Orson Hyde Gardens

So this was our first trip to the Orson Hyde Gardens.  I am actually related to Orson Hyde, so it has been really cool to visit these gardens and spend time reflecting.  Due to the nature of the neighborhood, we visit the gardens with groups of at least ten, just to be safe and sure that nothing happens. 

On the walk over we had a pretty big surprise. Huge piles of garbage. Pretty sad, especially when you recall everything that happened here on the Mount of Olives. 

 Chloe                                                       Me 

Kara, me, Chloe, Tori, India, Montana, Janessa, Camilla, Sarah, Hannah, Jacob, Sara

Kara and Camilla

What a place!

Sawyer, our fearless, impromptu tourguide

Eden in her garden 

Hannah, Sara, Me, Susanna, India, and Kate

John grabbing an olive branch 

On our own

Here's a super quick look at our first time really out in the city on our own.  There aren't many pictures as we were more focused on soaking it all in.  It's hardly worth making a post...I guess I'll just have to make another post today.

KC and I got Kinder Joys...not quite Kinder Eggs,  but still pretty good.

Sitting down to get some schwarma - Jen, Meg, Skylar, KC, Tyson, and Lindsay

Schwarma and a coke -- delicious.

Candy shop in the Old City

This is as close as we get to 7-Eleven...

Field Trip #1

Yes, great view, everyday.

 Seven Arches Hotel

Our great professors -- Doctor Judd and Doctor Jackson.

Lindee and me 

Quick pic of the guy banking off of tourists who pay to take pics with his donkey

Augusta Victoria Tower

Selfy in the Sun- Jessica, Janessa, Hannah, and Sarah

The tower

1st Sabbath in the Holy Land

The JC, aka Mormon University

Here in the Holy Land we observe the Sabbath on Saturday. Truth be told, I think I like it better than on Sunday. 

Anyway, for our first Sabbath, after church, we went on a trip to the Garden Tomb. 

Very close to the tomb, just outside the site, there is a hill that could very well be Golgotha.

Can you see the skull in the side of the hill?

The director of the Garden Tomb came and talked to us

Although there are many similar characteristics, we cannot be sure that this is the exact place where Christ was buried.  But even if this is not the place, it gives us an excellent model of what it would have looked like.

The tomb

The good news of the gospel. And Easter is coming up!

We look good. - Tyson, me, Jennie, Ashley, Ann, and Janessa

Marhaba!

Welcome to my blog. I'm in Jerusalem right now and it's a party, my friends. I expect this to mainly be pictures, with some explanations and the occasional story or lengthy piece of text.

This first post is just to get something up...here's the beginning of the Jeru experience!

Flight to Tel Aviv

Lovely view over the Mediterranean

Snowing in Jerusalem...hasn't snowed like this in over 10 years

Great view to wake up to

 Classes hadn't started and we were already prepping for Stratford's merciless Orientation Exam