Jerusalem, Thursday

I landed in the Middle East this morning around 430 AM. I didn't sleep at all on the plane (btw, the 2 AM hot meal was awkward pasta and a fig bar), and I haven't slept since I set foot in Israel. Israel is unofficially the fourteenth country I've been to (barring lame airport layovers, etc), and it is, by leaps and bounds, my absolute favorite so far. I can't say enough crazy amazing things about Jerusalem in particular. If you haven't been, DROP EVERYTHING AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET HERE. Here's a short summary of what I did today, in somewhat chronological order:

• Visited the old city market and bought (and subsequently ate) dates and figs like a true ME'sterner
• Walked through Jaffa gate into old Jerusalem
• Went to and PRAYED at the Western (Wailing) Wall (unforfreakinggettable)
• Went to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, which for you Catholic enthusiasts is where Jesus was crucified, died, buried and resurrected. Subsequently touched the rock they laid him on when he died and crawled into the temple he was buried in. Because THEY LET YOU DO THAT
• Ate REAL HUMMUS (I get to call it hummous now)
• Walked the old city streets of Jerusalem that Jesus and his disciples and his mother used to live in. ALSO STILL A THING

Most of my good pics are on my actual camera, not my phone, so holding off on posting those for now. In other news, I may never leave this city.

Here's to never washing my hands AGAIN because of the things I touched today?! Oui.

-M