Jerusalem is leaking.

Day one in Jerusalem, NO CHICKEN and it rained alot. This is all you need to know.
Okay, Okay, I will indulge you a bit more with details. We got to do a walking tour through Hezekiah's Tunnel, and I did not get the memo that there we were going to walk through water and that I needed an extra pair of shoes! It is so weird to think that an army actually snuck through the tunnel, because I could barely fit through some of those passages. So imagine an entire group of people going through with full armor in complete darkness.

It feels like Jerusalem is constantly under contruction, or being dug up. We spent a lot of time going underground to different places today, usually going underneath buildings. Both Herods ruins and Hezekiah's Tunnel/Shiloam Pool (I forget the exact spelling) were quite a bit underground. We passed through a lot of dank and musty passages as well. When it rains, we get dripped on a lot. So yes, umbrellas are needed in doors!

One thing that really stood out to me today was watching groups of teenagers walking around casually toting M-16s. Of course they were wearing olive drab Israeli Army uniforms, but it was weird watching groups of twenty of them pass by us. Again, this is a reminder that we are so blessed back home and that we did not have troops roaming around our cities.

I did finish my family shopping already! I think they will like what I got them. If not, at least I learned valuable bartering skills in the process =) Don't worry, I actually put thought into what I bought, and did not just look at something random and say, "This does not remind me of them, but I will give it to them anyway!"

Now that I am over my jet lag and can remember yesterday, we had a fun encounter at a local pizza shop. We met a Christian guy who talked with us cheap water. He thought we were all related... mind you my skin tone was a clear indicator the answer was no! I just thought it was interesting that there is a decent sized Christian presence in the old city.

It was a good day, but I was happy to go home and take a shower. Travel lesson of the day is if you are told that the weather can be between 30-80 degrees, it is smart to pack a winter coat and Umbrella. Don't give into wishful thinking, it will lead you astray!

Off to bed, g'night!

JASON