On Monday, April 6, the family and I split up for a little while, since the boys wanted to go on a bike ride and I wanted to go shopping. In the morning, I went into the Old City to go to the in home studio of a woman who sells hair coverings. I was planning to buy something to wear at my nephew’s wedding. The Old City was locked down that day and everyone was being questioned as they entered. I was able to say that I was visiting this woman, and they let me in. Zachary had lots of conversations with his friends about how they could prove that they were actually living there and needed to be allowed in!
After buying a nice headband, I met Dave and the boys and we had lunch – fish and chips and Passover pizza. We saw one of Zachary’s friends from home while we were sitting there. Then I walked with them back to where they were going to rent bikes and I split off again to go shopping. I looked in clothing and bookstores but didn’t buy anything that day.
I was in a bookstore when I got an alert that missiles were coming and I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to do, since I was out in public and didn’t know where a shelter was located. I ended up following a bunch of people into the downstairs of a shop and into the shelter, even though there wasn’t actually a siren…the people in the shelter were upset that the door wouldn’t close all the way, and then when it was clear the missiles were north of us, the people were upset not knowing if they should leave the shelter. I went out though, and saw so many people hanging out in that lower store level that it’s a good thing there wasn’t a siren because there’s no way they would have all fit inside!
Gabbie called me as I was leaving there and I talked to her and walked all the way back to the apartment before we got the all clear alert. Meanwhile, the guys were biking and didn’t have any issues.
That evening, Dave’s parents came to meet us and we had dinner together. The next day, Tuesday, we visited our friends from college. It was nice to catch up with them. It was my first time meeting their youngest! This is the view from their neighborhood:
Next, we went to our other friends’ place where we’d be spending the night and the last day of Passover. They came to Kansas for a few years and were the kids’ teachers, plus they have kids who are similar ages. Zachary has visited them a lot this year, so I was happy to get to go too. They took us to check out a local farm that had so many very loud sheep!
They also have weddings there.
They also showed us an old well and the boys practiced throwing a bucket down and pulling up water.
We had a nice time with their family, celebrating the end of Passover. When the holiday ended, we found out that a ceasefire was called and there would be no more missiles! This made me happy because it boded well for our flight home not being canceled, but I felt badly that I would be leaving our friends and family (including Zachary) there to deal with it if the ceasefire didn’t hold.
That night, we met my nephew and family for a mimouna, a tradition Moroccan celebration of the end of Passover. It was a fun experience!
More next time!
