Leaving Jordan, Entering Jerusalem

Constant movement and inconsistent internet prevented me from posting on the blog for the remainder of my trip. However, now that I am home with my good 'ol American internet connection, I'd like to finish the blog strong. I hope my readers remain interested.

After my Jordan University program came to an end, I was joined in Amman by my lovely, smart and talented girlfriend, Maggie, for two weeks of amazing travel. We began by visiting Petra (my 2nd trip there):

View from our hotel:

View of a Bedouin woman's pet goat (that acted like a dog):

...then passed south through Aqaba (where I was not allowed to leave the country until I played a song on my guitar for the Jordanian border guards), and we entered the State of Israel at the Eilat Yitzak Rabin Border Crossing. From there we took a bus (Egged 444) straight up to Jerusalem.

Our first stop in the holy city was the wonderful Mahane Yehuda market. While now slowly gentrifying, the market remains an incredible old-world outdoor bazaar filled with colors, sights, smells, people, and all you need to fill your kitchen. This place is as Jewish as gefilte fish.

I love these photos:










For those of you who have been to this market before, I know that you will share my pain that I forgot to photograph the famous Marzipan rugullah that can be found here. I probably had too much chocolate on my hands to handle the camera at the time.

And only in Israel:

...a box to discard irreversibly-soiled prayer books, scrolls, tefilin, talit, etc., for proper disposal (burial according to Jewish law).

(Next Post: The Old City. Its Called That for a Reason.)