Tourists turned tour guides...

Four days in Jerusalem before the tour started was a very good thing.

Because of this, we have a much better idea than our tour-buddies about what to expect/what's a good price/what's worth doing.

We've bonded with some fellow Aussies and a couple of British-Canadians (they've been in Canada more than 40 years, but still sound like Brits to us!) The Aussies weren't too hard to spot. The thongs gave it away. Only we would traipse through the Middle East in Havaianas.

Today we shared stories about our trips, and compared notes about the tour experience. Some are ending their tour with our group, some started with our group, others will most likely join us tomorrow. It's a never-ending change of faces on the bus. Though it's the same ones who always get lost or forget to get on the bus.

Our bus driver was not impressed with the late-comers during our exit from Bethlehem. One woman had been ambushed by street vendors outside the tourist shop we'd been dropped off at.

They draped necklaces over her arm. About 10 of them. Had it been us, we would have put them on the ground and walked away. But she is more polite (or perhaps not as experienced at fending off unwanted sales!) than us, and ended up buying them, just so she could get away and get on the bus before the driver took off without her!

Tonight we were desperate for a swim in the hotel pool, but for the second night in a row, our swim session was thwarted. Our tour bus dropped us off at the hotel at 5:40, when the pool closes at 6! Very inconvenient.

We made up for the lack of swimming by taking the British Canadians on a tour of the old city, showing them where we get our 6 shekel falafels (which are divine. Have we mentioned they're divine before?) They were very impressed with their new-found snack, though Mr British Canadian keeps calling them Waffles. No amount of correcting him will make a difference. They are WAFFLES!!!

We wandered to the observation point for the Western Wall, and were surprised to see paper bags filled with sand and candles. A red carpet was also there, and a table with wine, two glasses and a cake (well, it was in a cake box, so presumably it was a cake!) We assume there was a wedding planned for that spot later in the night, overlooking the Western Wall.

The full moon looked incredible, and the Dome was glowing all gold in the dusk sky.

The temperature was perfect. Warm but not hot. Just a nice breeze blowing through.

Our tourists were very impressed that we could get them all over the city with our various shortcuts, and without being hassled by vendors. They basically just let us go past and if we stop, we stop. If we don't, well that's okay.

On the way out of our expedition into the Old City, we saw our little friend the fruit vendor, packing up his stall after a hard day's work. He was yelling out to others around him, and we've got to the point where we recognise his voice, from walking past the stall all the time.

The hotel is busy at almost 10:30. It's frustrating to wait for the internet when children are sitting there, ignoring the 20 minute limit, playing games. Enough already! Go read a book!!!!!

We're heading into the Old City with our tour group tomorrow. If you're there, you'll know us. We'll be the two NOT wearing our tour caps!!!!