Journey to the Holy Land

Hey everyone! So, I'm really new at this whole blogging thing, but I think I'm finally ready to get started. I'm a terrible writer, so I'm gonna include a lot of pictures... just look at those. I've been in the Holy Land for about a week and a half now and it's been incredible. Every day is a new experience. I'll start from the beginning...

The plane ride was a LONG experience! I've never flown internationally and it was a real adventure. We started off in Salt Lake City and actually ended up taxing around for about an hour and a half. I was super exhausted (I'd been up all night with Kristen & Sister Staib [Thanks again SO SO much!] preparing for Jerusalem. Therefore, I was out within the first five minutes of the plane ride and super confused when I would half wake up... look around... and see that we were still on the ground. At that rate I didn't think we'd ever make it to Tel Aviv. Anyway, our first layover was in Chicago, then D.C. (ahh... I miss it SO much!), and finally Vienna. I was super excited to arrive in Vienna (I know, Dad, not a big deal, right?) I just liked walking off the plane and seeing everything written in a different language. Here's a few pics from the Vienna airport:

The food on Austrian air was pretty good...

Personally, I found this escalator to be hilarious... it went "on and on and on and on..."

I slept the entire way from Vienna to Tel Aviv and unfortunately woke up with a VERY sore throat and the skin was falling off my hands, quite literally. I must share a few pics of the arrival:

WELCOME TO ISRAEL

(this sign made me feel pretty welcome)

This is a picture I took on the bus from Tel Aviv to the Jerusalem Center

My first Jeru sunset! :)

That night we had an orientation and spent time getting to know each other. My roommates are Kara Van Wagenen, Sharon Campbell, and Stephanie Roddick. They are all great girls and I like them a lot. I'll fast forward to the next most exciting experience... a walking tour of the Old City and East Jerusalem! Unfortunately we weren't allowed to bring our cameras the first day, but I have since been able to take pictures. The Old City is beautiful and kind of what I expected. The streets are lined with merchants selling the most awesome things. I'm excited to get some sweet Jerusalem things. 

The Friday after arriving we were no longer allowed in the Old City or East because of security reasons. Friday is Islam's Holy Day and as such, it seems that there are big demonstrations each Friday.

Below the big white thing in the sky is supposedly where the demonstration was taking place

Here's my first pretty picture of the city from the Center's balcony

(I can't wait to go see the Dome of the Rock up close!)

Okay, well obviously a lot more has happened since then... but there's a little something for everyone to look at for awhile. More to come ASAP!