Shalom readers! So a ton has happened since my last blog update. I even made a sticky note of the things to include in this blog entry.
First, it's been rather chilly here lately. And by chilly, I mean between like 75 and 79. But really, it actually feels kind of cold to me now. I always knew I was made for a Mediterranean climate. Unfortunately, I have been way too busy to enjoy the beach. Classes are in full gear, so I've been hitting the books pretty hard. My class on Bronze Age Archaeology finished up last week, and this week we started Iron Age Archaeology (more on that later).
Last week we didn't have class on Wednesday, so I went to the city of Ramla, which has a ton of cool archaeology but is seriously underrepresented as far as excavations go. I'm not sure if it's just a funding issue or if people are really unaware of all the neat things there. For instance, there's a ton of stuff dating back to the Crusader period. Anyway, Ramla really seemed like a REAL Middle Eastern village to me. It used to be a predominately Arab neighborhood, but now it's like 80% Jewish. My friend Lianne's boyfriend's family also owns a restaurant there called Samir's, and it's seriously my new favorite restaurant hands down. I am still full from that meal. If any of you ever come to visit me while I'm here, I am taking you to Samir's restaurant.
First, it's been rather chilly here lately. And by chilly, I mean between like 75 and 79. But really, it actually feels kind of cold to me now. I always knew I was made for a Mediterranean climate. Unfortunately, I have been way too busy to enjoy the beach. Classes are in full gear, so I've been hitting the books pretty hard. My class on Bronze Age Archaeology finished up last week, and this week we started Iron Age Archaeology (more on that later).
Last week we didn't have class on Wednesday, so I went to the city of Ramla, which has a ton of cool archaeology but is seriously underrepresented as far as excavations go. I'm not sure if it's just a funding issue or if people are really unaware of all the neat things there. For instance, there's a ton of stuff dating back to the Crusader period. Anyway, Ramla really seemed like a REAL Middle Eastern village to me. It used to be a predominately Arab neighborhood, but now it's like 80% Jewish. My friend Lianne's boyfriend's family also owns a restaurant there called Samir's, and it's seriously my new favorite restaurant hands down. I am still full from that meal. If any of you ever come to visit me while I'm here, I am taking you to Samir's restaurant.
We went canoeing in the Pool of Arches.
This is what the Pool of Arches looks like above ground.
An inscription on the wall of the Pool of Arches!!
Nobody has been allowed here in 15 years, but they let us in because we told them we were archaeologists!
We climbed to the top, where you can see 70% of Israel
Anyway, so that was Ramla. Definitely a neat place to check out and keep on your radar. Also in my photo uploading spree, I forgot what else I was going to talk about in my blog in this update.
In other exciting news, I have officially found my apartment for the rest of my time in Israel! I'm so excited to move in in December! It's in a great location downtown in the city and close to the beach too. Which should give you all even more incentive to come visit me! We just had the lease agreement translated by Rachel's cousin, and we've opened our Israeli bank account, and we are all set to sign the lease later this week! So excited!
Anyway, blogspot isn't letting me post any more pictures in this update, so I'm going to do another update in a separate update, since I have much more to write about.
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