Daily essentials for Jerusalem in July...

1. Ice cream bars.

I don't know if you can tell from the small photo, but I am extremely sweaty and motley all the time here...and I am more than a little bit delighted by the ice cream bar melting in my hands. In the States, I don't even really like ice cream bars that much...but here, I am OBSESSED.

One of my favorite friends on the trip, Suzanne, is equally in love with the ice cream bars. She and I eat several every day!

2. An umbrella.

This is a candid photo I took of my dad while we were listening to our guide at all hilltop overlooking Bethlehem. This is a very peaceful and spiritual place...but MAN is it hot!

3. A hotel swimming pool

Isn't this beautiful?? Unfortunately, the pool closes at 6:00, which is about the time we get back from touring every day, so I've only been able to go swimming once. But it sure was a great way to end the day!

Speaking of hot...check out this young Israeli soldier. (Sorry, Ry!) I don't know if it's the uniform or the automatic weapon, but these young army guys are CU-TE!

And you may think it's only the guys toting the machine guns--but check out these young girls exchanging gossip over large piles of automatic weapons:

YIKES! (Every young person serves in the Israeli armed forces for two years after high school...crazy, huh?)

Today was our last full day, and we are exhausted but satisfied...it's been a fabulous experience. I've learned so much and have so so so much to write about...but it's almost midnight, and I've been in the heat all day, so I'm ready for bed!

Stay tuned...