GROUP PHOTO - standing across the street from the Garden of Gethsemane. The walled city of Jerusalem is behind us!
We began our 2nd day in Israel very early (although not as early as our guide Moshe) to travel inward from the port of Ashdod. The major highway is very busy and we saw an unfortunate accident involving a truck that had caught fire.
A special treat right away was a view of the new & old cities of Jerusalem from Mt. Olive. Yes it was the traditional sermon on the mount and making of scripture of the Beatitudes! Then down the mountain to visit the garden of Gethsemane - a very peaceful garden among olive trees and next to the Church of All Nations (also known as the Church of Agony). It is commonly known for the place of Simon Peter's betrayal of Jesus.
Then it was into the Old walled city of Jerusalem and visit to the Wailing Wall (or Western Wall). It is the closest location to the place where the temple used to stand. The wall we know today was part of the temple's western wall, hence it's name.
The walk thru the Via Dolorosa (or stations of the cross) was ONE of the most impressive & humbling yet. We were not able to walk all 14 stations, but concluding at stations 10 - 14 and inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre ; where Jesus was crucified, died and buried was beyond words!
After lunch we were taken to Bethlehem. Still being a Palestine-controlled area, our Israeli guide could not accompany us. We were, however, treated with Salwa who has ties to Indiana.
We concluded our day with a visit to the church of the Nativity - the birthplace of Jesus. The church is built over the grotto where the Virgin Mary is said to have given birth to baby Jesus.
All this in a 10 hour day...... Both of these 2 days we did as a private tour, on our own coach with the guide (who happened to sell olive oil from his cousin's farm). We promised Moshe we would be GOOD ambassadors for the Country of Israel and he and the drivers treated us very special! Several more stories, but I'll save for another day.
PEACE!
A special treat right away was a view of the new & old cities of Jerusalem from Mt. Olive. Yes it was the traditional sermon on the mount and making of scripture of the Beatitudes! Then down the mountain to visit the garden of Gethsemane - a very peaceful garden among olive trees and next to the Church of All Nations (also known as the Church of Agony). It is commonly known for the place of Simon Peter's betrayal of Jesus.
Then it was into the Old walled city of Jerusalem and visit to the Wailing Wall (or Western Wall). It is the closest location to the place where the temple used to stand. The wall we know today was part of the temple's western wall, hence it's name.
The walk thru the Via Dolorosa (or stations of the cross) was ONE of the most impressive & humbling yet. We were not able to walk all 14 stations, but concluding at stations 10 - 14 and inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre ; where Jesus was crucified, died and buried was beyond words!
After lunch we were taken to Bethlehem. Still being a Palestine-controlled area, our Israeli guide could not accompany us. We were, however, treated with Salwa who has ties to Indiana.
We concluded our day with a visit to the church of the Nativity - the birthplace of Jesus. The church is built over the grotto where the Virgin Mary is said to have given birth to baby Jesus.
All this in a 10 hour day...... Both of these 2 days we did as a private tour, on our own coach with the guide (who happened to sell olive oil from his cousin's farm). We promised Moshe we would be GOOD ambassadors for the Country of Israel and he and the drivers treated us very special! Several more stories, but I'll save for another day.
PEACE!
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