new

I made it.

The city at night sits like a jewel against the dark landscape. Flying over helped me realize how close cities and even countries are here in the Middle East (at least in comparison with the United States).

And the city looks just as stunning during the day.

Yes, that is the Temple Mount in the middle left and yes, this is the view from where I am living and yes, it is better in real life although it still doesn't feel real. 

My senses have been a bit overwhelmed with all this new-ness and hopefully during my time here I will not become inattentive to all that is around me, but will instead become more sensitive and in tune with my surroundings as I learn more about the culture and people and places that surround me. In an effort to distill all the newness and since everyone likes lists these days I present to you...

...FIVE NEW THINGS:

1. The Egged bus system. This happened on day one when I decided to go the cheaper route (when generally ends up being the more adventurous one) and take a bus from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Luckily the wifi at the airport helped me get a bearing on which bus(es) to take, but once I got on the first bus I was on my own. I made it to Jerusalem in one piece and, also important, with all my pieces of luggage. Once in Jerusalem, I proceeded to badly pronounce the Hebrew names of locations in the city to bus drivers and either have them wave me off their bus or welcome me and my shekels. Fun experience on the bus: an American woman who had moved to Israel 9 months prior used me as a sounding board for her venting about an older woman who cut in front of her in line (the lady was sitting behind her and hopefully could not understand English) and then proceeded to explain to me that her grandmother designed/built the Chords Bridge. An interesting statement considering it was built by a Spaniard by the name Santiago Calatrava (see picture below).

2. The Machune Yehuda market. I got to explore this wonderful market swelling with a varied group of people and foods. Fresh fruits and vegetables surround you on both sides with their expressive colors and are neighbored by sweets, fresh breads, spices, dried fruits and nuts, butchered meats, fish, and quaint coffee shops. At times while walking around I wondered how any of them stayed open since every other vendor was selling the exact same produce sometimes at the same price, but other times at cheaper or more expensive prices. I made up theories in my mind that certain customers had formed a hatred for certain vendors due to that one time they received an over-ripe tomato or a poor cut of meat. It is funny to think that this exotic market that tourists come to photograph and visit will soon be where I shop for most of my groceries. (Sadly no picture was taken of this just yet so my descriptions and Google images will have to feed your imagination until a later post)

3. Taco Bell. I have seen three different restaurants here that use this logo. None of which sell tacos. One is an Italian restaurant and the other sells burgers. I do not think I can say I was disappointed when I realized there was no Taco Bell...

4. West Bank. For those of you who have heard Jerusalem or the West Bank in the news both of these places have become my backyard. The window from my room overlooks the Dead Sea, the West Bank, and in the far distance I can just make out some buildings from Amman, Jordan. Definitely makes the posts I read from JPost and Al Jazeera more real than when I once read from a university dorm in Columbia, South Carolina.

5. This building. It has a square hole in the middle of it. I mean is that not too cool. No need to answer we both know it israeli cool.