This Just in from Jerusalem...

Blessings, Shalom, and Salaam from the Holy City!


Yes, I look bedraggled (even though it only hit 84 degrees, I've been fending off merchants all day, I'm in the sun, I have on a shawl to achieve "modest" attire, and yes, Catherine, I'm wearing the hat you don't like).  But here I am this afternoon, and here's the Western Wall.  Isn't real-time blogging great????

It's 9:30 PM and the muezzins have just started reciting adhan, the Islamic call to prayer.  According to Wikipedia, "The adhan sums up the teachings of Islam: there is no deity but The God; Muhammad is God's Messenger; salvation is found through obedience to the Will of God, of which prayer is an important expression." It's broadcast from minarets around the City, and there's one almost across the street from Ecce Homo (where I'm staying - more about that in the Day 4 blog).  Last night I recorded it with my iPhone.  Beautiful!  I was warned there would be another call at 3:45 AM, but I slept through it.  I was REALLY tired.

Okay, now I've been sitting here for five minutes, cogitating on how to tell you about to Rome, which seems like a pale memory (even though I only left yesterday morning) compared to Jerusalem, which is a Technicolor production. But here goes...


Rome is a big city with people who are determined to get some place other than where they are regardless of what or who is between them and their goal.  The atmosphere is intense and reminds me of Manhattan.  There is beautiful old architecture and some very well-designed shoes, but I think I'll go some place other than Rome the next time I visit Italy. 


Catherine and Andy were the best part of being in Rome.

But flashing back to the start of the trip...
I achieved my goal of finishing the packing and getting to the airport (thanks to my dear friends Karen and Mike) with ease and excitement. The flight was uneventful, though I wish I could tell you it was because I slept through it.  Too wound up, I guess.  Customs in Rome was a non-event since I came in from an EU country (Paris).  Catherine was waiting immediately outside the exit doors and gave me an ecstatic greeting, including swirling me through the air (good thing I've lost weight!).  She, Andy, and I lugged my two bags to the Hilton, adjacent to the airport, where Andy's mother, Ginny, had snagged them an executive suite for the previous night. After a lovely, curiously British pub-style buffet breakfast, the four of us lugged our 10 bags onto a non-air conditioned train to Rome.  I thought I had packed light, but it wasn't light enough! 


Fast forward through the walk to our bed and breakfast, our 5th floor room, the 2 x 4 elevator that could only hold one person and two bags/trip (or two people and one bag), and my decision to sleep through the afternoon.  The best thing about the B & B was its location - 2 blocks from Termini, the central Metro/train station.

Gotta interrupt this program to tell you how heavenly the evening is in Old Jerusalem.  Here are a couple of teaser photos from the terrace where I'm staying.  The domed tower is attached to Ecce Homo, and yes, below that is the Dome of the Rock in all its golden glory.

So, back to Rome...
After sleeping beauty awoke, she was taken on a bus to Piazza Navona.  I couldn't resist taking this photo of creative Roman tailoring.

The photos below are of a street performer in Piazza Navona and the restaurant where we had dinner.  We also had gelato in front of the Pantheon (behind scaffolding) and glimpsed the Trevi fountain through the crowd of tourists.  By the way, most of the tourists were Italians from all over the country.  Sort of like Americans inundating The Nation's Capitol (with or without Cherry Blossoms).

The day ended with a long walk back to the hotel because the Metro was closed.  I'll post this now, then start on Day 2.