Sunday started out strong. We went to the Dome of the Rock, which is also the historic site of the Temple of Solomon.
We weren’t told a dress code beforehand, but right as we were about to get off the bus, the tour guide told us that women had to have at least 3/4 length dresses and no bare shoulders. Luckily, Linda was wearing a long dress (other days she wore knee-length skirts).
Our tour guide also told us that we could not have any touching between a man and woman at the site (with the exception that I could still hold Sarah). A Muslim woman came up and told Linda it was very disrespectful for her to not have her hair covered. Linda had a hoodie on, so she pulled it over her head. None of the other women in our group were told anything, but Linda was the youngest adult woman by about 20 years, so maybe age mattered.
We also spent some time at a museum. It had some interesting artifacts plus some of the dead sea scrolls, but it was less exciting than our other stops. Henry did like the apple he found though.
At the end of the day we made a quick stop in Bethlehem. Bethlehem is in the West Bank. More specifically, it is in an area where Jews are not allowed to go unless they are official tour guides and have pre-registered their travel. There are warning signs as you enter.
Our tour guide pointed out that the best thing we can do to ensure peace in the area is to buy lots of stuff. Keep the dollars and euros flowing. Make fighting and terrorism be expensive.
We visited a church on top of what is supposedly the stable/cave where Christ was born. We could get into the church easily, but there was a very long line to see the stable. Our tour guide said we could look around the church for a few minutes but we didn’t have time to wait in the line for the stable.
Sarah was asleep in my arms again at this point. Someone (looked like an official security guard) came over and told me that because I had a baby (we were the only people with kids in the church as far as I could see) we could skip the line. He said he could only take 4 or us at a time, so Linda, Timmy, Ada, and I went. The “security” guy asked for a tip afterwards. Linda gave him a few euros. My dad then asked if he could see with JJ (Henry fell asleep on the bus and was still there with my mom). The guy said yes, but stated his price in advance this time: 20 euros per person. I guess we underpaid 😉
Dutch Bentleys 