Marty’s note: “Saturday we awoke and spent the afternoon walking thru the Arab, Armenian, and Christian market areas of the old city, and had lunch in an arab stall that served ground lamb ‘cigars’ on skewers, roasted tomato, roasted onion and beverages. That’s it. Five cigars, topped with one fire-roasted tomato, one-quarter of a fire roasted onion, and a pita. Soda, optional. Dov got a kafia, haggled down from 85 shekels to 30. I’m so proud.”

Marty’s note: “Today we wandered around watching the city prepare for passover. There were small smoking pots of burning bread in many places, where people came to burn their chometz.

People were busy, hustling, and most stores and shops closed at 2 or 3. Tonight, we had a seder with several families all of whom are here to visit children studying in Israel. We had found a caterer and ordered in food, the apartment they rented was ample, and the food and song lasted till after 1:00 am.  On the way home, other peole walking the streets at 1:00 am wished us a happy holiday. Can you imagine this in DC?”