Mt. Zion Hotel, Jerusalem

View from Mount Zion Hotel, Jerusalem

Benjamin relaxing in the Moroccan-style lobby

Mediterranean fruit and other delicacies served in our room

We are back home now, but I still have a few blog posts in me.  I would be remiss not to talk about Mount Zion Hotel, a historic hotel in Jerusalem where we had the pleasure of staying for three nights.  The hotel is actually a former British eye hospital built in the 19th century.  It sits on a hill that has spectacular views of Jerusalem (check out the picture windows in the lobby).  When we entered our room, we were delighted to find fresh fruits, nuts and sweets.  Alas, after our days of sightseeing, we were too tired to drag ourselves to the Turkish steam bath in the hotel. 

We stayed in the hotel over Shabbat.  We were firmly instructed in our hotel guide NOT to light shabbat candles in our room.  Instead, we were directed to a candle lighting area near the lobby.  Many devout Orthodox women crowded around this area to light candles that evening, at 4:04 p.m.  A little after 4 p.m. I ordered some coffee from the lobby barista and was chastised for asking him to do so.  It's work to make coffee and that's not allowed on Shabbat.  (While making coffee seems more like pleasure than work to me, I am not as well versed on Shabbat prohibitions as I should be.)   After the tongue clucking, the barista made me coffee anyway.  I guiltily sipped my coffee, looking through the picture windows of the hotel, as the sun set over Jerusalem.