A wonderful group of friends who support us, graciously provided for us to get a new camera to restore the one that was stolen in the fall. Today was the first time we really had an opportunity to try it out, so we have included 51 pictures for you to enjoy in this blog. We're still learning how to use it, and didn't know before we went out how to use the video, but we'll include some in later updates. So - a BIG thank you to our dear friends, not just from us, but from all those who get to appreciate the pictures we take. Please remember you can click on the picture to look at them bigger :) To get back to the blog, just click the "x" in the upper right hand corner.
There was much anticipation in the city waiting for the snow. We thought it would come sooner than it did, but Wednesday evening it began. The first 4 pictures are before we thought to turn off the flash, but you can get an idea just how big the snowflakes were - about the size of a quarter!
This is what we woke to this morning.
Notice the tree branch fell in the one place where there was no car :)
Some of our neighbors.
We ran into some of our friends playing.
There was a lot of people at the Promenade playing in the snow (overlook of the Old City).
We were hoping to get a great picture of the Old City covered with snow,
but the snow was falling so hard it was hidden.
This was the first of many snowmen we would see throughout the day.
This picture shows how hard it was snowing!
This snowman is so white, you can hardly see him!
Dad's play a big part in the lives of the children here.
Here's the creator of this masterpiece with his puppies.
Looks like a postcard, huh?
It was still snowing hard with poor visibility at times. There were no buses all day.
Jaffa Gate
Getting ready to have some fun!
I ready in the paper (online) someone was making fun of the excitement here over a "little" snow. The reply back that someone made was - yes, but you have to remember we live in the desert! Palm trees with snow :)
Remember wearing plastic bags over your socks when you were a kid?
Well here they wear them over their shoes :)
Big snowball fight in the Jewish Quarter.
It started getting slushy, so we decided to go to the Kotel (Western Wall)
overlook instead of all the way down.
We wanted to test the new camera's 16x optical zoom (one of the reasons we chose it). It did a great job picking up these doves in the Wall on the far right side near the bridge.
Before heading home, we stopped at our usual eatery in the Christian Quarter near Jaffa Gate. We were welcomed inside by the owner, who remembers us each time we come. They offered us their version of "snow cream" - have you ever made that with snow before? This one was covered in a spice sweetened with honey and was really good! We have some pizza and hot vegetable soup, before heading back out into the snow/slush.
While we ate, the owner, who is an arab Christian born in Israel, shared his political views with us. This was one of the first experiences we've really had to talk face to face with him about the political climate between the arabs and the Jews. Most arab believers are not Zionists and are struggling with the Biblical truth regarding the Jewish people. We have to say, that although we get along with him very well, and he's a wonderful man, we didn't agree with almost anything he said. We only shared a little of our view point this time, but as he was feeling poorly about bringing it up and asking us to please come back, we will be sure to continue to visit him, and little by little share what we believe, and hopefully someday he will see the truth about this nation and the Jewish people.
The sky had turned blue for a little bit before more snow came, so we got a few pictures while it was clear.
In front of a hotel - the mouth is a stapler :)
We walked back the same way we had come - the pathway below the Promenade. It is a beautiful area with great views. It's not safe, though, for women alone in the evening. Many arab people hang out at the Promenade and the area around it, which leads to Abu Tor, an arab village (where our friend's car was blown up).
Earlier, they were all happy and saying hello and good morning to us as we walked. We had a different experience as we walked home. We came up to a large group of young men in their 20s (at least 30 men). Some were wearing keffiyehs (arab head scarves). Neither one of us felt any fear, in fact we were almost going to take a picture of them, but it's good we didn't.
After we had just passed them, they threw a few snowballs at our backs as we walked passed. Jim was hit in the back of the head, and I was hit in the back. Normally Jim wouldn't let someone just get away with something like this (especially hitting me), but we both knew it would lead to something very ugly if we said anything (30 against 2), so we kept walking as they hooped an hollered. If we had made one gesture or one comment, things could have gone bad very quick. It shows how quickly things (could and do) spin out of control in such a volatile environment.
The clouds began to roll back in by the time we reached the Promenade again,
but we at least got this picture of the Old City.
We then came home to our apartment, where the heat doesn't come on until 5:30 pm (it was 1 pm and 57F in the house) and tried to stay warm. We have a portable heater, but the best way was to cuddle up and take a nap :)
LORD WE THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY
AND THE LIFE LESSONS YOU
CONTINUALLY BRING US!
