Our Trip to the Middle East, Part Two

When Russ was finished his work in RAK, he flew to Tel Aviv, Israel. Renee arrived about the same time from the U.S. Russ was presenting a paper at the annual meeting of the International Committee of Museums of Ethnography. We toured many sites with the meeting participants and did a lot of exploring of the Old City on our own. The pictures below highlight some of our experiences in Jerusalem.

Arab market, just outside the Damascus Gate of the Old City.


Renee on a tiled roof top looking towards the Dome of the Rock on Temple Mount. Picture was taken from the rampart walk.

Another view of Temple Mount over the roof tops of the Old City. Note the many satellite dishes.

Picture taken through arrow slit on the top of the city wall on the Jewish Sabbath.

Russ at the Western Wall in the Jewish Quarter of the Old City.

Russ up on the Rampart Walk around the top of the Old City wall.

King David Tower in the Citadel Fortress. The first day of Russ' meetings were held inside this 2,000 year old compound.

Ruins inside the Citadel Fortress. This is where Christ was brought to stand before King Herod.

Garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives.

Russ and Renee at the Garden Tomb.

Russ standing in front of the Garden Tomb. The sign inside says "He is not here, He is risen."

We found Jerusalem to be full of intriguing contrasts. Here we see Golgotha (site of the crucifixion) adjacent to a busy bus terminal.

Church of the Holy Sepulcher (another site believed by some to be the tomb of Christ).

View of the Old City from the BYU Jerusalem Center. We attended church services there on the Sabbath.

Renee with Brother and Sister Squires in the BYU Jerusalem Center. Warren and Glenda served with them during their Jerusalem assignment.

Walking on the path outside the Old City walls.

Renee at Damascus Gate.

Renee in front of our hotel, the YMCA International Three Arches.

Here we are up in the tower of the YMCA overlooking the Old City.

Russ and Renee with YMCA Assoc. Director, Yossi Eisenberg. He worked with Warren and Glenda on humanitarian service projects.

The Old City at night.