First full day in Jerusalem

Today has been a very long day for me. It is my first full day in Jerusalem. This morning I woke up in time to get ready and eat breakfast. There was a huge selection of food and it was very good. After breakfast, we had yet another orientation meeting. Then we had pictures taken for our security passes to get in and out of the center before heading out on our walking tour of Jerusalem. We were asked not to bring our cameras because we had a very small amount of time to see a lot of things, so I don't have any pictures to show you what I saw.
The Jerusalem Center is situated in between Mount Scopus and the Mount of Olives, on the very southern edge of Mount Scopus. We walked down the mountain and in to the Palestinian part of the city. It looks very old and run down and very Middle Eastern. We saw some important places where we might need to go, and also one place that we are to avoid. Then we went into Old Jerusalem by way of Damascus gate. That leads directly into the Muslim Quarter of the Old City. There are shops every where and many merchants who love us BYU students, but love our money more. We also stopped at the Austrian Hospice there. They have a nice view of the city, and I wished we had been able to bring our cameras.
We also walked through the Christian quarter. There I heard Russians signing (which is very odd because Russians don't sing on the street like that). We saw and walked down Via Dolorosa, the route that by tradition, Jesus walked during his last hours. It is so amazing to be among so much history, especially history that means a lot to me as a Christian.
We left by way of Joffa Gate and entered West Jerusalem, the Israeli part of the city. That half of the city is very different from the Palestinian half. It looks newer and much more European. It was amazing to see such a strong contrast. We saw there the King David Hotel, where President Bush is staying while here in Jerusalem. It is a nice building, but I think the Jerusalem Center is much nicer, and we definitely have a better view.
We walked around West Jerusalem before getting a shrut (well what do you know, they have a shortened form of the Russian name for them - маршрутка aka marshrutka to shrut) back to the center. A shrut is similar to the Russian form (also called Gazelles in Russia) which is basically a large van. Though here these are used more as taxis. I don't know if they have some that follow a specific route. I guess I'll find out.
Once we got back to the center, we had lunch, and then a little time before our final orientation meeting. Our final orientation meeting finished and then we were given the headsets that we will be using while on our field trips so we can hear the instructor. We have a little free time before dinner, so I thought I would take the opportunity to update my blog since I don't know how much time I will have once classes start. I am very excited to be here.
Oh, I also took time to get a better shot of the view from our balcony. I've inserted one of those pictures here, as well as a view of the entrance to our apartment. It is beautiful.