Day 2.....Lost between Religions

dispite my jet-lag and not planing to do anything on my first day, Adam and his mom were in a hurry to show me the country.  We decided to visit the old city of Jerusalem.  Adams mom is a tour guide for a living and knows all the places in Israel, so she gave the tour and adam translated.  We drove down a road to Jerusalem that is shut off to Jews after dark because it drives through muslim towns and it is considerd un safe for Jews, although Adam assured me that it was perfectly safe durring the day.  We got to Jerusalem and parked had coffee and walked to the old city. At the coffee shop, before going in you had to show your bag to security. Upon entering the old city the streets became narrow walkways with old stone steps leading past small marketplace shops. as you walked down the narrow walkways you could smell the Intoxicating scent of exotic spices, foods and Incensce.  There were stores that sold Christian, Jewish and Muslim Items, the store workers spoke many languages to cater to most touists.  After walking through long maze like walkways we came upon the church that housed the place where Jesus was put on the cross, crusified, removed and then burried.  It was enchanting to stand in a place so old and to touch the rock where Jesus was crusified.  We walked by the stone where Jesus was Prepared for burial and then the room built over the place where the cave was which Jesus had been put to rest.  Outside were old ruins everywhere of columns, old walls and walkways which were older than one could imagine.  When Inside the building, I lined up to touch the place where Jesus had been crusified and Adam said because he was Jewish he was forbiden to touch it.  I still dont understand, I am not Christian and to me it was just amazing to touch a place so old and so legendary.  We went on to the western wall walking by countless ruins and old pillars and collumns now used as benches.  When we reached the western wall Adam told me to follow his mom to the part for women and he was going to the part for men, he told me to touch the wall, think happy thoughts, and walk away from the wall backwards not turning you back on it.  I am not Jewish either but to go up to the wall and see all the people praying and sticking their notes in the cracks was awe inspireing.  Over the wall you could see the rounded gold plated roof of the now muslim temple, Unfortunatly going beyond the wall was not and option for us.  At that point it was time for me to get some rest, and the 80 degree weather felt more like 99 degrees.  So we left the old city and headed back home, we will go back another day.

P.S. I know I have many spelling mistakes, My spell check was not working... ; )