surreal

In most cities of the world, the first to wake are the servants and workers and merchants-. But in Jerusalem it is the pious who greet the dawn. Muslims, Jews, and Christians who sacrifice sleep for prayer. Their calls and chants in the eerie half light of the Old City mingle in an overlapping minor key like separate strains of the same melody.
This was our first experience following a strenuous interogation at customs and arrival at 3am. We got to the Damascus Gate at 5:30 am, just as the sun was rising over the Old City. We were walking for a bit and looked to discover we were walking on the via delarosa, the pathway that Christ walked as he carried the cross. I really can't descibe the feeling at 5:30 am, with most of the city still asleep to find ourselves stepping back 2000 years.
We had a productive day. Besides being completely delerious from travels, we visited much of the Old City. I will be heading up to Nazereth, the Jordan River, and Capernaum tomorrow for the day. We're meeting up with our contact on Thursday, and will venture into Tiberius, Ramallah, Gaza and Bethleham over the coming days.
Surreal. Absolutely surreal right now.