These are all pictures from a hike we did called the Jerusalem Trail. It runs right past campus and up to the Jewish Cemetery. It was pretty awesome. The trail goes through the valley that separates Hebrew University and the Mount of Olives from the Old City and the Dome of the Rock. I love walking around Jerusalem because it really brings into perspective how dense the city is. Its actually kinda an eerie experience, because no matter how many times you have been somewhere, there is always the chance that there will be some little side-street that you hadn't seen before leading to a different universe. You just never quite feel like you are standing on solid ground here. Anyway, the hike was really interesting. We got to see the Jewish Cemetery, some kids having a picnic and making flower chains, the Garden of Gethsemane, horses, camels (You are beautiful. Do you want to ride a camel?), and the gate that the Messiah is supposed to come and break down. I'd say that's pretty good for an hour-long walk. The graveyard was pretty amazing. Except a lot of it had been destroyed during the Jordanian occupation. It's unbelievable how many important sites have been destroyed throughout the history of Jerusalem, and how resilient the three major faiths have been. For example, the Kotel, currently the holiest Jewish site, is just a wall that used to surround the actual Temple. No wonder there is so much resentment around here. The longer I am here, the more confused I get about what a lasting peace in Israel would entail. It's not that people don't want it, it just seems unbelievably unattainable. At least from the Jewish side, it seems less like hatred and more like exasperation and frustration. I made friends with a soldier the other night (pretty easy to do considering every Israeli my age is one) who just got back from Gaza. He very logically explained to me why there wasn't ever going to be peace for Israel. I'm constantly amazed by how willing people are to talk logically and calmly about all this. Coming over here, I had the idea that everyone was at eachother's throats, but in a lot of ways, people just want to live their lives. I haven't had much chance to understand the other side of the conflict. The only Palestinian I have really come into meaningful contact with is one of my professors, Nafez Nazzal. There is a little about him at http://www.jewishjournal.com/community_briefs/article/gathering_for_peace_20020830/  . He is really an incredible guy. He tells amazing stories about his life and the time he has spent trying to bring the Israelis and Palestinians together. I'm really excited about his class, because we are so sheltered where we are. Its really hard to get an accurate grasp on things. 

Anyway, those are just a few of my thoughts at the current moment. Don't place too much stock in them, as I can't imagine they will weather this city unchanged for long. Love.