Arrival in Jerusalem

After a smooth flight we arrived at Ben Gurion airport as the sun was coming up. The airport has been completely renovated over the last few years and was beautiful - a far sight from when they dropped you off on the tarmac! It's amazing to see how much the country has changed even over just a few years - a reminder that Israel is a living, breathing country and not a museum piece.

We arrived in Jerusalem where there wasn't a hint remaining of the surprise snowstorm that hit the city last week. We stopped at the Haas Promenade for a panoramic view of Jerusalem and a blessing of gratitude for our safe arrival. Then we proceded to the Old City where we walked through the souk (Arab market) to the Jewish Quarter and the Kotel - the last surviving structure of the original Temple complex, destroyed by the Romans in 70 C.E. We walked through the tunnels where archaeologists have uncovered huge sections of the Temple retaining wall that are currently below ground level. It was very powerful to realize what a small section of that original wall the Kotel is and how little of it we see from the plaza - a striking reminder of the historical layers of Jerusalem, both spiritual and literal...