We went to Jericho, to the "tell", which is simply a pile of rubble and dirt but also is the site of the oldest tower in the history of the world. Also, the rubble there is 10,000 years old according to carbon-14 dating (which, Tim reminded me, is of the devil since it refutes creationism). Anywho, it was really hot up on the tell so a group of Palestinians (including our guide) offered to hold the baby while we went up. I relented, but then when I was halfway up I got worried and went back because Amir kind of usually freaks out when we aren't around. When I got to the bottom I could not find them anywhere, and I would have gotten worried but our guide is awesome and I totally trust him. I finally found them sitting in a little cafe, Amir in a high chair, eating contently with the guide. I was amazed at how calm and at ease he was, and it was really funny to see him there all natural-like eating some hummus and pita. So, now we know who gets Amir if we die: our Palestinian friend who has now become on of his favorite people.
Second story: Hezekiah's Tunnel is a narrow, water-filled tunnel that extends from the City of David. It was carved by human hands in order to keep water diverted to the city in a way in which it could not be cut off by enemy groups. It's mentioned in the Bible in several places:
"And the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and all his might, and how he made a pool, and a conduit, and brought water into the city, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?" 2 Kings 20:20
"And when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib was come, and that he was purposed to fight against Jerusalem, He took counsel with his princes and his mighty men to stop the waters of the fountains which were without the city: and they did help him. So there was gathered much people together, who stopped all the fountains, and the brook that ran through the midst of the land, saying, Why should the kings of Assyria come, and find much water?" 2 Chronicles 32:2-4
"This same Hezekiah also stopped the upper watercourse of Gihon, and brought it straight down to the west side of the city of David. And Hezekiah prospered in all his works." 2 Chronicles 32:30
It was excavated in the 19th century and you can walk through the whole thing. It was tight, cramped, the water was freezing, but it was SO NEAT. Amir slept in the mei tai through the whole experience until the end, which was nice because then he wouldn't freak out in the dark (it's completely pitch-black) but also sad because he loves touching walls and he would have been in heaven with the cramped space we were walking through and all the textured walls. We emerged triumphant at the end, because the Israeli tourism guard person recommended we not take a baby down there. He obviously has never met OUR baby.
Third story: Out of order, but still. Prior to Hezekiah's Tunnel, we were in a visitor's center looking at different models. There was a cut out in the floor that was completely glass, and our friend David set Amir on the glass and he crawled around and LOVED it. And if he loved it, the tourists and BYU people loved it even more, they were snapping pictures like he was going out of style. It really was hilarious to stand underneath and see him going crazy crawling around and putting his face to the glass and laughing at all the attention. We didn't have our camera, so we'll have to get a picture from a friend and post it. Maybe could have been one of my favorite moments of his.
Some random photos:
Hisham's Palace: there is apparently a really rad mosaic floor, the oldest and largest mosaic floor in history. They show it to you in this video at the visitor's center before you go in, and then you are all excited to see it until you find it's actually covered with 6 inches of dirt to preserve it, and you don't see anything. PRETTY LAME, if you ask me.
Elimination communication, Umayyad-style.
We ended the day with a lovely little jaunt in the JC fountain. He screamed when we took him away.
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