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We planned to get an early start and meet for breakfast Friday Morning. I showed up eager to greet the breakfast buffet. With the exception of omelets and a squeeze your own juice bar, breakfast at the Crown Plaza was similar to that of the Dan Hotel. Dishes were intricately displayed; I wasn’t sure whether the array of food was more fitting on my plate or in a frame. I collected my favorite Israeli breakfast items then sat down to eat them.

Adam must not have shared my hunger or excitement to start his day; thirty minutes after I sat down for breakfast, I was still sitting by myself! Chatty Adam arrived and exchanged life stories with our server extending my already lengthy breakfast. I tired of skimming travel books as I waited. Walking past a collection of cucumber dishes, I made my way to the juice maker. Six oranges and four grapefruit later I had myself quite a mess and a foul tasting beverage. I drank it anyway washing down a second helping of fish.

We entered the Muslim quarter of Old Jerusalem that morning. Inside, food, clothing and souvenirs lined streets in the open-air market called the souq. Wandering the streets was a rewarding experience in itself. However, if we had been following a plan or directions beyond “let’s see what’s inside the walls” we would have been lost. “Hey Adam, I’ve seen enough watches, handbags, T-shirts, necklaces and raw meat hanging from souvenir stands. How about you fix us up with some Arabic directions to a holy place.” Adam stopped at one of the hundreds of adjoining ten feet by ten feet shops that made up the souq. Directions, free drinks and hugs later, we emerged from a shopkeepers stand on our way to the Al-Aqsa Mosque.