Day 5: Ramparts Walk, Shuk and Birthday Celebration

Today was my 34th birthday and what an amazing place to celebrate... During this week, CJ's girls are in school so rather than have them all miss the entire week, we are just pulling out one each day so we can spend some quality time with each niece and Stella and Sebi can hang with each cousin separately. Today the adventures continued with a trip back down to the Old City to do the Ramparts Walk and see some of the Muslim Quarter which we didn't get to see in our first tour.  

The Ramparts walk is where you get to get up on the wall surrounding the city and walk around it.  We were told by security that we were not allowed to go into the Muslim quarter beyond the shuk so we couldn't do the full walk.  Luckily the main area we were wanting to see in the Muslim quarter was the market, so we weren't too disappointed.  And it did not, disappoint.  It was fantastic, with a fast paced hustle and bustle, tons of bright colors, the smell of fresh falafel and spices, and the storekeepers constantly shouting out in Arabic for you to buy their goods.

After our walk on the walls and about 20 minutes of shopping, it began to rain. And it rained hard, so hard that all of our clothes were soaked and we were freezing after a few hours in them. We warmed up with a nice warm lunch with hot drinks and then headed home for a cozy evening in the house.  Kari made me an amazing cake and it was the perfect way to end another amazing day!

Mike and Sebi walking the wall.

Stella loved walking the wall and imagining she was a soldier shooting intruders.

Here's a view looking outside of the walls.

Walking the wall.

Hannah wasn't as sure about some of the higher parts of the wall.

A view of a mosque in the old city from the wall.

Stella and Hannah in front of the Dome of the Rock.

Day family photo #1

Day family photo #2

Stella waiting for her fresh squeezed pomegranate juice.

The girls sharing a fresh pomegranate juice in the Shuk. 

The crew walking through the shuk (Arab market).

Embracing the culture... falafel and pomegranate juice.

After a long day of walking and shopping in the Shuk.

A man carrying a cross along the Via Delarosa to pay homage to the suffering by Jesus.

CJ bought an umbrella for 20 shekels (about $6) it was the best investment of the day!

We had to visit the Church of the Holy Sepluchre one more time and this time Stella and Sebi got to experience it too.

Inside the Church of the Holy Sepluchre, this is the spot where they believe the cross was hammered into the ground.

Silly cousins, smiling despite the downpour of rain!

Lunch at the focaccia bar, it was the perfect warm, delicious comfort food on a cold rainy day.

Fresh hot cocoa, perfect way to warm up.

Thanks to Kari for making this amazing cake... it was above and beyond, she woke up at 5am just to make me a special cake. I felt so honored:)

Great way to end yet another amazing day!