Jerusalem, Israel - July 28

view of the Dome of the Rock

Jerusalem, Israel – July 27


Our guide tells us it is close to 40 degrees, but I can’t believe that.  It certainly isn’t as humid as it’s been…Jerusalem is 600 feet above sea level, so that has a positive affect on the climate.

chappel of the Dormition Abbey

Haifa is our port as Jerusalem is inland.  It would have been closer if we had gone to Jerusalem from Ashdod, but we wanted a day off after our marathon day in Cairo.  Today being Saturday is the Sabbath which means the traffic is lighter and it is…we do the trip there and back in less than 2 hours - much less than the typical 2.5.  We are a small group today as we opted for a tour that was a bit pricier to reduce the numbers.  Jerusalem was going to be a highlight for us, so we didn’t want to be with a crowd.

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Church of the Holy Sepulcher

Our guide today is terrific!  I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again…the guide can really make or break a tour.  I also particularly like it when a guide tells off some of the others (never me of course) on the tour off.  Jerusalem is a very easy place to get lost and after the first person gets lost because he was taking pictures when the group was moving on she firmly but politely lets him know how that holds the group up etc. - of course he doesn’t care.

Dormition Abbey

Mount Zion is our first stop.  Here we visit the Tomb of King David, the Room of the Last Supper and the Dormition Abbey.  There’s not much to say about the Tomb of King David – it is the first place we have to split men from the women and men based on gender and men have to cover their heads as it is a Jewish sacred site.  The Dormition Abbey is where the Assumption of the Virgin Mary is believed to have happened. 
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Sixth Station Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus

The Room of the Last Supper is where I am quite moved.  Even writing this here, remembering the moment I feel moved.  The guide recounts the story of where Jesus told his disciples what was to happen and later when the Last Supper actually occurred.  I remember feeling quite disappointed with the lack of this last time we were here.  The trouble with many of the sites in Jerusalem is that they are so crowded - unfortunately this makes me concentrate more on dodging people than thinking about where I am. 

Our visit to Jerusalem’s old city includes visiting the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the Via Dolorosa and the Wailing (Western) Wall.  Although it actually seems more crowded here than last year the line to touch the stone (Golgotha) where the cross is said to have stood is quite quick.  Chris and I originally thought we would skip this part as we did it already and the place was so crowded I’m glad we were able to do it again.

The Via Dolorosa (Way of Sorrow) is the route Jesus too through the Stations of the Cross.  We stop at stations 5, 6 and 7.  At each stop the guide tell the story of that station – again she is excellent.  Station 5 where Jesus falls has a spot where visitors place their hands as Jesus may have to steady himself.  Over time this had created a significant indentation in the stone.  We visit the wailing wall, say a prayer (men separate from the women) before our visit to the old town is over.

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church at the Garden of Gethsemene

It’s a bit mind blowing visiting places that seem almost mythological to me.  These are places and characters that I’ve pretty much heard of and know of all my life, but I guess because the stories took place 2000 (or more) years ago it’s bizarre that they still exist.