Aunt Ellen and a few Favorite Things

Paul's sister Ellen arrived last weekend, for those of you who don't know the story Ellen and I were pals in Los Angeles long  before I met Paul. After every visit with Ellen I always have tighter abs from all the laughing we do... as in non stop.  Here we are atop the ramparts in the old city.  We have had the best run of weather 60's through 80's since we arrived... until two nights ago when the largest storm in recent years hit, the lightening was so bright and thunder so loud sleep was difficult to come by and we are fortunate to have a skylight above our bed so I was able to watch the production while Paul slept and  missed the whole thing.

We walked the usual 15 miles today,  Noa and Paul kept up.  We toured the usual tourist hot spots with Ellen and saw the following, Kosher McDonald's, interesting people, including sleeping soldiers. lots of religious sorts, the scene above is in the Church of the Holy Seulchre at the place where Jesus was taken down from the cross.  People rub everything from their linens, to candles, and  water bottles on the stone over this sacred place.... and hope their items are blessed.

This religious man covered his hat (all of this sect appear to) as it was raining outside, you may have noticed each sect has a different type of hat, some wear what look like bathrobes, some wear knickers... all look very religious as they walk down the street praying or talking on cell phones... perhaps to the lord.

I can't tell much about,this man, only that he looked very ...umm different, and was drinking a cappuccino.

My dear friend Marilyn is a bit of a shoe fanatic, this is a piece of art by a famous Israeli artist named David Gerstein.  How did they say in "Fiddler on the Roof"... If I were a rich man, I would buy my friend a shoe sculpture for $22,000? It is made of small butterflies and is 3 layers deep:-)  And VERY BEAUTIFUL.