Day 3: The City of David

Last night the boys had more jet lag, we can only hope it was the last wave. We were all up 1:30-4:00 am and with an 8am departure for our first full day of the tour, I was more than a bit concerned we were headed for 90 degrees+ not enough sleep/7-9 year old boys= meltdowns. However they rallied like rock stars and we had a great day chock full of adventure. After boarding our spacious tour buses with AC (beats walking everywhere) we first went to an outlook of Jerusalem at the Walter & Elise Haas Promenade (yep, the same Haas family of Levis fame). After taking in the sights we headed to the ancient City of David, just to the east of the Old City. Once there the kids went with their counselors to see a 3D history movie while we heard from archaeologists about the work that's underway and the amazing history of the structures before us, dating back 3,000 years. Of course a highlight was the ancient rock toilet (flat stone with a hole in it) that was reserved for the ruling class.

Then it was down into Hezekiah's water tunnel, an amazing structure built 2700 years ago to protect Jerusalem's water supply from invading armies. Armed with glow sticks we hiked for 40 minutes through a damp stone tunnel that was no more than 3 feet wide at any place and in many cases less than 6 feet high, with between 1-2.5 feet of water sloshing through at all times. Believe it or not our whole family made it all the way despite some initial protests when the water hit 3 feet high but once we adjusted to the conditions the entire experience was surreal especially when you consider it was all built by hand 2700 years ago. Sing a longs led by Rabbi Bloom maximized the amazing acoustics. Thanks to keen sandals and shorts nobody was too drenched and after hiking back up the hill in the sun everyone was dry.

After a great lunch in the German quarter (an entire cheese pizza for the boys and falafel/stella Artois for me) the buses took us to the Mount of Olives where our entire group participated as volunteers in the sifting through of materials that were recovered following the illegal excavation of the Temple Mount. This was a great activity (closely supervised and guided by archaeologists) as we found many pieces of pottery fragments dating back thousands of years as well as other artifacts (even a human tooth complete with roots) A great multi-generational activity, the kids really got into it as did the adults.

Resting at the hotel was in order after this hot, wet, and dusty day...followed by a great dinner and stroll with friends on Ben Yehuda boulevard. It was amazing to turn around in the busy and vibrant Jerusalem quarter only to run into families from our tour. We're all having a good time and I highly recommend a trip like this with friends. Thanks to the tour group, rabbi, and our friends we're getting 500% more out of the time that we are here than we would have on our own.. I can't believe we have more than a week left with the group!