionary to New Zealand and helped settle the country! (Think of the U.S's George Washington-type..) The things you learn about your co-workers on these trips!

Thursday, 9/17

Done work today at noon and hit the streets. (well, I cheated a little and did a hop-on/hop-off bus ride around the city!) Saw the gate to the Ambassador's residence on the tour and the guide talked about the new US Ambassador- I had to pinch myself to realize that I had just been talking to the guy that morning!!! Weird....

Friday, 9/18

Took a day off and booked a coach tour out to the country with 30 of my favorite octagenarians! Really, everyone was very nice. The tour went out to the village of Trim, where there is a castle ruin that Stacey and I had seen on one of our previous trips but didn't get to go in. Our tour guide was a local guy who said that as a kid, he used to play in the ruins- climb up the outside wall and run around what was left of the insde! Oh man, how fun!!!!!We also visited the pre-Christian site of the Hill of Tara (didn't get much out of that except for good exercise dodging sheep poop and some good photos of the countryside!!) and then made our way over to the coast to a fishing village called Howth. I decided that if I ever get reincarnated, I'd want to come back as a country dog in Ireland- I mean- how much better can life get??? Running around in the fields all day, no leashes, no hot weather, a nice fire at night (because, of course my owner would be like that....) I wish I'd gotten to go to more in the country, but I'll save the Northern Ireland and Scotland trip for another go!! To see all of my photos, you can visit my kodak gallery page:
http://www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLanding.action?c=16294gsw.35i0cvv8&x=0&y=-bl6ryr&localeid=en_US

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

My trip to Jeddah was mid-August. I was going to support another Interior Designer, so my workload was light, but I definitely helped out alot when it came to working the furniture inventory! We were given our Abayas by our expeditor as soon as we got to the airport and we had to change into them right away in the bathroom! Hot as heck! The airport was pretty intimidating, but I was surprised at the lack of security- I expected to see men with guns all over, but I didn't see any at all. The capital of 'the Kingdom' is Riyad. Jeddah is on the coast, and tends to be cooler and less strict in dress codes.

Once outside the downtown area, we were told that we could take our head scarves off, but most of the time we kept them on. We made a mistake and sat in the 'men's area' of the hotel cafe one morning, but the waiter politely told us to move to another area and it really wasn't a big deal. Most of the men we saw in the hotel were business men and the formal dress for them seems to be the robe with the red/white checkered head scarf. Younger men wore a mix of stuff- we saw a group of young guys hanging out by a car and 2 were wearing tank tops and shorts while the other was fully robed. We were told it was a personal preference for them, not so much religion-based. Most of the women didn't cover their entire faces, but when we visited the local mall, we saw alot of women with the whole look- covered face, gloves, etc. It was kind of spooky. I just got the feeling that they looked down on us 'hussies' because we weren't covered. But someone else pointed out that they may be jealous of our freedoms, so who knows! Young girls (pre-puberty)didn't have to wear the abayas.

I didn't get many photos of stuff because really there wasn't alot of time. The Saudis look down on photographs of people, so I wanted to make sure I didn't offend anyone. So all of my photos are taken from a fast-moving armoured car!! One of the things I wish I had gotten pictures of are all of the modern sculptures around the road. Very interesting! The area where we stayed was a newly built suburb, so there was good infrastructure (as in wide, paved highways, etc.) They love their indoor malls over there! I guess it makes sense because of the heat.

One interesting thing I learned was that, although men could have more than one wife, the rule is that you have to be able to treat them all equally. So we saw many 'compounds' with several identical houses (or mansions, really!)- each wife got their own house. The opression of women is a very real thing, at least to this westerner's eyes! One woman we talked to (at the Embassy) said that alot of men don't treat their wives equally and many get excited by their 'new' wife and kids and toss their older ones out with the bathwater. If a wife is beaten and runs to the police, she is held there until her husband can come pick her up again. If she leaves her husband, he keeps the children- they can't leave the country. The only way she can leave with her kids is if she somehow can talk her husband into a trip outside the country and then escape from there.

We asked if the womens' dress was by choice, by religion or by husband and were told that its a combination of all 3. The fully covered (face, gloves, etc) would be classified as 'fundamentalists'.

All in all, not a place I really have to go to again.......hopefully! But I did get to keep my abaya, so maybe next Halloween.........