Second Walking Day in the City

We were on our feet for about 9 hours today, which results in a very exhausted group, but we are so thrilled to experience all that we can.  Today had a phenomenally fun activity: Hezekiah's Tunnel! When Hezekiah was King of Jerusalem the Assyrians were to lay a siege on the city.  In preparation he planned to re-route the Gihon Springs into a man-made tunnel so that the city could have a water source.  His men began digging from opposite ends and met in the middle.  We suited up in shorts and water shoes and began the 45 minute trek in the dark, tight, and occasionally low-ceilinged tunnel, clear and cold water rushing past us, reaching at a maximum about mid-thigh level.  Good thing I had my forehead flashlight! I led the group and it was a complete adventure.  Especially when I decided to turn my light off so that we could experience being in a small, tight, water-filled space in pitch darkness.

It has been a physically demanding trip, and unfortunately a couple of the girls are unable to keep up as we hike through valleys and up hills, my sympathy level is about .002%.  Other than that, the group dynamics are working out well enough.

When I came I tried to have as open a mind as possible, apart from U.S. prejudices of the cultures here.  However, I do feel safer going through the Israeli quarter, and feel a need to always cover my head when walking through the Muslim.  The Muslim quarter encompasses the Dome of the Rock, the Israeli quarter is to the left, the Christian below the Israel, and the Assyrian quarter to the right of that.  There are distinct flavors to each quarter.

I am off to clean up before dinner!  We have a sunrise service at 4:45 AM on the Mt. of Olives, then a day at museums, then an exam tomorrow night.  Dr. Nelson has a plot to kill us, perhaps?  It is manageable, and it is worth it!

Shalom, Corinna