Shalom!

I'm in Isreal right now... sorry no pics to upload. For some reason the "smart net" kiosk in the lobby doesn't have a usb reader- not so smart are we!?!? Well I am back in Tel Aviv today; my mom and I have been in Jerusalem for the last two days. It's a really interesting city, and this country is unlike anywhere I have ever been! It's so nice in some areas and they're trying to build new shopping malls yet the highways are completely blocked on both sides and there are checkpoints everywhere to prevent attacks. There are kids in army garb bearing uzzis everywhere (like shopping, dancing, eating, everywhere). It's also ineresting because it's the center of so many religions and sects so you will see people decked out in the robes or religious uniforms of every variation... something tells me they have official names but I'll have to get back to you with those.

My brain is so full from trying to figure out all the differnet countries that have possessed and time periods present in Jerusalem's history. Everyone seemed to conquer, destroy/remodel, and build so there is ridiculous amounts of history and shmorgusbords of architecture. Really cool. We mainly just walked the ramparts of the wall (that means up on top of 'em for all you educationally challenged friends) and through some areas of the old and new city. We are meeting up with the rest of the people tonight for dinner in Tel Aviv and then we're doing the hardcore touring (all the holy sites, Petra, and such) from here on out.

So this will be a lot more educational and packed with random Israeli facts soon. One parting observation is the incredible passion that these people have for their country; every taxi driver, waiter, bell boy, etc is so stoked for their country and will tell you ANYTHING you want to know about it. Their pride is really impressive and somewhat contagious.

Oh and today I got to layout and swim in the Mediterranean Ocean... kinda puts Galveston and Port A to shame (sorry, Erin). Wish you all were here!