Our digs

Many friends have asked what our living arrangement is like, so I thought I'd fill you in on that. As I mentioned previously, we live at the W. F. Albright Institute of Archaeology, an historic 1920s  Late Ottoman building. Located  on Salah Ad-Din Street, a major artery in East Jerusalem, it's only a few minute walk from the Damascus Gate into the Old City.

The elegant entrance to the Director's apartment is on the other side of the building from us. The public spaces include offices, a library of some 35,000 volumes, lab spaces, lecture/reception hall, gathering space, and a dining room.

Yesterday, I was part of a women's Pilates class for residents which met in the space below. Last week, the same space was used with chairs set up for a lecture.

After the lecture, this adjoining space was the site of a reception for attendees to meet and greet each other and the lecturer.

This living room is used for smaller receptions and adjoins the dining hall and kitchen.

One of the most charming features of the building is the outdoor courtyard. It's not warm enough to use yet, but I know we will spend more time there as the weather warms up.

Our apartment is on the second floor in the wing opposite the director's apartment. The floors are stone tile and the ceilings high. We enter via stairs.

The dining room/entry is the first room, from which all the other rooms branch -- a living room, kitchen, bathroom, and two bedrooms.

Just opposite our door, we have a balcony that overlooks the courtyard. We've had tea outside on a sunny day once so far, but I envision us eating outside and enjoying the space more as the weather warms up.

The neighborhood around us is full of all sorts of shops -- books, clothes of all kinds, housewares, spices, fresh baked breads, fresh fruits/veggies, coffee shops, falafel and shwarma stands, and restaurants.

A five-minute walk away is a pleasant park with picnic tables, a very extensive playground, and outdoor exercise machines. Just this morning, we went down and used them for an upper body workout.

A favorite spot we've discovered for a break in the day is the Nordic Cafe, which has a simple sandwich/soup menu with some good veggie options, tea/coffee, and dessert veggies (a.k.a. carrot cake). Sten hopes to supply them with a Norwegian flag in the future as they only display the Swedish and Icelandic flags. The space is cozy and relaxed.

My favorite drink option is their ginger mint tea, made with fresh ginger root and fresh mint leaves. Can it get healthier than that?

So now that you know our environs, I wish you Peace. Salam. Shalom. 

P.S. Apparently, the weather forecast is for some snow tonight. It happens every few years.