Oh holy night

The second day, I was going to get back to the Old City but found that I could not wake up in time - so Instead we headed to Bethlehem back in the West Bank.   It is interesting b/c many people in Israel have not crossed into the west bank in many many years and many people in the West Bank cannot cross over into Israel - they are only divided by a fence and are so close, but....

Bethlehem - was intense - I will add a bunch of photos - but I am having a hard time adding them and captions - here is a video of the Old City in Bethlehem  - you can hear the call to prayer in the background.

48 hours of no sleep

fantastic painting in the hotel

old city wall

So my first day in Israel started at 3am when our flight landed - we had to present at 9:30 am in the morning so we were hoping to get through customs fast, however one of our party was detained for at least an hour - she sort of just went to a room, and was gone - we weren't sure what happened....but I quickly learned - things always become apparent with a little patience - but I didn't get to sleep that evening till 5:30am and had to get up 7am to get ready to drive to the West Bank - what day - The university students I met with were v. excited about starting companies and were inspiring to be around considering the challenges they face politically.  

outside the old city

Al-Aqsa Mosque

inside the Old City

I luckily presented all morning, so by the afternoon I could hardly keep my eyes open, but we were lucky enough to tour the Old City in Jerusalem - we casually walked by the birthplace of Mary and the Al-Aqsa Mosque where the Dome of the Rock is - I love that about going to new places - what an amazing first 12 hours

yum

view outside window in the West Bank

Travel is only glamorous in retrospect

feeling very unglamorous with broken sunglasses and yoga clothes while in Amsterdam

Amsterdam

doing hand stands to reduce swelling in my ankles 

my cankle after flying - they actually got bigger on the second leg of the flight

I was able to rent a room in Amsterdam....no not THAT kind of room - but a room to lay down in for about an hour

I'm not sure who said that quote - it wasn't me originally - but I always think it when I am traveling - It is glamourous - but also work, a little dirty, and often includes throwing your body's natural rhythms off - which can be good - but it certainly doesn't feel glamourous - We had a 9 hour layover in Amsterdam, so we took some time to head to the City Centre - which was super great -

A Glamourous week

What a week - I started out in exciting Peoria Illinois to meet with Caterpillar for work - We happened to arrive on the day the Mayflies came out - I think I murdered at least 10,000 of them on my morning run - it was a little disgusting.

the mayflies...yuck

as close as I got to the President

what it looks from inside the gate

I then flew to DC to get a cool opportunity to celebrate the national collegiate clean energy compeition awards at .....wait for it - the white house!    I was so excited I couldn't even talk about it  ....we did not end up in the residence part of the white house but in the administrative area - but still - pretty awesome!

The next night the second part of my glamourous week started with a flight to the middle east!

Ride on Saturday

Hey Ladies -

time to get our weekly ride on! This week we can meet at my brand spanking new house at 1624 Saunders Crescent. A stones throw from Wines Elementary school and Newport road.

We can meet there at 8:30. Please let me know if you plan on riding!

hope you can make it - we had a great ride last weekend!

be well,
Amy

my new job and this blog

Okay - so I haven't posted - since I started my new job (That's me on the right in Silcon Valley) - I am not sure why - but I think its b/c my life is just not that exciting and I think there is not much to say -

that said I think I am going to just start posting either stories from my current life - or things from past lives - I want to try to start scanning photos from when I lived in other places and sort of use this as an online diary to start writing down some funny things -

anyway - I recently went on a 3 week west coast tour for work/fun/work. I went to google in Silcon valley where I found they used the word "Interesting" to describe things that are truly interesting, but really to be nice about a wacky idea - I have now found I use that word all the time - so be forewarned ;-)

from there I went on a yoga retreat in sleepy little surfing town about 3/4 down the Mexican Coast - called Troncones Beach - http://www.presentmomentretreat.com/ It was absolutely perfect - I took off my shoes when I got there and was barefoot the entire time - I would get up run barefoot on the beach (Until I stress fractured my foot from that - who knew) then did 2 hours of yoga and then ate a good breakfast and read the rest of the day. It was awesome

I did end up falling 5 feet backwards - I was sitting in a chair and the fellow above started to walk behind me and realized that he was stepping on air, he grabbed the back of my chair and then I went flying backwards....for once in my life this:

1. wasn't my fault

2. people said I fell gracefully - below is how far I fell -

3. notice bruise on left shin

From Mexico - I went out to Seattle for a conference for a week and hooked up with some old friends - one who I just met in Mexico - Elizabeth (the person playing the drums w/ me)- she took me out for a great dinner and yoga class, some friend from A2 who moved to seattle recently - JC and Thealla - and my friend from Alaska - Heather, came down for the weekend - (photo below) - it was all in all a great trip!

wow

My Pal's Kerry and Mark had their first baby today at home with the assistance of a midwife. I came over shortly after to help keep things going after the midwife came home - this little guy - was actually a HUGE guy coming in 16 days late and weighing 10 lbs 22 1/4 inches long - Mom, Dad and Baby Jack are all doing awesome!!!