Playing Tourist

Since Jen and I are headed back to California in just over three weeks, we have to see everything we have yet to see. We have a list on the refrigerator and are slowly crossing things off, one site at a time. Since our trip to Eilat and Petra, we visited the Islamic Museum, the Time Elevator as well as the Monastery of the Cross.

The Islamic Museum, or more properly the L.A. Mayer Museum for Islamic Art, is in our neighborhood and contains an impressive collection of art and artifacts. It's very worthwhile, especially on these long Shabbat afternoons, when the museum is both open and free!

The Time Elevator is a somewhat-cheesy but worthwhile, Star Tours-style ride that takes the rider through re-enactments throughout Jerusalem's several thousand year history. The monastery, which is in our neighborhood, is said to have been built on the spot where the tree which became Jesus' crucifix came from. Therefore, the valley where it is located is known as the Valley of the Cross.

On Friday, we're planning on seeing a plethora of sites throughout the Old City. We still have eleven things in Jerusalem that we haven't yet seen! (Not to mention eight places in Tel Aviv, too!)

I'll remain in Hebrew Ulpan only through Thursday of next week and then, over our last two weeks, it is time to pack, visit places around the country, and start getting ready to go home! I'm already starting to miss Jerusalem and Israel but definitely look forward to being back in California.