Just noticed that my blogs are downloaded in the USA and they show that I did these events as dated as yeaterday. So I will try to do the blog in the evening instead of the morning.  I'm 8 hours ahead of you.  Today I filled out registration papers, had lunch and started off for the Old City by myself.  Took an Arab Bus instead of an Israeli bus.  Less chance of being blown up.  HA!  Anyways,  I went to the Damascus Gate and walked around for awhile and finally went to the Holy Sepulcher.  It is a huge space where Golgotha and the Tomb of Christ are located.  I spent most of the afternoon in the Church.  When I got to the tomb, the line wasn't very long but it really filled up fast. I stayed for the prayers at 4:00 & 5:00. The Coptics started.  The Greeks followed.  At 5:00 the Franciscans had their procession with candles and a lot of incense to all the chapels.  Then the Armenians finished.  I left the Church and wandered around a little bit, got a Fallafel to eat for supper.  Eventually found the bus station, even got the right bus and made it back to Tantur by 7:30.   The one picture is the Crucifixion site and the other is a piece of the column they think that Jesus was scrouged upon.

I ARRIVED SAFELY AND ON TIME.  NO PROBLEMS WITH CONNECTIONS.  THE ONLY PROBLEM WAS AT EVANSVILLE WITH MY RETURN TICKET.  DELTA CANCELLED A FLIGHT FROM DETROIT TO EVANSVILLE.  I WAS REROUTED; GOT A NEW RETURN TICKET IN ATLANTA.  THE SECURITY GETTING ON EL AL AIRLINES WAS INCREDIBLE IN MUNICH. IT WAS WORTH  THE TIME TO SEE HOW IMPORTANT SAFETY IS IN ISRAEL.  I TOOK A SHARED TAXI TO THE SCHOOL, MET SOME OF THE STAFF; A FEW STUDENTS.  THERE ARE 15 UNDERGRADS PLUS THEIR PROFESSORS HERE FROM NOTRE DAME. THEY WERE IN BETHLEHEM FOR THE EVENING.  I'LL HAVE TO WEAR MY "IU" HAT TODAY.  HAD A NICE MEAL AND TRIED TO CATCH UP ON SOME SLEEP AFTER THE 20 HOURS IT TOOK TO GET TO ISRAEL. (If you have trouble opening the picture, click on the small square)

Last day of School

Today was the Moving Up Ceremony for the Seventh Graders as the new Eighth Graders.  Also today Haley gave me a picture of her 1st Grade Room.  She was afraid that I would forget all of them while I'm gone.  I know that I won't forget any of you.  I had a difficult time in getting the picture of her class having fun at our new playground set scanned correctly.  Sorry 1H First Grade.  But I have to go pack for three months.  If you have trouble seeing the picture, click on the box.