A Day In Jerusalem

Note: I'm having some problems uploading photos onto Blogger, so check back tomorrow for this post updated with pictures.

It's currently 7pm on a Friday night, which means that everything-- and I mean everything-- is shut down in the Jewish sector of the city. I literally cannot find food to eat, because even gas stations are closed. This is far worse than Syria during Ramadan: at least the restaurants remained open there.

Anyway, I am shocked by how much Israel feels like the United States, perhaps because it is more economically advanced that the rest of the Middle East. There is no call the prayer five times a day, and minarets do not dot the skyline-- though that's to be expected. All signs are in Hebrew, Arabic, and accurate (!) English. I have not met a single person yet who could not speak English, and there are many, many people walking around speaking English to one another (usually with a thick New York accent).

Buses are large, clean, and run on time. Streets are orderly. The city is well-developed. I'm not charged higher prices for being foreign. And I don't have to spend fifteen minutes bargaining down the resturaunt bill after I eat. That said, prices are American as well.

The biggest difference, however, is the many, many military troops patrolling the city. Jerusalem is defined by its religious nature, and that includes religious extremism and conflict. I've heard there was some minor altercations that were religiously inspired these past few days, both between Jews and Muslims and between secular and orthodox Jews. Luke has a great post on the subject I encourage you to read.

I spent the day walking around the Old City of Jerusalem, which is surprisingly small, and you can get a good grasp of the major landmarks quite quickly. I walked the Via Dolorosa, supposedly where Jesus entered and walked through the city, walked the stations of the cross, visited the birthplace of Mary, and, to top in off, kissed the Western Wall, the holiest site in Judaism.

I also met some really interesting people, and have heard a lot of fascinating and utterly opposed perspectives on the Arab-Israeli conflict, which deserves a full post after I get back from the West Bank.

For now, I'll just mention one (clearly African) guy dressed in outrageous clothes and carrying a gigantic cross. He randomly spouted off bit of wisdom to passersby, including myself. Once, somebody shouted in Arabic from behind him: "We don't believe you!"

He angrily turned around to face the gathering crowd and heatedly spat back: "Don't believe me. Believe God!"

Then he whipped back around front to continue his journey. In doing so, his oversized cross swung with him, and nearly toppled a hapless French woman trying to film him.

Fortunately she ducked and was safe, but I briefly mused at how appropriate it would be to come to Jerusalem and be hospitalized because you got whacked by a crazy African guy wielding a giant cross. Good times.

Tonight I meet up with Luke and Alex to explore Jerusalem's nightlife, and tomorrow I hope to venture into the Palestinian West Bank. So send a prayer for me to the god of military checkpoints, and stay tuned for more posts and pictures.