The last couple of days have been quiet—recuperating from the flight and the time change, taking walks, planning, preparing for the upcoming tours and sharing. We go on some pre-tour walks. We find out that there is a brief window when the Temple Mount is accessible to tourists, and John Morton and a few of us go there on Sunday morning.

We find a tour guide and explore the magnificent architecture that includes the Dome of the Rock, the Western Wall, and remnants of ancient temples. We have to cover up in order to respect the Muslim dress code. Nat forgets and wears shorts, so he has to buy a makeshift skirt to cover his legs. We go through metal detectors to enter this disputed territory which, depending on your point of view, is either one of the most ancient and holy sites for the Jews and Muslims, or the arena for some of the world’s more deranged people to fight over dirt, or ideas about dirt. (In the USA we fight about money, which may be slightly less deranged, only because money can usually help you avoid having to deal with dirt and ideas.) From the Mount we can also get a view of many of the places where Jesus walked, and we follow the Via Dolorosa (where he carried the cross) on our way out of the old city.

Also included are some shots of the old city, and areas around the old city, that we explored during our time before the trip officially begins.

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